The (first) 10 days of Dhul Hijjah
Asalaam Wa Alykum Wa Rahmat Allah Hi Wa Barakat
November 19th 2009 (Thursday) marks the first day of Dhul' Hijjah (1 Dhul Hijjah 1430). Among the great seasons of worship are the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, which Allah has favoured over other days.
It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (RAA) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “There are no days on which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” They said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah?” He said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah, unless a man goes out himself for jihad taking his wealth with him and does not come back with anything.” (Al-Bukhaari, 2/457)
It was also narrated from Anas (RAA) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “There is no deed that is better before Allah or more greatly rewarded than a good deed done in the (first) ten days of al-Adha.” It was said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allaah?” He said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah, unless a man goes out himself for jihad taking his wealth with him and does not come back with anything.” (Al-Daarimi, 1/357; its isnaad is hasan as stated in al-Irwa’, 3/398)
These texts and others indicate that these ten days are better than all other days of the year, with no exception, even the last ten days of Ramadan. But the last ten nights of Ramadan are better than the first ten nights of Dhu’l-Hijjah, because they include Laylat al-Qadr, which is better than a thousand months (Tafseer Ibn Katheer 5/412)
So the Muslim should start these days with sincere repentance to Allah, then he should do a lot of righteous deeds in general, then he should pay attention to doing the following Sunnahs : 1 – Fasting
It is Sunnah for the Muslim to fast on the first nine days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, because the Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged us to do righteous deeds in the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, and fasting is one of the best of deeds, which Allah has chosen for Himself as it says in the hadith Qudsi:
“Allah says: ‘All the deeds of the son of Adam are for him, except fasting, which is for Me and I shall reward for it.” (Al-Bukhaari, 1805).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to fast on the first nine days of Dhu’l-Hijjah. It was narrated from Hunaydah ibn Khaalid from his wife, that one of the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to fast on the first nine days of Dhu’l-Hijjah and the day of ‘Ashoora’, and three days each month, the first Monday of the month and two Thursdays. (Al-Nasaa’i, 4/205 and Abu Dawood; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 2/462).
2 – Reciting tahmeed, tahleel and takbeer a great deal
It is Sunnah to recite takbeer (saying Allahu akbar (Allah is most great)), tahmeed (saying al-hamdu Lillah (praise be to Allah)), tahleel (saying Laa ilaaha ill-Allah (There is no god but Allah)) and tasbeeh (saying Subhaan-Allah (Glory be to Allah)), during the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, saying these words out loud in the mosques, homes, streets and every place in which it is permissible to remember Allah, to perform this act of worship openly and proclaim the greatness of Allah.
Men should recite out loud and women should recite quietly.
It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar (RAA) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “There are no days that are greater before Allah or in which good deeds are more beloved to Him, than these ten days, so recite a great deal of tahleel, takbeer and tahmeed during them.” (Ahmad, 7/224; its isnaad was classed as saheeh by Ahmad Shaakir).
The takbeer is as follows:
Allaah akbar, Allaahu akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, Allaahu akbar, wa Lillaah il-hamd (Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great, there is no god but Allaah; Allaah is Most Great and to Allaah be praise).
And there are other versions.
This takbeer has become a forsaken Sunnah nowadays, especially at the beginning of these ten days. You can hardly hear it except from a few. It should be recited out loud, so as to revive the Sunnah and remind the heedless. It was proven that Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah (RAA) used to go out to the marketplace during the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, reciting the takbeer our loud, and the people would recite takbeer when they heard them, i.e., the people would remember the talkbeer and each one would recite it by himself; it does not mean that they recited in unison – that is not prescribed in sharee’ah.
Reviving Sunnahs that have been forgotten brings a great deal of reward, as is indicated by the words of the Prophet (peace be upon him): “Whoever revives one of my Sunnahs that has died out after I am gone, will have a reward like that of everyone who does it, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest.” (Al-Tirmidhi, 7/443; this hadeeth is hasan because of corroborating reports).
3– Udhiyah (sacrifice)
One of the righteous deeds that bring a person closer to Allah in these ten days is to slaughter the sacrifice and to look for a good, fat animal and to spend money on it for the sake of Allah.
There are some etiquettes and rules to be followed when one has created the intention of sacrificing, like not cutting nails/hairs etc. But that is another topic.
After knowing all the above observances, every Muslim, male or female, must utilise these days in obedience to Allah, remembering Him, expressing gratefulness to Him, fulfilling all the obligatory observances, avoiding the reprehensible things and taking advantage of this season to acquire His mercy and the pleasure.
Let us hasten to make the most of these great days, before the negligent regrets what he did, and before he asks to go back and receives no response.
