Ten Days of Dhil Hijja

[Shiraz Ashrafi]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Assalamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu

Please can you tell us the benefits of the first ten days of the holy month of Dhil Hijja? what are the benefits of fasting in these ten days? is there anything we should know from this? and finally when is it likely this month will begin?

Jazakallah

[Imam]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem,

Wa'alaykum 'Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu



Praise be to Allah who is the Lord of the Worlds, and may Endless Blessings be showered upon Our Final Messenger, The Last Prophet, The Most Beloved of Allah (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam).



Jazak'Allah for your question. Dhul Hajjah, or Dhil Hijjah, is a very special month, as it carries benefits for those people who intend to perform, and do perform the Hajj, which is the last pillar of Islam, and also for those people who either remain at home, or are already Hajis, having previously performed their Hajj.


It is reported from Ibn Abbaas (Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu) that Sayyadina Rasulullah (Salla Allahu Ta'ala alayhi wa Sallam) said: " There is no day wherein any good action is more beloved to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) than these ten days (the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah)". The Sahaabah (Radi Allahu ta'ala anhum) enquired: " Not even Jihaad in the path of Allah ? "
(i.e. are actions performed in these days more beloved than even the act of Jihaad)". " Not even Jihaad in the path of Allah," replied Sayyadina Rasulallah (Salla Allahu Ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam), " with the exception of that person who left with his life and wealth (in the path of Allah) and did not return with any of it (i.e. he is martyred)". (Bukhari, Tabraani)

It is also narrated from Ibn Abbaas (Radi Allahu Ta'ala anhu) that Sayyadina Rasulullah (Salla Allahu Ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam) said: " No days are as weighty with Allah and so liked by Him for good deeds than the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah ". Therefore in these days increasingly recite: "La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, Al-Hamdu-lillah, Sub-hanallah." (Tabraani)



Fasts in the First 10 Days


Hadrat Abu Huraira (Radi Allahu Ta'ala anhu) narrates that Sayyadina Rasulullah (Salla Allahu Ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam) said: "There are no days more dearer to Allah, in which to perform His Ibadat, than the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. The fast of one of those days is equivalent to one year's fasting; and the ibadat of one night during this period is equal to the ibadat of Laylat al-Qadr."(Ibne Maja, Tirmidhi).


Other Acts to undertake in these days :

1. The best deed in these ten days is to perform Hajj and Umrah. According to the Hadith,

"From one Umrah to the next Umrah there is atonement of sins in between, and for Haj which is accomplished sincerely, the reward is nothing but Paradise."


2. There is great virtue in fasting in these first nine days, or some of them, especially on the Day of Arafat. There is no doubt that fasting is one of the best deeds which Allah has chosen. It is related in by Qatadah (Radi Allahu Ta'ala anhu) that the Beloved Muhammad (Salla Allahu Ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam) said,
"Whoever fasts on the Day of Arafat, Allah may forgive his/her sins of the previous year and of the coming year." (Sahih Muslim)


Note: This does refer to major or intentional sins; only to those of omission or forgetfulness.


3. Takbir (saying Allahu Akbar) and dhikr (remembering Allah often) during these days is highly recommended. As Allah tells us, in (Quran 2:203):

"And remember Allah in days appointed."

which refers to these ten days.


It is related by Ibn Umar (Radi Allahu Ta'ala anhu),

"Increase in these days, Takbir (saying Allahu Akbar), Tahleel (saying la ilaha ilallah) and Tahmeed (saying al-hamdulillah), (Ahmad).


In Sahih al-Bukhari, related by Ibn Umar (Radi Allahu Ta'ala anhu) and Abu Huraira (Radi Allahu Ta'ala anhu) that they used to walk in the markets glorifying and magnifying Allah. The people used to join them. They used to say in these ten days:


'Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la ilaha ilallah, wa Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, wa lillah il-hamd.'


This takbir does not need to be collective, each person individually glorifies Allah alone, and as in all Dhikr and Dua, one may do whatever is easy for him/her.


4. One should make Taubah (sincere repentance) and avoid disobedience and the rest of sins. Disobedience is the reason for our being far removed from Allah. On the other hand, obedience is what brings us closer to Allah and is the way of earning the love of Allah. In the hadith related by Abu Huraira (Radi Allahu Ta'ala anhu), Prophet Muhammad (Salla Allahu Ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam) said,

"Indeed Allah has dignity, and His dignity demands that man should not come to Him with deeds that may be forbidden." (Agreed upon)


5. We should do as many voluntary good deeds (nawafil) e.g. Salaat, Saddaqa, recitation of the Qur'an al-kareem, feeding the poor, and the encouragement of good deeds and the prevention of bad deeds or evil within our society; These voluntary deeds are awarded twice the amount for those done in any other days.


6. Do in these days individual takbir, in all the events of the day and the night, till the Salaat-al-Eid, and collective takbir which is recited after every Prayer (Salaat) in congregation. It begins for non-Hajis, i.e.those not performing Haj, from Salaat-al Fajr on the Day of Arafat.



The 9th day of Dhul Hijjah


The 9th day of Dhulhijjah is called 'Yawmul - "Arafah' (The Day of 'Arafah). This is the date when the Hujjaj ( pilgrims) assemble on the plain of 'Arafat, six miles away from Makkah al-Mukarramah, where they perform the most essential part of the prescribed duties of hajj, namely, the 'Wuqoof of'Arafat (the stay in 'Arafat)'.



The Fast of Yawmul 'Arafah


The fast of 'Yawmul 'Arafah' has been emphasized by the Most Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu Ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam) as a mustahabb (desirable) act. According to a Hadith, the fast of this day becomes a cause, hopefully so, of forgiveness for sins committed in one year.


Abu Qataadah (Radi Allahu Ta'ala anhu) reported that Sayyadina Rasullullah (Salla Allahu Ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam) said:


" I have hope in Allah Ta'ala that the fast of Arafah will be an atonement for the sins of the past and the forthcoming year." (Muslim & Tirmidhi)



Takbir-ut-tashriq


Beginning from the Fajr of the 9th Dhulhijjah up to the 'Asr prayer of the 13th, it is obligatory on each Muslim to recite the Takbir of Tashriq after every fard prayer in the following words.

"Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La Ilaha Illallahu, Wallahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa lillahilhamd."
(There is no god but Allah and Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest and to Allah belongs all praise.)


According to authentic Islamic sources, it is obligatory on each Muslim, to recite this Takbir after every fard Salaah. Whether one is performing salah with Jama'ah (collectively) or on one's own (individually) makes no difference. One must recite the Takbir. However, male Muslims should recite it in a loud voice, while females should recite it in a low voice.


This year, the month of Dhul Hajjah began on Monday 2nd of January 2006. It is within the next ten days that Allah the Almighty has given us this opportunity, to worship Him alone, and by asking for forgiveness from our sins.


May Allah the Almighty accept all our worship during these few, but blessed days, and may He make us firm in His worship throughout the year for the rest of our lives.


Wallahu A'lamu Biththawaab


M. Waseem Ashrafi