The Blessed Ten Days of Zul Hijjah
Allah (SWT) set apart these ten days and nights with multiples of reward for good deeds. Allah made an oath referring to these ten days validating its worth and blessings, Allah said in surah Al Fajr, 1, 2, “By the dawn and by the ten nights.” These ten days and nights possess nobility and blessings as Allah multiplies the rewords for the good deeds in them over the rest of the days of the year. In explaining these benefits, the prophet Mohammed (pbuh) shed light on the fact that they are the best days of the year, are a season of getting rewords and an arena where competition for good deeds are performed.
It was narrated by Bukhari on the authority of Ibn Abbas that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “There is not a better deed loved by Allah more than a good deed performed during these ten days. The companions asked: “O Prophet of Allah! Even struggling for the sake of Allah! The Prophet replied: “Even struggling for the sake of Allah.” Then the Prophet said: “Except in the case of a man went out for the sake of Allah with his money and he lost both his life and his money.” In another narration by Jaber, the Prophet said: “There are no days better in the sight of Allah than the first ten days of Zul Hijjah.” This hadeath indicates the preference of these ten days among any other days of the year and the exceptional high rewards for the one who worship Allah in these days. The only deed that is better or equal is the deed of the man who met the enemy with his soul and money and he lost them both.
Ibn Hajar said that the wisdom in providing these ten days with this benefits and blessings, that all the principal rituals and worships of Islam are encompassed within these ten days “Hajj, charity, fasting and salah”. This does not happen in any other days of the year, for this reason it is recommended to do the best you can of worshiping and glorifying Allah and to increase all other good deeds in these ten days.
Illustrating this perfection and nobility of these ten days, we start with the most blessed and honorable deed that can go through your mind and uttered by the tongue; which is “Ziker Allah” the remembrance of Allah, the glorification of Allah, the praise of Allah. These ten days are the best days for making Ziker and glorifying Allah. Imam Al-Nawawi said: “It is desirable to increase your efforts by making Ziker during these ten days more than what you do during other days of the year. The same applies for the Day of Arafat. Allah said in surah Al-Hajj, verse 28: “and celebrate the name of Allah, through the Days Appointed.” It was narrated by Ahmed on the authority of Ibn Omar may God be pleased with him that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Allah loves the most; the ten days of Zul Hijjah as well as the good deeds are performed during them. So do as much as you can during these days of glorifying Allah, worshiping Him and thanking Him.” Al bukhari and Ibn abbas said “and celebrate the name of Allah, through the Days Appointed.” are the ten days of Zul Hijjah. Ibn Omar and Abu Hurairah used to go to the market during these ten days glorifying Allah and the people glorify Allah with them.
The nights of these ten days are the best to perform the voluntarily night prayers. Each night is equal in benefits to the night of Power. The Hanafi and Hanbali School of thoughts declared that it is recommended to perform optional night prayers during the first ten nights of Zul Hujjah. They drew their conclusion from the hadeath narrated by Al-Termizy on the authority of Abu-Huraryarah that the Prophet said: “There are no days are loved by Allah for His servants to worship Him more, than the first ten days of Zul-Hijjah. Then the prophet added and celebrating each night with voluntarily night prayers and supplication is equal to worshiping Allah with voluntarily night prayers and supplication on the night of power.”
Fasting during the ten days is among the best times to fast, since fasting each day is equivalent to fasting for one year. It was narrated by Ibn Abbas that the Prophet said: “Fasting a day of these ten days equal to fasting one year and the reward for the deed is multiplied 700 times.” Also it was narrated in sonnan Al-Termizy on the authority of Aby-Horrirah that the prophet (pbuh) said “There are no days are loved by Allah for His servants to worship Him more, than the first ten days of Zul-Hijjah. Then the prophet added Fasting a day of these ten days is equal to fasting one year.” The scholars said: “It is recommended to fast during the first ten days of Zul Hijjah except the tenth day, which is the day of Eid (day of sacrifice).” Fasting these days is a Sunnah that was performed by the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh). It was narrated by Abo-Dawood and Al-Nisaii on the authority of some of the Prophet’s wives that: “The Prophet (pbuh) used to fast the nine days of Zul Hijjah, the day of Ashoraa, three days of every month and the first Monday and Thursday of every month.” It was narrated by Ahmed and Al-Nisaii that Hafsah said: “there are four things the Prophet maintained at all time (fasting the day of Ashoraa, the first ten days of Zul-Hijjah, three days of every month, and praying two Rakkat before fajr”.
With regards to the benefits of fasting the day of Arafat, the scholar in agreement that it is advised to all except the pilgrims in Mecca, it was narrated in Saheh Muslim on the authority of Aby-Qatadah that the prophet (pbuh) said “fasting the day of Arafat abolish sins of two years, one past and one coming. And fasting the day of Ashoraa abolishes sins of a past year.” The benefits of these ten days are countless, it is not wise for the Muslim to waste and throw away all the rewards but it is wise for the Muslim to take advantage of it and to compete to accomplish many good deeds as possible.
Written by: Imam Mahmoud Suliman
Translation by: Dr. Mounib Shaaban
