Virtues of the Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah
Shiekh Salh AL Munijjed
How do the first ten days of the Month of Dhul Hijjah differ from other days of
the year?
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)
The Muslim must understand the value of his life, increase his worship of
Allaah and persist in doing good deeds until the moment of death. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty." [al-Hijr
15:99] The mufassireen (commentators) said: "The certainty means death."
Among the special seasons of worship are the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah,
which Allaah has preferred over all the other days of the year. Ibn Abbaas
(may Allaah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "There are no days in which
righteous deeds are more beloved to Allaah than these ten days." The people
asked, "Not even jihaad for the sake of Allaah?" He said, "Not even jihaad for
the sake of Allaah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving
himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing." (Reported
by al-Bukhaari, 2/457).
Ibn Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him and his father) also reported that
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "There is no deed
more precious in the sight of Allaah, nor greater in reward, than a good deed
done during the ten days of Sacrifice." He was asked, "Not even jihaad for the
sake of Allaah?" He said, "Not even jihaad for the sake of Allaah, except in
the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for
the cause, and came back with nothing." (Reported by al-Daarimi, 1/357; its
isnaad is hasan as stated in al-Irwaa, 3/398).
These texts and others indicate that these ten days are better than all the
other days of the year, with no exceptions, not even the last ten days of
Ramadaan. But the last ten nights of Ramadaan are better, because they include
Laylat al-Qadr ("the Night of Power"), which is better than a thousand months.
Thus the various reports may be reconciled. (See Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 5/412).
You should know, my brother in Islaam, that the virtue of these ten days is
based on many things:
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 ten 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)
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) testified that these
are the best days of this world, as we have already quoted above from saheeh
ahaadeeth.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) encouraged people to do
righteous deeds because of the virtue of this season for people throughout the
world, and also because of the virtue of the place - for the Hujjaaj (pilgrims)
to the Sacred House of Allaah.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded us to recite
a lot of Tasbeeh ("Subhan-Allaah"), Tahmeed ("Al-hamdu Lillaah") and Takbeer
("Allaahu akbar") during this time. Abdullaah ibn Umar (may Allaah be pleased
with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: "There are no days greater in the sight of Allaah and
in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Him than these ten days, so during
this time recite a great deal of Tahleel ("La ilaaha ill-Allaah"), Takbeer and
Tahmeed." (Reported by Ahmad, 7/224; Ahmad Shaakir stated that it is saheeh).
These ten days include Yawm Arafaah (the Day o
