Sacredness of  Dhu'l-Hijjah.

 

Dhu’l-Hijjah marks the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar and is notable for its unique importance, as the annual Hajj pilgrimage occurs in the holy city of Makkah. Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is obligatory for financially and physically able Muslims to perform at least once in their lifetime. The first 10 days of Dhu’l-Hijjah lead up to the climax of the Hajj, making them even more sacred.

 

The Virtue of the First Ten Days of Dhu'l-Hijjah.

 

Understanding the importance of these 10 days and utilizing them effectively can bring numerous benefits to a Muslim's life.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) described these days as the best and  most virtuous days of the year.

These days are so sacred that Allah swears an oath by them:‘By the dawn; by the ten nights’ [Qur’an, 89:1-2]

And Allah also reminds us: ‘Remember Allah during the appointed days’. [Qur’an, 2:203]

 

Ibn Abbas reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “No good deeds are better than what is done in these first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah.” Some companions of the Prophet said, “Not even jihad in the way of Allah?” The Prophet said, “Not even jihad in the way of Allah, except for a man who goes out with his life and wealth at risk and he returns with nothing.”[ Ṣaḥih al-Bukhari 969]

Muslims are encouraged to engage in abundant acts of worship and maximise their reward during the best ten days of the year. Here are some righteous deeds you can do on these days,

 

Dhikr

 

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "There are no days greater in the sight of Allah and in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Him than these ten days, so during this time recite a great deal of Tahlil ("La ilaha ill-Allah"), Takbir and Tahmid." [Reported by Ahmad, 7/224; Ahmad Shakir stated that it is sahih].

The Eid takbeer is an example of dhikr  that meets all three criteria - tahleel, takbeer and tahmeed.

Fasting in the first nine days

 

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’. [Bukhari]

 

If you can't fast for the full nine days, try to fast on the Day of Arafah, which is the ninth of Dhu’l-Hijjah. Arafah is the most blessed day of the year, just as Laylat al-Qadr is the most blessed night of the year. The Prophet (saw) said, ’There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than on the day of ‘Arafah’. (Muslim)

 

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "Fasting the day of Arafah (9th day of Dhu'l-Hijjah) expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year."

 

In addition with fasting, maximise Sadaqah during the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, Hasan al-Basri (rh) said, ‘Going to fulfil the need of your brother is better for you than performing Hajj after Hajj’.

 

Increase recitation of Holy Quran and pray Tahajud to get most out of these ten days.

 

Last but not the least give a Prophetic Qurbani.

 

The first 10 days of Dhu’l-Hijjah culminate in the celebration of Eid al-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice. This joyous occasion commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah. Muslims around the world offer animal sacrifices and distribute the meat to the poor and needy, emphasizing the values of generosity, gratitude, and compassion.

 

Abu Talhah (ra) reported, ‘The Prophet (saw) sacrificed for the one who could not sacrifice from his Ummah, one who bore witness to the Oneness of Allah and [his] Prophethood’. [Tabarani and Ahmad]

 

You also have the opportunity to follow a beautiful sunnah and give extra qurbani during Dhu’l-Hijjah to maximize your reward. This not only revives a forgotten sunnah but also doubles your impact by providing even more families with a rare meal of meat during the days of Eid ul Adha.

 

Sadly, we often display lesser dedication towards these 10 days compared to our enthusiasm (MashaAllah) during Ramadan, despite them being considered the greatest days of the year. It is primarily due to a lack of awareness regarding the virtues and rewards associated with these days. Therefore, it is crucial for each of us to become advocates of spreading awareness about the significance of these 10 days. By enlightening others about the importance and blessings tied to these days.