Virtues of the first ten days of Dhul Hajj

[bamalli]

Superior Days for Righteous
Deeds
Verily, the praise belongs to Allah, the Most High, and may the
Blessings of Allah and Peace be upon His Prophet Muhammad and his
family and companions, all of them. It is narrated from Ibn Abbaas (RAA)
that the Prophet (PBUH) of said: "There are no days in which righteous
deeds done in them are more beloved to Allah than these days, ie the
ten days (of Zul-Hijjah). They said: O Messenger of Allah, not even
Jihaad in the path of Allah? He said: Not even Jihaad in the Path of
Allah, the Most High, except if a man goes out (for Jihaad) with his
self and his wealth, then he doesn't return with anything from that."
(Al-Bukhaaree, Abu Daawood and others. The exact wording is that of Abu
Daawood)

It is narrated from Ibn Umar that the Prophet Muhammad (Blessings of
Allah and Peace be upon him) said:

"There aren't any days greater, nor any days in which deeds done in
them are more beloved to Allah, the Most High, than these ten days (of
Zul-Hijjah). So, increase in them the saying of Tahleel (La Ilaaha illa
Allah), and Takbeer (Allah Akbar) and Tahmeed (al-Hamdu li-llah)"
[Musnad Imaam Ahmad]

The Types of Deeds in These Ten Days:

First: The performance of Haj and Umrah, and these are the best of
deeds that may be done. And what indicates their superiority are a
number of Ahaadith, one of which is the saying of the Prophet (PBUH).

Performance of Umrah is an expiation of the sins committed between it
and the previous Umrah, and the reward of the Haj which is accepted by
Allah, the Most High, is nothing but Paradise. (Al-Bukhaaree and
Muslim)

Second: Fasting during these days - as many of them as may be easy
(for one to fast); especially the Day of Arafah. There is no doubt that
the act of fasting is one of the best deeds, and it is from what Allah,
the Most High, has chosen for himself, as in the Hadith Qudsee: Fasting
is for Me, and it is I who give reward for it. Verily, someone gives up
his sexual passion, his food and his drink for My sake..."
(Al-Bukhaaree, Muslim, Maalik, at-Tirmidhee, Nasaa'ee and Ibn Maajah)

Also, from Abu Sa'eed al-Khudree who said that the Messenger of Allah
said: No servant (of Allah, the Most High) fasts one day in the Path of
Allah, except that Allah, the Most High, removes his face from the Fire
because of it (the distance of travelling) seventy years. (Al-Bukhaaree
and Muslim)

From Abu Qatadah that the Prophet said: Fasting the Day of Arafah will
be credited with Allah by forgiving one's sins of the previous year and
the following year. (Muslim)

Third: At-Takbeer (Allah Akbar) and adh-Dhikr (the remembrance of
Allah through different words of praise and glorification) in these
(ten) days, Allah said "And mention the name of Allah on the appointed
days"(12:28) .

This has been explained (by some) to mean the ten days (of Zul-Hijjah),
and the scholars consider it desirable to increase adh-Dhikr in these
days, based upon the hadith of Ibn Umar narrated by Ahmad, which
contains the words:

... so increase in these days the Tahleel and Takbeer and Tahmeed...

It is reported about Ibn Umar and Abu Hurairah that: the two of them
used to go out to the market place during the ten days (of Zul-Hijjah)
saying: Allahu Akbar, causing the people also to say it. (Al-Bukhaaree)

Ishaaq narrates from the scholars of the Taabi'een that in these ten
days they used to say:

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar Laa Ilaaha illa 'llah Wa 'llahu Akbar,
Allahu Akbar Wa li'llahi al-hamd.

It is a beloved act to raise the voice when saying the Takbeer in the
markets, the houses, the streets, the Masjids and other places, because
of the saying of Allah, the Most High, in Surah al-Hajj, verse 37: "...
that you may magnify Allah for His Guidance to you"

The saying of Takbeer in congregation, ie everyone pronouncing the
Takbeer with one voice, is not permissible since this has not been
transmitted (to us) from the early generations of the Sahabah and those
who followed their ways. Verily, the Sunnah is for everyone to say the
Takbeer individually. And this is (generally) applicable to Dhikr and
supplications, except if the person doesn't know what to say. In that
case he may repeat after someone else until he learns (the words to be
said). It is also permissible to make Dhikr with all the different
wording of Takbeer and Tahmeed and Tasbeeh, and the rest of the Islamic
legislated supplications (from the Qur'an and Sunnah).

