Virtues of the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah

Among the great seasons of worship are the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, which Allah (God) has favoured over other days. It was narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) 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.” (Reported by Bukhari)

The previous hadith, along with others indicates that these ten days are better than all other days of the year, with no exception. They are even better than the last ten days of Ramadan. However, the last ten nights of Ramadan are better than the first ten nights of Dhul-Hijjah, because they include Laylat ul-Qadr (the Night of Power), which is better than a thousand months.

Virtues of these ten days include:

• Allah swears by things to signify their importance, and Allah has sworn by these ten days in the Holy Qur’an, where He says,

“By dawn and ten nights” (Qur’an 89:1-2).

Early scholars including Ibn Abbaas stated that these ten nights are the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.

• As mentioned above, the Prophet (PBUH) said that these ten days are the best ten days of the year.
• The Prophet (PBUH) 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 lot of tahleel (La ilaha ill-Allaah, there is no God but Allah), takbeer (Allaahu Akbar, Allah is the Great) and tahmeed (Al-hamdu Lillaah, all praise be to Allah)” (Reported by Ahmad).
• The ten days include the day of ‘Arafat (9^thDay of Dhul-Hijjah), in which Allah completed the religion of Islam. Fasting this day erases the sins of the previous year and the following year (minor sins only, because major sins require repentance too).
• They include the day of “The big Hajj”, which is Eid day (10th of Dhul-Hijjah), and this day is the greatest day of the whole year.

So the Muslim should start these days with sincere repentance to Allah, then he should do a lot of righteous deeds in general, and he should try to do the following:

1. Fasting

It is recommended for the Muslim to fast the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah. The Prophet (PBUH) encouraged us to do righteous deeds in the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, and fasting is one of the best of deeds as mentioned in a 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” (Reported by Bukhari).

2. Reciting a lot of tahleel, takbeer and tahmeed

As previously mentioned, it is a Sunnah (tradition) to recite tahleel (Laa ilaaha ill-Allah), takbeer (Allahu akbar) and tahmeed (al-hamdu Lillah), during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. We should say these words out loud in the mosques, homes, streets and every place in which it is permissible to remember and proclaim the greatness of Allah. One way of doing takbeer in these days is as follows:

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, la Elaha ill-Allah, Allahu Akbar, wa Lillah El-Hamd (Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, there is none worthy of worship but Allah; Allah is the Most Great and to Allah be all praise).

This takbeer has become a forsaken Sunnah nowadays. Therefore, we hardly hear it. It should be recited out loudly to revive the Sunnah and remind the heedless. It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to go out to the marketplace during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, reciting the takbeer loudly, and people would recite takbeer when they heard them.

Reviving a Sunnah that have been forgotten brings a great deal of rewards, as is indicated by the Prophet (PBUH):

“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.” (Reported by Tirmidhi)

3. Performing Hajj and ‘Umrah

One of the greatest deeds that can be done during these ten days is to make Hajj to the sacred House of Allah. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “An accepted Hajj brings no less of a reward than Paradise.” (Reported by Bukhari)

4. Sacrificing an animal (Udhiyah)

One of the righteous deeds that bring a person closer to Allah in these ten days is to slaughter the sacrifice. Remember that if you intend to slaughter an animal, then you should not clip your nails or cut your hair during the first ten days.

5. Read more Quran
6. Pray all Sunnah prayers
7. Pray night prayers
8. Give charity
9. Spread knowledge
10. Repent to Allah and seek forgiveness from previous sins
11. Increase in asking for forgiveness by saying “Astaghfirullah”
12. Don’t look at something forbidden, don’t say something forbidden, don’t listen to something forbidden, etc.
13. Make Dua’a for Muslims worldwide

Source: Hadith Commentary