Dhul Hijjah: The Virtues of the First Ten Days

Dhul Hijjah is the last of the twelve months of the Islamic Calendar and the month in which the glorious rite of Hajj is performed by the Muslims.

The first ten days of the month are considered highly virtuos and full of Rahma and as such, we are encouraged to inrease our acts of Ibadah during these blessed days. There are qur'anic verses and ahadith that make direct reference to these days, indicating their virtue.

Allah (SWT) says, in His Glorious Qur'an,

"By the dawn; By the 10 nights” [al-Fajr 89:1-2].
Most scholars agree that these ten nights refer to the first ten nights of Dhul-Hijjah. Ibn Katheer also had validated that opinion by stating: “This is the correct opinion.” [Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 8/413]
All scholars agree that if Allah swears by something, it shows the importance of that thing.

And in Q2:203, Allah says, "And remember Allah during the appointed Days"

Ibn `Abbas said, `The Appointed Days are the Days of Tashriq (11-12-13th of Dhul-Hijjah) while the Known Days are the (first) ten (days of Dhul-Hijjah).''

(And remember Allah during the Appointed Days.) means reciting the Takbir -- Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, during the days of Tashriq after the compulsory prayers. Imam Ahmad reported that `Uqbah bin

`Amr said that Allah's Messenger said: "(The day of `Arafah (9th of Dhul-Hijjah), the day of the Sacrifice (10th) and the days of the Tashriq (11-12-13th) are our `Id (festival) for we people of Islam. These are days of eating and drinking.)" Imam Ahmad reported that Nubayshah Al-Hudhali said that Allah's Messenger said: "(The days of Tashriq are days of eating, drinking and Dhikr (remembering) of Allah.)" Muslim also recorded this Hadith.

 There are numerous ahadith which also testify to the importance of these blessed days.

• Ibn 'Abbas reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these days [meaning the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah]." The companions asked, "O Messenger of Allah, not even jihad in the way of Allah?" He said, "Not even jihad, except for the man who puts his life and wealth in danger [for Allah's sake] and returns with neither of them." [This is related by the group except Muslim and an-Nasa'i]

• Ahmad and at-Tabarani record from Ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "There is no day more honorable in Allah's sight and no acts more beloved therein to Allah than those in these ten days. So say tahlil (There is no deity worthy of worship but Allah: La ilaha ill Allah), takbir (Allah is the greatest: Allahu Akbar) and tahmid (All praise is due to Allah: alhumdulillah) a lot [on those days]." [Reported by Ahmad, 7/224; Ahmad Shakir stated it is Sahih]

• Abu Hurairah relates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "There are no days more loved to Allah for you to worship Him therein than the ten days of Dhul Hijjah. Fasting any day during it is equivalent to fasting one year and to offer salatul tahajjud (late-night prayer) during one of its nights is like performing the late night prayer on the night of power. [i.e., Lailatul Qadr]." [This is related by at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and al-Baihaqi]

What To Do In Those Days?

• Dhikr:

Q2:203 says,"Celebrate the praises of Allah during the Appointed Days. But if any one hastens to leave in two days, there is no blame on him, and if any one stays on, there is no blame on him, if his aim is to do right.
Then fear Allah, and know that ye will surely be gathered unto Him."

"That they may witness things that are of benefit to them, and mention the Name of Allah on appointed days, over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them. Then eat thereof and feed therewith the poor having a hard time:(Q22:28).

"And mention the Name of Allah on appointed days, over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them (for sacrifice)." Shu`bah and Hushaym narrated from Abu Bishr from Sa`id from Ibn `Abbas, "The appointed days are the ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah)." Al-Bukhari narrated this with a disconnected chain in a manner denoting his approval of it. Something similar was narrated from Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari, Mujahid, Qatadah, `Ata', Sa`id bin Jubayr, Al-Hasan, Ad-Dahhak, `Ata' Al-Khurasani and Ibrahim An-Nakha`i

Al-Bukhari recorded from Ibn `Abbas that the Prophet said:

«مَا الْعَمَلُ فِي أَيَّامٍ أَفْضَلَ مِنْهَا فِي هَذِه»