Fourth: At-Tawbah (repentance) and abstaining from disobedience and all
types of sins, since forgiveneand mercyare the results of deeds.
Disobedience is the cause of being far away (from Allah, the Most High)
and repulsion, while obedience is the cause of being near (to Allah,
Most High) and His love. In the hadith of Abu Hurairah he said that the
Prophet said: Verily Allah has a sense of Ghaira, and Allah's sense of
ghaira is provoked when a person does that which Allah has prohibited.
(Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

Fifth: Doing plenty of voluntary (nafl) righteous deeds of worship like
Prayer, Charity, Jihaad, reading the Qur'an, Commanding what is Good
and Forbidding what is Evil, and other such deeds.

Verily, these are amongst the deeds that are multiplied in these days.
It is during these days that even deeds that are less preferred, are
superior and more beloved to Allah than superior deeds done at other
times. (These deeds are superior) even to al-Jihaad - which is one of
the most superior of all deeds - except in the case of one whose horse
is killed and his blood is spilled (loss of life in Jihaad).

Sixth: It is legislated in these days to make at-Takbeer al-Mutlaq at
all times of night and day until the time of the Eid Prayer. Also,
at-Takbeer al-Muqayyad is legislated, and it is done after the (five)
obligatory prayers that are performed in congregation. This begins from
Dawn (Fajr) on the Day of Arafah (the 9th of Zul-Hijjah) for those not
performing Haj, and from Noon (Zhur) on the Day of Sacrifice (10th of
Zul-Hijjah) for those performing Haj (pilgrims); and it continues until
Asr prayer on the last day of the days of Tash-reeq (13th of
Zul-Hijjah).

Seventh: The slaughtering of a sacrificial animal (Adhiyah) is also
legislated for the Day of Sacrifice (10th) and the Days of Tashreeq
(11th, 12th and 13th). This is the Sunnah of our father Ibraaheem -
when Allah, the Most High, redeemed Ibraaheem's son by the great
sacrifice (of an animal in his place). It is authentically reported
that The Prophet Muhammad slaughtered (sacrificed) two horned rams,
black and white in colour, and said Takbeer (Allahu Akbar), and placed
his foot on their sides (while slaughtering them). (Al-Bukhaaree and
Muslim)

Eighth: Offering animal as Udhyia It has been narrated from Umm Salamah
(may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet said: If you see the
Hilal (new moon) of Zul-Hijjah, and any one of you wants to make a
sacrifice, then he should not cut (anything) from his hair and his
nails. (Muslim and others) . And in one narration, he said: .Then he
should not cut (anything) from his hair, nor from his nails, until he
performs the sacrifice. Perhaps this is because of the similarity with
the one who is bringing a sacrificial animal for slaughter (in Haj). As
Allah, the Most High, said: And do not shave your heads until the Hady
(sacrifice) reaches the place of sacrifice...

The apparent meaning of this prohibition is that it is particularly for
the one whom the sacrifice is for, and does not include the wife or
children, unless there is an individual sacrifice for one of them. There
is no harm in washing the head, or scratching it, even if hairs may fall
out.

Ninth: It is incumbent for the Muslim (who is not performing Haj) to
make every effort to perform the Eid Prayer wherever it is performed,
and to be present for the Khutbah and benefit.

He must know the wisdom behind the legislation of this Eid
(celebration) . It is a day of thankfulness and performing deeds of
righteousness. So, he must not make it a day of wildness, pride and
vanity. He should not make it a season for disobedience and increase in
the forbidden things like music and singing, uncontrolled amusement,
intoxicants and the like - those things which could cause the
cancellation of the good deeds done in these days (of Zul-Hijjah).

Tenth: After what has been mentioned, it is fitting that every Muslim,
male and female, take advantage of these days by obeying Allah, the
Most High, remembering Him, thanking Him, fulfilling all the obligatory
duties, and staying far away from the prohibited things. He must take
full advantage of this season, and the open display of Allah's gifts, to
attain the pleasure of his Lord.

Surely, Allah, the Most High, is the One Who grants success, and He is
the Guide to the Straight Path. And may the blessings of Allah, the
Most High, and peace be upon Muhammad and his family and companions!

Islamic Terms:

Ghaira: A sense of honour and prestige, and the anger caused by its
being violated.
At-Takbeer al-Mutlaq: the Takbeer (Allahu Akbar) which is unrestricted
to specific times or any specific form.
At-Takbeer al-Muqayyad: The Takbeer which is done at a particular time
and in a specific manner.

By:Shaykh Abdullah Ibn Abdur-Rahman al-Jibreen