It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (RAA) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “There are no days on which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” They said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah?” He said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah, unless a man goes out himself for jihad taking his wealth with him and does not come back with anything.” (Al-Bukhaari, 2/457)
It was also narrated from Anas (RAA) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “There is no deed that is better before Allah or more greatly rewarded than a good deed done in the (first) ten days of al-Adha.” It was said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allaah?” He said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah, unless a man goes out himself for jihad taking his wealth with him and does not come back with anything.” (Al-Daarimi, 1/357; its isnaad is hasan as stated in al-Irwa’, 3/398)
These texts and others indicate that these ten days are better than all other days of the year, with no exception, even the last ten days of Ramadan. But the last ten nights of Ramadan are better than the first ten nights of Dhu’l-Hijjah, because they include Laylat al-Qadr, which is better than a thousand months (Tafseer Ibn Katheer 5/412)
So the Muslim should start these days with sincere repentance to Allah, then he should do a lot of righteous deeds in general, then he should pay attention to doing the following Sunnahs : 1 – Fasting
It is Sunnah for the Muslim to fast on the first nine days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, because the Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged us to do righteous deeds in the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, and fasting is one of the best of deeds, which Allah has chosen for Himself as it says in the hadith Qudsi:
“Allah says: ‘All the deeds of the son of Adam are for him, except fasting, which is for Me and I shall reward for it.” (Al-Bukhaari, 1805).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to fast on the first nine days of Dhu’l-Hijjah. It was narrated from Hunaydah ibn Khaalid from his wife, that one of the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to fast on the first nine days of Dhu’l-Hijjah and the day of ‘Ashoora’, and three days each month, the first Monday of the month and two Thursdays. (Al-Nasaa’i, 4/205 and Abu Dawood; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 2/462).
2 – Reciting tahmeed, tahleel and takbeer a great deal
It is Sunnah to recite takbeer (saying Allahu akbar (Allah is most great)), tahmeed (saying al-hamdu Lillah (praise be to Allah)), tahleel (saying Laa ilaaha ill-Allah (There is no god but Allah)) and tasbeeh (saying Subhaan-Allah (Glory be to Allah)), during the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, saying these words out loud in the mosques, homes, streets and every place in which it is permissible to remember Allah, to perform this act of worship openly and proclaim the greatness of Allah.
Men should recite out loud and women should recite quietly.
It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar (RAA) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “There are no days that are greater before Allah or in which good deeds are more beloved to Him, than these ten days, so recite a great deal of tahleel, takbeer and tahmeed during them.” (Ahmad, 7/224; its isnaad was classed as saheeh by Ahmad Shaakir).
The takbeer is as follows:
Allaah akbar, Allaahu akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, Allaahu akbar, wa Lillaah il-hamd (Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great, there is no god but Allaah; Allaah is Most Great and to Allaah be praise).
And there are other versions.
This takbeer has become a forsaken Sunnah nowadays, especially at the beginning of these ten days. You can hardly hear it except from a few. It should be recited out loud, so as to revive the Sunnah and remind the heedless. It was proven that Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah (RAA) used to go out to the marketplace during the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, reciting the takbeer our loud, and the people would recite takbeer when they heard them, i.e., the people would remember the talkbeer and each one would recite it by himself; it does not mean that they recited in unison – that is not prescribed in sharee’ah.
Reviving Sunnahs that have been forgotten brings a great deal of reward, as is indicated by the words of the Prophet (peace be upon him): “Whoever revives one of my Sunnahs that has died out after I am gone, will have a reward like that of everyone who does it, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest.” (Al-Tirmidhi, 7/443; this hadeeth is hasan because of corroborating reports).
3– Udhiyah (sacrifice)
One of the righteous deeds that bring a person closer to Allah in these ten days is to slaughter the sacrifice and to look for a good, fat animal and to spend money on it for the sake of Allah.
There are some etiquettes and rules to be followed when one has created the intention of sacrificing, like not cutting nails/hairs etc. But that is another topic.
After knowing all the above observances, every Muslim, male or female, must utilise these days in obedience to Allah, remembering Him, expressing gratefulness to Him, fulfilling all the obligatory observances, avoiding the reprehensible things and taking advantage of this season to acquire His mercy and the pleasure.
Let us hasten to make the most of these great days, before the negligent regrets what he did, and before he asks to go back and receives no response.
References:
Shaykh Waleed AbdulHakeem, Founder and Director of Ilm Path Academy
www.allaahuakbar.net
www.islamqa.com
Shaykh Waleed AbdulHakeem, Founder and Director of Ilm Path Academy
www.allaahuakbar.net
www.islamqa.com
