The 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah

 

This article was taken from Muslim Matters, written by Yaser Birjas

The Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah

 There are tons of reasons why you wouldn't want to pass up this opportunity. Do you know which one? The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.
It's that time of the year again, the last month of the lunar calendar for the year 1431 after the Hijrah of the Prophet Muḥammad, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam. This is the time when more than two million people from all around the globe will be meeting together for at least five days in the plains of Mecca, Mina, Arafa and Muzdalifa to perform their sacred journey to Mecca, known to us as al-Hajj, the pilgrimage. What bonds them together? One thing: al-Islam.
If you are already reading this, most likely you are not going to Hajj. And if you're there already, then what on earth are you doing wasting your time online? Go to the Haram and enjoy your tawaf.
There are two chances in life: the one which you have already missed and the one which you don't want to miss. What you already have is no longer a chance, its reality.
Therefore, for those of us who were unable to be there in Mecca, why should we value these special days of the year? Here are my top five reasons.
Allāh subahanahu wa ta'ala valued these days so much that he swore by them in the Qur'an. And If Allāh swore by something, then it is definitely profound and of the greatest value. Allāh says:

والفجر وليال عشر
“by the dawn, and by ten nights” al fajr 89:1-2

Ibn Kathir rahimahullah in his tafsir referred to these ten days as the ten days of Dhul Hijjah. He also attributed this opinion to Ibn Abbas, Ibn az-Zubair and others of the righteous predecessors.
The good deeds performed during these ten days are most rewarded, more than any other time of the year.
Ibn Abbas narrated the Messenger salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said:

(مَا مِنْ أيَّامٍ العَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ فِيهِنَّ أحَبُّ إلى الله مِنْ هَذهِ الأيَّامِ العَشْرِ) ، فقالُوا يا رسولُ الله: ولا الجِهَادُ في سَبِيلِ الله؟ فقالَ رسولُ الله : ( ولا الجِهَادُ في سَبِيلِ الله، إلاّ رَجُلٌ خَرجَ بِنَفْسِهِ ومَالِهِ، فَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ من ذَلِكَ بِشَيْءٍ).
“There are no days during which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allāh than these ten days. The companions asked: not even jihad in the cause of Allāh? The Messenger of Allāh replied: Not even jihad in the cause of Allāh except for the one who went to fight taking himself and his wealth but did not return with either of them.” (Bukhāri and Tirmidhi.)

These ten days host one special day in which there are so many blessings. It is the day of Arafa, the ninth day of Dhul Hijjah and the day preceding the 'Īd day. Some of the blessings of Arafa are:

• Fasting that day expiates the sins of two years, the previous one and the coming year. (Muslim)
• It is a day in which Allāh completed the revelation of the religion, perfected this bounty bestowed upon us and was satisfied with Islam as our religion. This was mentioned in surat al-Ma'edah 5:3. (Bukhāri and Muslim)
• It is the day when Allāh AlMighty descends, in a manner that suits His Majesty, to the closest heaven and shows his pride to the angels about the presence of the pilgrims. (Muslim)
• In this day Allāh promises the pilgrims to bestow his mercy on them and forgive their sins so that when they return home they return free of sins just like the day when their mothers gave birth to them. (Bukhāri and Muslim)
• It is a day when many people will be emancipated from the fire of Hell.

The season of the ten days of Dhul Hijjah is a festivity of worship. No other days of the year hold so many diverse acts of worship as done in such a short time, not even in Ramadan. And here is a list of some of what good deeds are done during these days in Mecca and elsewhere around the globe:

• Hajj and multiple Umrahs by millions of people.
• The sacrifice of the dunya and this world for the sake of attending the Hajj.
• The display of humility, humbleness and devotion in the actual rituals of Hajj.
• Tawaaf around the Ka'bah and Sai' between the two hills of Safa and Marwa.
• Abundance of Dhikr, the praise of Allāh especially takbeer and tahleel and what other pilgrims say the most, Talbiyah.
• Fasting for the non-pilgrims.
• Being extra charitable.
• Offering the hadi'y and udhiyah or qur'ban the sacrifice of livestock and feeding the poor.
• The inclination towards repentance.
• The engagement in long du‘ā’ or supplications as a sign of humility and humbleness.
• Maintaining the prayers in the sacred sites al-Haram in Mecca and the masjid of the Prophet in Madīnah.
• The recitation of the Qur'an.

The ten days of Dhul Hijjah also host the greatest day of the year, Yum-an-Nahr the day of the sacrifice, the 10th which is the actual day of 'Īd. The Messenger of Allāh said:

(إنَّ أَعْظَمَ اْلأيَّامِ عِنْدَ الله تبارك وتعالى يَوْمُ النَّحْرِ ثُمَّ يَوْمُ الْقَرِّ)
“The best day with Allāh is yum-an-Nahr, the day of sacrifice and then yum-al-qarr (the day that follows, when the pilgrims reside in the camps of Mina for worship).” (Ahmad, Abu Dawood and an-Nasa'iee).

So, now that you know the significance of this season, what do you need to do? Here some suggestions for you:

• Increase your level of worship during the day and during the night.
• Try to achieve one khatma of the Qur'an (reading it from cover to cover).
• Keep your tongue moist with dhikr and praise of Allāh wherever you are.
• Maintain a state of tahara and wuḍūʼ at all times.
• Make most of your dhikr Takbeer (like the one you recite on 'Īd day).
• Fast a few days while the days are short and cold, particularly the 9th, the day of Arafa.
• If you haven't paid for the qurban (sacrificial animal) yet, make sure to do so. Perhaps you should donate one to those who are most in need of it in areas such as Pakistan and Gaza.
• Wake up before Fajr time and pray Qiyam-ul-Layl.
• Pray your Fard ṣalāh on time.
• Make sure you don't miss any of the Nafl and Sunnah prayers.
• Give charity and help those who are less fortunate prepare for the 'Īd day.
• Share the spirit of the season and be cheerful with all people.

There is so much you can do for the ten days of Dhul Hijjah, but you are the one who knows your schedule better than any one else. Make sure to make this season a priority and may Allāh grant you all Jannatul Firdous.
Remember, there are two chances in life: the one you already missed, and the one you don't want to miss. So don't miss out on the ten days of Dhul Hijjah.


Check for other articles at  http://muslimmatters.org 

Wishing all our Muslim parents and friends ' Eidul Adha Mubarak' !