(No deeds are more virtuous than deeds done on these days.) They said, "Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah'' He said,

«وَلَا الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ إِلَّا رَجُلٌ يَخْرُجُ يُخَاطِرُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ فَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ بِشَيْء»

(Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah, unless a man goes out risking himself and his wealth for the sake of Allah, and does not come back with anything.) Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Umar said, "The Messenger of Allah said:

«مَا مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أَعْظَمَ عِنْدَ اللهِ وَلَا أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ الْعَمَلُ فِيهِنَّ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأَيَّامِ الْعَشْرِ فَأَكْثِرُوا فِيهِنَّ مِنَ التَّهْلِيلِ وَالتَّكْبِيرِ وَالتَّحْمِيد»

(There are no days that are greater before Allah or in which deeds are more beloved to Him than these ten days, so increase your Tahlil, Takbir, and Tahmid during these days.) Al-Bukhari said, "Ibn `Umar and Abu Hurayrah used to go out in the marketplace during the ten days and say Takbir, and the people would say Takbir when they said Takbir.'' These ten days include the day of `Arafah.

• Fasting:

It was recorded in Sahih Muslim that Abu Qatadah said, "The Messenger of Allah was asked about fasting on the day of `Arafah, and he said,

«أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الْمَاضِيَةَ وَالْآتِيَة»

(I hope by Allah that it will be an expiation for the previous year and the coming year. ) These ten days include the day of An-Nahr (Sacrifice), which is the greatest day of Hajj, and it was recorded in a Hadith that it is the most virtous day to Allah.
 
It was also reported from Hafsah(Radiyallahu anha) that, “There are five things that the Messenger (saws) never abandoned: fasting the day of ‘Ashurah, fasting the [first] 10 [days of Dhul-Hijjah], fasting 3 days of every month and praying two rak’aah before the dawn prayer.” [Related by Ahmad and an-Nasa'i]
 
However, ther is another hadith narrated by Aishah (Radiyallahu anha), that she has never seen the Prophet fast the entire nine days. This contrary hadith shows that fasting the entire days is not wajib but should be considered an extra act of Ibadah.

• The Sacrifice:

All abled Muslims are required to sacrifice an animal on the day of Eid. This is in accordance with the story of Ibahim and Isma'il (Alaihimussalam). "And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice (i.e. ??? - a ram)"(Q37:107)


(over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them.) means, camels, cattle and sheep, as Allah explained in Surat Al-An`am:

ثَمَـنِيَةَ أَزْوَجٍ

(eight pairs) 6:143

فَكُلُواْ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُواْ الْبَآئِسَ الْفَقِيرَ

(Then eat thereof and feed therewith the poor having a hard time.) It was recorded that when the Messenger of Allah offered his sacrifice, he commanded that part of each animal should be taken and cooked, and he ate some of the meat and drank some of the broth.
 
The one who plans to sacrifice (normally, the head of household) is prohibited to cut his hair or nails from the first Dhul Hijjah until he offers the sacrifice. "For the one who has a slaughtering to perform (on ‘Eid then, once the Hilal (crescent) of Dhul Hijjah is observed, let him not cut any of his hair or nails until he sacrifices." And in another narration: "Once the ten days start, for those of you who have the intention to sacrifice, let them not cut any of their hair or nails (until they sacrifice)." [Muslim] This prohibition is the opinion of the majority of the scholars of the early generations of Muslims.

• Increase Good Deeds in General:

Muslims are encouraged to increase all act of good deeds in general during these blessed days; sadaqah, nafl prayers, qur'anic recitation, and all other acts enjoined by Allah.

May Allah (SWT) accept all our acts of Ibadah and forgive our sins.
Pass this on to other people as an act of Ibadah on your part, and pray for the person who sent it to you.

Further Reading:
http://www.performhajj.com/first_ten_days_of_dhul_hijjah.php
http://www.iqrasense.com/hajj/celebrating-the-first-ten-days-and-nights-of-dhul-hijjah-hajj-season.html
http://hqe.assunnah.info/