Seasons Of WorshipThe Virtue of the First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and companions.
From Allah's mercy is that He gives His servants great seasons in which good deeds are multiplied, doors of good are opened, and the servant draws near to his Lord with acts of obedience that Allah loves. Among the greatest of these seasons are the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, noble days in which many virtues come together in a way not found in other days.
The Qur'an and Sunnah point to the virtue of these days, and the righteous early Muslims urged people to seize them with righteous deeds. They are a great opportunity for whoever wants closeness to Allah, to review himself, and to begin a fresh page of obedience.
Why They MatterWhy Are the Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah So Great?
They are great because Allah swore by them, righteous deeds in them are more beloved to Allah than deeds in other days of the year, they include the Day of Arafah and the Day of Nahr, and the major acts of worship gather within them: prayer, fasting, charity, remembrance, and Hajj for those whom Allah enables.
"By the dawn, and by ten nights." [Al-Fajr: 1-2]
{وَالفَجْرِ . وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ} [الفجر: 1-2].
Many scholars of tafsir mentioned that the ten nights refer to the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. Allah swearing by them points to their honor and great rank, for Allah only swears by something great.
Authentic HadithRighteous Deeds in Them Are More Beloved to Allah
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
"There are no days in which deeds are better than in these days."
مَا العَمَلُ فِي أَيَّامٍ أَفْضَلَ مِنْهَا فِي هَذِهِ.
They said: Not even jihad? He said:
"Not even jihad, except a man who goes out risking himself and his wealth and returns with nothing."
وَلَا الجِهَادُ، إِلَّا رَجُلٌ خَرَجَ يُخَاطِرُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ، فَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ بِشَيْءٍ.
Narrated by Al-Bukhari. Another wording mentions that righteous deeds in these days are more beloved to Allah.
This shows that all doors of good are sought in these days, and that a Muslim should strive in them as much as he can.
Best DaysWhy May They Be the Best Days of This World?
It is reported that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
"The best days of this world are the ten days."
أَفْضَلُ أَيَّامِ الدُّنْيَا أَيَّامُ العَشْرِ.
Narrated by Al-Bazzar and others, and authenticated by Al-Albani.
These days have a very great status with Allah. They are days of worship, remembrance, Hajj, takbir, fasting, charity, and repentance.
A Unique GatheringThe Major Acts of Worship Come Together in Them
One reason the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are so special is that the major acts of worship gather in them in a way not found in other days.
- Prayer and preserving the obligatory and voluntary prayers.
- Fasting, especially the Day of Arafah for the non-pilgrim.
- Charity and kindness to people.
- Dhikr, takbir, tahlil, and tahmid.
- Hajj and Umrah for those whom Allah enables.
- Udhiyah on the Day of Nahr and the Days of Tashriq for those able to offer it.
Al-Hafidh Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, pointed out that one reason these days are distinguished is the gathering of the major acts of worship within them.
Ninth DayThe Day of Arafah Is Among the Greatest of Them
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
"There is no day on which Allah frees more servants from the Fire than the Day of Arafah. He draws near, then boasts of them to the angels and says: What do these people want?"
مَا مِنْ يَوْمٍ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَنْ يُعْتِقَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ عَبْدًا مِنَ النَّارِ مِنْ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ، وَإِنَّهُ لَيَدْنُو، ثُمَّ يُبَاهِي بِهِمُ المَلَائِكَةَ، فَيَقُولُ: مَا أَرَادَ هَؤُلَاءِ؟
Narrated by Muslim.
When asked about fasting the Day of Arafah, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
"It expiates the previous year and the coming year."
يُكَفِّرُ السَّنَةَ المَاضِيَةَ وَالبَاقِيَةَ.
Narrated by Muslim. As for the pilgrim, it is better not to fast Arafah if fasting weakens him from du'a and standing at Arafah.
Tenth DayThe Day of Nahr Is One of the Greatest Days
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
"The greatest of days with Allah, Blessed and Exalted, is the Day of Nahr, then the Day of Qarr."
إِنَّ أَعْظَمَ الأَيَّامِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يَوْمُ النَّحْرِ، ثُمَّ يَوْمُ القَرِّ.
Narrated by Abu Dawud and authenticated by Al-Albani. The Day of Qarr is the eleventh day of Dhul-Hijjah, when the pilgrims remain in Mina after the Day of Nahr.
