Section: The virtues of the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah

Praise be to Allaah. Among the great seasons of worship are the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, which Allaah has favoured over other days. It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (RA) that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “There are no days on which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allaah than these ten days.” They said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allaah?” He said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allaah, unless a man goes out himself for jihad taking his wealth with him and does not come back with anything.” [Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2/457] It was also narrated from Anas (RA) that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “There is no deed that is better before Allaah or more greatly rewarded than a good deed done in the (first) ten days of al-Adha.” It was said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allaah?” He said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allaah, unless a man goes out himself for jihad taking his wealth with him and does not come back with anything.” [Narrated by al-Daarimi, 1/357; its isnaad is hasan as stated in al-Irwa’, 3/398]These texts and others indicate that these ten days are better than all other days of the year, with no exception, even the last ten days of Ramadaan. But the last ten nights of Ramadaan are better than the first ten nights of Dhu’l-Hijjah, because they include Laylat al-Qadr, which is better than a thousand months. [See Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 5/412] So the Muslim should start these days with sincere repentance to Allaah, then he should do a lot of righteous deeds in general, then he should pay attention to doing the following deeds: 1. FastingIt is Sunnah for the Muslim to fast on the first nine days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, because the Prophet (ﷺ) encouraged us to do righteous deeds in the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, and fasting is one of the best of deeds, which Allaah has chosen for Himself as it says in the hadeeth qudsi: “Allaah says: ‘All the deeds of the son of Adam are for him, except fasting, which is for Me and I shall reward for it.” [Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1805]The Prophet (ﷺ) used to fast on the first nine days of Dhu’l-Hijjah. It was narrated from Hunaydah ibn Khaalid from his wife, that one of the wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) said: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to fast on the first nine days of Dhu’l-Hijjah and the day of ‘Ashoora’, and three days each month, the first Monday of the month and two Thursdays. [Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 4/205 and by Abu Dawood; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 2/462]2. Reciting tahmeed, tahleel and takbeer a great dealIt is Sunnah to recite takbeer (saying Allaahu akbar (Allaah is most great)), tahmeed (saying al-hamdu Lillah (praise be to Allaah)), tahleel (saying Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah (There is no god but Allaah)) and tasbeeh (saying Subhaan-Allaah (Glory be to Allaah)), during the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, saying these words out loud in the mosques, homes, streets and every place in which it is permissible to remember Allaah, to perform this act of worship openly and proclaim the greatness of Allaah.Men should recite out loud and women should recite quietly.The takbeer is as follows:اللَّهُ أَكْبرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُTransliteration: Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, laa ilaaha illallaahu wallaahu akbar, Allahu akbar wa lillaahil hamd.Translation: Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great, there is no god but Allaah and Allaah is Most Great; Allaah is Most Great and to Allaah be praise.And there are other versions.3. Doing Hajj and ‘UmrahOne of the greatest deeds that can be done during these ten days is Hajj to the sacred House of Allaah. Whoever Allaah helps to go on Hajj to His House and do the rituals in the required manner will – in sha Allaah – be included in the words of the Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ): “An accepted Hajj brings no less a reward than Paradise.”4. Udhiyah (sacrifice)One of the righteous deeds that bring a person closer to Allaah in these ten days is to slaughter the sacrifice and to look for a good, fat animal and to spend money on it for the sake of Allaah. Let us hasten to make the most of these great days, before the negligent regrets what he did, and before he asks to go back and receives no response.