Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barkatuh!
The virtues of the
first ten days of Dhu'l-Hijjah
Are
the first ten days of Dhu'l-Hijjah more special than other days? What
are the righteous deeds that it is recommended to do a lot of during
these ten days?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Among the great seasons of worship are the first ten days of
Dhu'l-Hijjah, which Allaah has favoured over other days. It was narrated
from Ibn 'Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "There are no days on
which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allaah than these ten days." They
said: "Not even jihad for the sake of Allaah?" He said: "Not even jihad for
the sake of Allaah, unless a man goes out himself for jihad taking his
wealth with him and does not come back with anything." Narrated by
al-Bukhaari, 2/457
It was also narrated
from Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "There is no deed that is better
before Allaah 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 Allaah, unless a man goes out
himself for jihad taking his wealth with him and does not come back with
anything." Narrated by 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 Ramadaan. But the last ten nights of Ramadaan are better than the
first ten nights of Dhu'l-Hijjah, because they include Laylat al-Qadr,
which is better than a thousand months. See Tafseer Ibn Katheer,
5/412.
So the Muslim should start these days with sincere repentance
to Allaah, then he should do a lot of righteous deeds in general, then he
should pay attention to doing the following deeds:
1 – Fasting
It is Sunnah for the Muslim to fast on the first nine days of
Dhu'l-Hijjah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah 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 Allaah has
chosen for Himself as it says in the hadeeth qudsi: "Allaah says: 'All the
deeds of the son of Adam are for him, except fasting, which is for Me and I
shall reward for it." Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1805.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah 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 and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: The Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah 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. Narrated by al-Nasaa'i,
4/205 and by 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 Allaahu akbar (Allaah
is most great)), tahmeed (saying al-hamdu Lillah (praise be to Allaah)),
tahleel (saying Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah (There is no god but Allaah)) and
tasbeeh (saying Subhaan-Allaah (Glory be to Allaah)), 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 Allaah, to
perform this act of worship openly and proclaim the greatness of Allaah.
Men should recite out loud and women should recite quietly.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"That they may witness
things that are of benefit to them (i.e. reward of Hajj in the Hereafter,
and also some worldly gain from trade), and mention the Name of Allaah on
appointed days, over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them (for
sacrifice)"
[al-Hajj 22:28]
The majority are of the view that the "appointed days" are
the first ten days of Dhu'l-Hijjah, because it was narrated from Ibn
'Abbaas
(may Allaah be pleased with him) that the appointed days are the first ten
days of Dhu'l-Hijjah.
It was narrated from 'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Umar (may Allaah be
pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: "There are no days that are greater before Allaah 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."
Narrated by 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 (may Allaah be pleased with them both) 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 and
blessings of Allaah 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."
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 7/443; this hadeeth is hasan because of
corroborating reports.
3 – Doing Hajj and 'Umrah
One of the greatest deeds that can be done during these ten
days is Hajj to the sacred House of Allaah. Whoever Allaah helps to go on
Hajj to His House and do the rituals in the required manner will – in sha
Allaah – be included in the words of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him): "An accepted Hajj brings no less a reward
than Paradise."
4 – Udhiyah (sacrifice)
One of the righteous deeds that bring a person closer to
Allaah 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 Allaah.
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.
Source: Islam Q&A
http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/49042
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and good in the hereafter,
and save us from the chastisement of the
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