The best days of the Year – The first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah

Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allahﷺ said,

“There are no days during which the righteous action is so pleasing to Allah than these days (i.e., the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah).”

He was asked: “O Messenger of Allah, not even Jihad in the Cause of Allah?”

He ﷺ replied,

“Not even Jihad in the Cause of Allah, except in case one goes forth with his life and his property and does not return with either of it.”

[Al-Bukhari].

Hajj

Hajj is one of the 5 pillars that Islam is built upon and that is obligatory for Muslims that can afford it.

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka`bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence); and whoever disbelieves [i.e., denies Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah), then he is a disbeliever of Allah], then Allah stands not in need of any of the `Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).” (3:97)

Below is the link for a Hajj guide by Abu Khadeejah which can be downloaded and printed.

http://www.abukhadeejah.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Hajj-and-Umrah-Guide-Book-2014.pdf

What can we do in the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah.

·        Strive with Dhikr – (remembrance of Allah)

·        Read Qur’an

·        Give in charity

·        Do good deeds

·        Fast the first 9 days especially the 9^th Dhul Hijjah which is Day of Arafat – (the 10^th is Eid al Adha)

·        Teach our children the virtues of these blessed days and encourage them to strive along with you and older children to fast if able to.

·      Teach your children the story of the event in the life of Ibrahim (alaihis-salaam) when Allah revealed to him in a dream that he sacrificed his son. The story can be found in the Quran 37:102-107. After Ibrahim showed that he was willing to make this sacrifice, Allah provided an animal to be sacrificed instead. 

·        Teach your children about the well of Zam Zam.

·        If you have a friend or relative who has completed Hajj, get them to describe their experience

       Look at a map of Hajj and the different sites where rituals take place.

Day of Arafat

Fasting on the day of Arafah is an expiation for two years:

The ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah is the day of ’Arafah, it is on this day that the pilgrims gather at the mountain plain of ’Arafah, praying and supplicating to their Lord.

It is mustahabb (highly recommended) for those who a not pilgrims to fast on this day, since the Prophet ﷺ was asked about fasting on the day of ’Arafah, so he said,

“It expiates the sins (Minor) of the past year and the coming year.” [Muslim (no. 1162)].

There is no days which Allah saves more slaves from the fire that day and Allah draws nearer to the lowest heaven.

The Prophet ﷺ said

 ‘There is no day on which Allah frees people from the Fire more so than on the day of ’Arafah. He comes close to those (people standing on ’Arafah), and then He revels before His Angels saying, ‘What are these people seeking.” [Jaami’ut-Tirmidhee (3/377)]

From the above hadith – it is said that Allah asks his angels what the people are seeking. Allah knows what they are seeking and that they want forgiveness, Jannah and saving from the fire.

Allah then calls upon his angels;

‘Bear witness for I have forgiven them’.

The best thing to say on the day of Arafat

‘The best supplication is the supplication of the day of ‘Arafat and the best thing which I and the Prophets before me have said is:

 لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل قدير

‘There is none worthy of worship in truth except Allaah Alone, He has no partner and to Him belongs the Dominion. To Him belongs the praise and He is capable/has power over all things.’

La ilaha ‘illa Allaahu wahdahu la shareeka lahu, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu wa huwa ala kulli shayin qadeer

(Narrated by tirmidhee in Sunan from the hadeeth of Abdullah bin Amr. It was graded hasan by the ‘Allama al-Albani in silsilah as-Saheehah nad he said: ‘the hadeeth is Thabit due to the collection of supporting evidences.’)

  

Eid al Adha -  ‘Eid is a day of joy and allowance given to us by Allah.

Eid Al-Adha is four days in total:

The 10^th (the day of Eid prayer)

 then the days of tashreeq (the 11^th , 12^th   and 13^th  days of Dhul-Hijjah).

It is impermissible to fast in these days for those not performing the Hajj.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The days of Tashreeq are days for eating drinking and remembering Allah عز و جل” 

(narrated by Abi al-Maleeh رضي الله عنه, reported in Sahih Al-Muslim).

 Allah سبحان و تعالى said: "And remember Allah during the appointed Days." (Surah Al-Baqarah: 203).

May Allah grant us the opportunity and means to perform Hajj and accept our deeds. Ameen