The Blessed Days of Dhul Hijjah
In what follows, we will highlight some of the Sunnah regarding these days, hoping by this to provide an incentive to make the best out of them and gain Allaah's
reward, in shaa' Allaah.
The First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah
"The best days in the world are the Ten days." [Ibn Hibbaan, al-Bazzaar, authenticated in Saheeh Jaami' us-Sagheer #1133]
"There are no days during which good deeds are more beloved by Allaah than these (ten) days." [al-Bukhaaree, at-Tirmidhee and others] The Prophet, sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam, was then asked: "Not even Jihaad in Allaah's way?" He replied: "Not even Jihaad in Allaah's way; except for a person who went out (for Jihaad)
with his self and wealth and came back with none (i.e. lost all for Allaah)." [at-Tirmidhee, authenticated in al-Albaanee's Irwaa' ul-Ghaleel, #953]
All good deeds can be done during these days and the early generations of Muslims used to exert themselves excessively in worshipping Allaah. In particular, fasting
and dhikr (mentioning and remembering Allaah) are to be done in plenty on these days.
Dhikr
Ibn 'Abbaas commented on the verse <<...and to mention Allaah's name [plentifully] on Known days>> [22:28] by saying: <...these known days are the ten days
[of Dhul Hijjah].> [Tafseer ibn Katheer]
Fasting
One of the wives of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said: "Allaah's Messenger used to fast the (first) nine days of Dhul Hijjah, the day of 'Ashooraa', and
three days of each month. [Saheeh Sunan Abee Daawood #2129]
Fasting on all these days, however, is not a waajib (compulsory), nor is it a constant sunnah that the Messenger, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, never dropped.
'Aa'ishah said: "I never saw the Messenger, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, fast the ten days." [Muslim]
The Day of 'Arafah - The Best Day of the Whole Year
The day of 'Arafah is the day when the pilgrims stand in worship on the Mountain of 'Arafah.
"Fasting the day of 'Arafah expiates the [minor] sins of two years: a past one and a coming one. And fasting the day of 'Aashooraa' expiates the sins of the past
year." [Muslim]
"There is no day on which Allaah 'azza wa jall frees people from the Fire as He does no the day of 'Arafah. He comes close (to those standing on 'Arafah) and then
revels before His angels, saying: "What are these people seeking?" [Muslim]
The Day of al-'Ad-haa
The tenth of Dhul-Hijjah is 'Eed ul- Ad-haa or the day of an-Nahr (slaughtering). It marks the conclusion of the major rites of Hajj, and commemorates Allaah's
bounty on His Messenger Ibraaheem, when He gave him a ram to sacrifice as ransom for his son Ismaa'eel, 'alayhimassalaam.
"The day of al-Fitr [i.e. 'Eed ul-Fitr], the day of an-Nahr, and the days of Tashreeq are 'Eed days for us Muslims. They are days of eating and drinking." [Ahmad,
an-Nasaa'ee, Saheeh ul-Jaami' #8192]
The Three Days Following 'Eed ul-'Ad-haa
On these days, the pilgrims complete their rites, Muslims continue with their 'Eed celebrations, and are prohibited to fast. "The days of tashreeq are days of eating,
drinking and mentioning Allaah." [Muslim]
The Sacrifice
Allaah 'azza wa jall mentioned the sacrifice together with the first and foremost worship in Islaam: prayer. This is a clear indication of its great importance. Thus He
ordered His Messenger, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, to slaughter sacrifices by saying: <<...Pray unto your Lord and slaughter [your sacrifice]..." [109:2]
Ruling
The general concensus of the Muslim scholars is that the sacrifice is an important sunnah, and a worship called for in the Law of Allaah. However, they differ as to
whether it is nafl (voluntary) or waajib (mandatory) for those who can afford it. Some scholars have explained the different ahaadeeth on the subject by stating that
the sacrifice is obligatory on those who can afford it and not obligatory on those who cannot.
Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said: "He who has the capacity, and does not sacrifice, may not approach our musallaa
(place of prayer - on the 'Eed)." [Ibn Maajah, Ahmad and others, authenticated by Al-Albaanee in Saheeh Sunan Ibn Maajah, #2533]
Regarding this hadeeth, Imaam ash-Shaukaanee said: "Prohibiting the one who could afford to sacrifice, but did not do so, from approaching the musallaa indicates
that he must have left off a waajib, as it becomes useless to offer the salaah without this waajib [obligation]." [Nayl ul-Awtaar]
Avoid Cutting Hair or Nails
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 'Eed then, once the hilaal (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 havethe 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.
Allaahu A'lam
Our last call is all praise is to Allaah and may His salaah and salaam
be upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family.
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Ibn 'Abbas says about the Aayah, "Remember
Allaah during the well known days," that it refers to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. [This is related
by al-Bukhari]
Allaah swears an oath by them, and swearing an oath by
something is indicative of its importance and great benefit. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning): "By the dawn; by the 10 nights"
[al-Fajr 89:1-2].
Ibn
Abbaas, Ibn al-Zubayr, Mujaahid and others of the earlier and later
generations said that this refers to the first ten days of
Dhul-Hijjah. Ibn Katheer said: "This is the correct opinion." [Tafseer
Ibn Katheer, 8/413]
Praise be to Allaah Who has created Time and has made some times better
than others, some months and days and nights better than others, when rewards
are multiplied many times, as a mercy towards His slaves. This encourages
them to do more righteous deeds and makes them more eager to worship Him, so that the Muslim renews his efforts to gain a
greater share of reward, prepare himself for death and
supply himself in readiness for the Day of Judgement.