Best Deeds During the Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah
1Sincere Repentance
One of the greatest ways to begin these days is to repent to Allah from sins, return people's rights, and leave disobedience that blocks the heart from worship.
"And repent to Allah all together, O believers, so that you may succeed." [An-Nur: 31]
{وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا المُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ} [النور: 31].
Preserving the Obligatory Deeds
The greatest thing by which a servant draws near to Allah is fulfilling the obligations. It is not right to pursue voluntary deeds while neglecting prayer or delaying it beyond its time.
"My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more beloved to Me than what I have made obligatory upon him."
وَمَا تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ عَبْدِي بِشَيْءٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا افْتَرَضْتُ عَلَيْهِ.
Narrated by Al-Bukhari.
3Abundant Dhikr and Takbir
"...and mention the name of Allah during known days over what He has provided for them of grazing livestock..." [Al-Hajj: 28]
{وَيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَعْلُومَاتٍ عَلَى مَا رَزَقَهُمْ مِنْ بَهِيمَةِ الأَنْعَامِ} [الحج: 28].
A number of scholars said the known days are the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. A well-known form of takbir is:
Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. There is no god worthy of worship except Allah. Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and all praise is for Allah.
الله أكبر، الله أكبر، لا إله إلا الله، والله أكبر، الله أكبر، ولله الحمد.
Fasting
Fasting is a righteous deed. A Muslim should fast whatever he can of the first nine days, especially the Day of Arafah for the non-pilgrim. The day of Eid is not fasted, because fasting the Day of Nahr is forbidden.
5Charity and Goodness
Charity in these days is among the righteous deeds beloved to Allah. It includes giving money, feeding others, relieving distress, fulfilling needs, and showing kindness to parents, relatives, and the poor.
6Reciting the Qur'an
The Qur'an is among the greatest forms of remembrance. One of the best ways to fill these days is to set a clear portion of recitation and reflection, even if small but consistent.
7Preparing for Udhiyah for Whoever Intends It
Whoever intends to offer an udhiyah should refrain from cutting his hair and nails once the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah begin until he slaughters his sacrifice.
"When the ten days begin, and one of you intends to offer a sacrifice, he should not touch any of his hair or skin."
إِذَا دَخَلَتِ العَشْرُ، وَأَرَادَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يُضَحِّيَ، فَلَا يَمَسَّ مِنْ شَعَرِهِ وَبَشَرِهِ شَيْئًا.
Narrated by Muslim. This ruling applies to the person intending to offer the udhiyah, not to the family members on whose behalf it is offered.
Practical PlanHow Can a Muslim Make the Most of the Ten Days?
- Preserve the prayers at their times.
- Increase in takbir, tahlil, and tahmid.
- Read a fixed portion of Qur'an.
- Fast what is easy, especially Arafah for the non-pilgrim.
- Give daily charity, even if little.
- Make daily du'a with persistence.
- Maintain family ties and honor parents.
- Leave outward and hidden sins.
- Teach family and children the virtue of these days.
- Prepare for udhiyah if intending it and able.
FAQAre the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah better than Ramadan?
Scholars mention that the days of the first ten of Dhul-Hijjah are the best days of the year, while the last ten nights of Ramadan are the best nights because they include Laylat al-Qadr. Both seasons are great.
FAQShould all ten days be fasted?
What is meant is fasting the first nine days for whoever is able, because the tenth day is Eid and fasting it is forbidden. The most emphasized is fasting Arafah for the non-pilgrim.
FAQWhen does takbir begin?
General takbir begins when the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah enter and continues until the end of the Days of Tashriq. It is said at all times, not only after prayers.
FAQIs there a special du'a for the ten days?
No specific du'a is authentically established for each day of the ten. A Muslim should make abundant du'a for the good of this world and the Hereafter.
FAQWhat if someone cannot fast?
The doors of good are wide: preserve prayer, increase dhikr, give charity, recite Qur'an, make du'a, honor parents, and leave sins.
ConclusionConclusion
The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are a great season of obedience. Allah swore by them and made righteous deeds in them more beloved to Him than deeds in other days. Whoever Allah allows to reach them should praise Allah and strive in prayer, fasting, remembrance, charity, repentance, and Qur'an.
