The First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah

“By the dawn. By the ten nights (i.e. the first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah).” (89:1-2)

• According to Ibn ‘Abbas radhiyallahu anhu, Qatadah, Mujahid and other leading commentators of the Noble Qur’an, the ‘ten nights’ in the above verse refers to the (first) ten nights of Dhul Hijjah. Ibn Abbas radhiyallahu anhu also said that these are the ten nights that are mentioned in the story of Nabi Musa alayhis salaam ‘…then We supplemented them with ten.’ (7:142) These were ten days which Allah had designated to Nabi Musa alayhis salaam.

• Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas radhiyallahu anhu related that Rasulullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam said, ‘Good deeds performed on other days are not superior to those performed on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijjah).’ The Sahabah radhiyallahu anhum inquired, ‘Not even Jihad?’ He replied, ‘Not even Jihad, except for that person who goes out putting himself and his wealth in danger and does not return with anything.’ (Bukhari)

• Abu Hurairah radhiyallahu anhu related that Rasulullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam said, ‘On no days is the worship of Allah more superior than in the (first) ten days of Dhul Hijjah. The fast of each of these days is equal to the fast of a whole year, and the worship of each of these nights is equal to the worship of Laylatul Qadr.’ (Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)

• Hafsah radhiyallahu anha reports that Rasulullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam used to fast on the (first) nine days of Zul Hijjah. (Nasa’i, Ahmad, Abu Dawud)

• Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar radhiyallahu anhu related that Rasulullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam said, ‘No days are as weighty with Allah and so liked by Him for good deeds more than the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. So on these days recite inabundance: Subhanallah, La ilaaha illallah, Alhamdulillah and Allahu Akbar.’ (Musnad Ahmad)

• Umm Salamah radhiyallahu anhu related that Rasulullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam said, ‘When you see the new moon of Dhul Hijjah, and one of you wants to offer a sacrifice, let him refrain from (removing anything) from his hair or nails.’ (Muslim). According to another version: ‘Let him not remove anything of his hair or skin.’ This is preferable and not a compulsory act.

• ‘Aishah radhiyallahu anha reports that Rasulullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam said, ‘There is no day in which Allah sets free more souls from the fire of hell than on the day of Arafah. And on that day Allah draws (with His mercy) near to the earth and by way of exhibiting His Pride remarks to the angels, ‘What is the desire of these (servants of mine)?’ (Muslim)

• Talhah radhiyallahu anhu reports that Rasulullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam said, ‘Apart from the day of the Battle of Badr there is no day on which the Shaytan is seen to be more humiliated, more rejected, more depressed and more infuriated, than on the day of Arafah, and indeed all this is only because of the abundance of descending mercy (on the day) and Allah’s forgiveness of the great
sins of the servants.’ (Mishkat)

• Abu Qatadah Al-Ansari radhiyallahu anhu reports that Rasulullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam was asked about the fast on the day of Arafah. He said, ‘It compensates for the (minor) sins of the past and the coming year.’ (Muslim, Tirmidhi, Ibne Majah)

• Abu Umarah radhiyallahu anhu related that ‘Aishah radhiyallahu anha reports that Rasulullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam said, ‘Whosoever stays awake and performs ‘Ibadah (worship) on the nights of the two ‘Eid, with hope for abundant reward (from Allah), his heart will not die on the day (i.e. Qiyamah) when all hearts will be dead.’ (Targheeb)

• Mu’aadh ibn Jabal radhiyallahu anhu relates that Rasulullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam said, ‘Jannah is incumbent for those who stay awake with the intention of worshipping Allah on the following nights: 8th, 9th and 10th of Dhul Hijjah, the night of ‘Eidul Fitr and the night of the 15th of Sha’ban.’(Targheeb)

• Rasulullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam said, ‘There is nothing dearer to Allah during the days of sacrifice than the slaughtering of animals. The sacrificed animal shall come on the Day of Judgement with its horns, hair, and hooves (to be weighed). The sacrifice is accepted by
Allah before the blood reaches the ground. Therefore sacrifice with an open and happy heart.’ (Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)

• It is incumbent for every adult Muslim to recite these Takbiraat of Tashreeq audibly once after every fardh salaah which is performed with congregation from the Fajr of 9th Dhul Hijjah to the ‘Asr of 13th Dhul Hijjah (i.e. total of 23 salah). The Takbiraat of Tashreeq are: Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa ilaaha illallahu wallahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Walil lahil hamd. Women should recite it in a soft tone.

Taken from http://www.jamiat.co.za/newsletter/online_newsletter_0445.htm