This season of worship brings many benefits, such as the opportunity to
correct ones faults and make up for any shortcomings or anything that one
might have missed. Every one of these special occasions involves some
kind of worship through which the slaves may draw closer to Allaah, and
some kind of blessing though which Allaah bestows His favour and mercy
upon whomsoever He will. The happy person is the one who makes the most of
these special months, days and hours and draws nearer to his Lord during
these times through acts of worship; he will most likely be touched by the
blessing of Allaah and will feel the joy of knowing that he is safe
from the flames of Hell. [Ibn Rajab, al-Lataaif, p.8]
Ibn 'Abbas reports that the Messenger of Allaah
(sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) 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
Allaah, not even jihad in the way of Allaah?" He said,
"Not even jihad, except for the man who puts his life and wealth in danger
[for Allaah'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 Allaah
(sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "There is no day more honorable in
Allaah's sight and no acts more beloved therein to Allaah than those in these
ten days. So say tahlil (There is no deity worthy of worship but Allaah : Laa
ilaaha illallaah), takbir (Allaah is the greatest : Allaahu Akbar) and
tahmid (All praise is due to Allaah : alhumdulillaah) a lot [on those
days]." [Reported by Ahmad, 7/224; Ahmad Shaakir stated it is saheeh]
Abu Hurairah relates that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa
sallam) said, "There are no days more loved to Allaah for you to worship Him
therein than the ten days of Dhul Hijja. 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]
Ibn 'Umar narrated that at Mina, the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu
'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Do you know what is the day today?" The people
replied, "Allaah and His Messenger know it better." He said, "It is the
forbidden (sacred) day. And do you know what town is this?" They replied,
"Allaah and His Messenger know it better." He said, "This is the forbidden
(sacred) town (Mecca). And do you know which month is this?" The people
replied, "Allaah and His Apostle know it better." He said, "This is the
forbidden (sacred) month." The Messenger added, "No doubt, Allaah made your
blood, your properties, and your honour sacred to one another like
the sanctity of this day of yours in this month of yours in this town of
yours."
Narrated Ibn 'Umar: On the Day of Nahr (10th of Dhul-Hijja), the Messenger
(sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) stood in between the Jamrat during his Hajj
which he performed (as in the previous Hadith) and said, "This is the
greatest Day (i.e. 10th of Dhul-Hijjah)." The Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi
wa sallam) started saying repeatedly, "O Allaah! Be Witness (I have
conveyed Your Message)." He then bade the people farewell. The people said,
"(This is Hajjat-al-Wada)." [Bukhari 2.798]
Fasting Day of Arafat
Abu Qatadah reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa
sallam) said, "Fasting on the day of 'Arafah is an expiation for two years,
the year preceding it and the year following it. Fasting the day of 'Ashurah
is an expiation for the year preceding it." [This is related by "the
group," except for al-Bukhari and at-Tirmidhi]
Hafsah reported, "There are five things that the Messenger (sallallaahu
'alaihi wa sallam) 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'ah before the dawn prayer." [This is related by Ahmad and
an-Nasa'i]
'Uqbah ibn 'Amr reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi
wa sallam) said, "The day of 'Arafah, the day of sacrifice, and the days of
tashreeq are 'ids for us--the people of Islam--and they are days of eating
and drinking." [This is related by "the five," except for Ibn
Majah. At-Tirmidhi grades it sahih]
Abu Hurairah stated, "The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa
sallam) forbade fasting on the day of 'Arafah for one who is actually at
'Arafah." [This is related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i, and Ibn
Majah]
At-Tirmidhi comments: "The scholars prefer that the day of 'Arafah be
fasted unless one is actually at 'Arafah."
Takbeer
It is Sunnah to say Takbeer ("Allaahu akbar"), Tahmeed ("Al-hamdu Lillaah"), Tahleel ("La ilaha ill-Allaah") and Tasbeeh ("Subhaan
Allaah") during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, and to say it loudly in
the mosque, the home, the street and every place where it is permitted to
remember Allaah and mention His name out loud, as an act of worship and as
a proclamation of the greatness of Allaah, may He be exalted. Men should
recite these phrases out loud, and women should recite them quietly.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"That they might witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e., reward
of Hajj in the Hereafter, and also some worldly gain from trade, etc.), 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 of scholars agree that the "appointed days" are the first ten
days of Dhul-Hijjah, because of the words of Ibn Abbas (may Allaah be pleased
with him and his father), "The appointed days are the first ten days (of
Dhul-Hijjah)."
The Takbeer may include the words "Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, la ilaaha
ill-Allaah; wa Allaahu akbar wa Lillaahil- hamd (Allaah is Most Great, Allaah
is Most Great, there is no deity worthy of worship but Allaah; Allaah is Most
Great and to Allaah be praise)," as well as other phrases.
Takbeer at this time is an aspect of the Sunnah that has been forgotten,
especially during the early part of this period, so much so that one hardly
ever hears Takbeer, except from a few people. This Takbeer should be
pronounced loudly, in order to revive the Sunnah and as a reminder to the
negligent. There is sound evidence that Ibn Umar and Abu Hurairah
(may Allaah be pleased with them) used to go out in the marketplace during
the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, reciting Takbeer, and the people would
recite Takbeer when they heard them. The idea behind reminding the people to
recite Takbeer is that each one should recite it individually, not in unison,
as there is no basis in Sharee'ah for doing this.
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