The Ten Days of Thul Hijjah
Virtues and Recommended Deeds
In the name of Allaah and may the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon the one after whom there is no Prophet, Muhammad-sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
From the favours of Allaah upon His slaves is that He has placed for them throughout the year “seasons for obedience”; times during which they can increase their righteous deeds and during which they can compete to do that which will draw them closer to Allaah. The fortunate one is he who takes advantage of these seasons and does not let them simply pass by. Of these seasons is the “ten days of Thul Hijjah”. The Prophet- sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam- testified to these being the best days of the year and encouraged his followers to perform righteous deeds during them. As a matter of fact, Allaah took an oath by these days, and that alone is sufficient to indicate their importance and virtue since the Great does not swear by anything unless it also is of great value.
This should drive the diligent one to work hard during these days and to prepare for them so as to take advantage of them and increase his good deeds during them. In what follows you will find some of the virtues of the ten days of Thul Hijjah along with virtuous deeds one can perform during them. May Allaah grant us the ability to benefit from these days and may He help us take advantage of them in a way that pleases Him.
How Should We Receive These Days?
It is only becoming of a Muslim to receive all “seasons of worship”, not only the ten days of Thul Hijjah, with the following.
1. Sincere RepentanceThis is a wonderful way to receive all seasons of worship; with sincere repentance and a firm resolve to turn back to Allaah. In repentance is success for a believer in this world and the next. Allaah says: (وتوبوا إلى الله جميعاً أيها المؤمنون لعلكم تفلحون)
Which means: And turn to Allāh in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed. [24:31]
2. A Serious Intention to Take Advantage of These Days
It is only right for the Muslim to be extremely keen in seeking to fill these days with righteous words and deeds. Anyone who is serious and sincere, Allaah will help them and make the means available through which they can accomplish what they set out to do. Whoever is true to Allaah, Allaah is true to him. Read these words:
( والذين جاهدوا فينا لنهدينهم سبلنا) which means: And those who strive for Us – We will surely guide them to Our ways. [29:69]
3. Stay Away from Sin
Just as righteous deeds cause one to come closer to Allaah, sins and acts of disobedience cause one to be distanced from Allaah and to be expelled from His Mercy. It is possible that one misses out on the Mercy of Allaah due to a sin they commit. So if you wish to have your sins forgiven and to be saved from the Hell Fire, be careful to avoid wrongdoing during these days, not to mention others. If you realize what your goal is, the efforts you exert in attaining it will seem insignificant.
Dear brother, dear sister, do your utmost to take advantage of these days and prepare well to receive them before the opportunity passes us by and then we regret when it’s too late.
Virtues of the Ten Days of Thul Hijjah
1 Allaah Swore by ThemIf Allaah swears by something, it is an indication of its importance and status since the Great only swears by that which is great (i.e. important). Allaah says:
( وَالْفَجْرِ (1) وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ ) which means “By the dawn. And [by] ten nights” [89:1-2] And the “ten nights” in this verse refer to the ten days of Thul Hijja as the vast majority of Quraan exegesis’s say. Ibn Katheer- may Allaah have Mercy on him- said when commenting on the opinion, and this is (most) correct.
2 They are the Known Days During Which Allaah’s Remembrance is Prescribed
Allaah says: (ويذكروا اسم الله في أيام معلومات على ما رزقهم من بهيمة الأنعام) which means: and mention the name of Allāh on known days over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals. [22:28] The vast majority of scholars, including Ibn ‘Umar and Ibn ‘Abbaas- may Allaah be pleased with them- held that the known days are the ten days of Thul Hijjah.
3 The Prophet Testified That They are The Best Days of the World
Jaabir- may Allaah be pleased with him- narrated that the Prophet- sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam- said: "The best days of the world are the (first) ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah)." (Related by Ibn-Habban and Abu-Ya'la and ranked as hadith sahih by al-Albani).
4 The Day of ‘Arafah Falls During These Days
The day of ‘Arafah is the greatest day of Hajj, the day of forgiveness of sins and freedom from the Hell Fire. If this was the only thing we knew about the ten days of Thul Hijjah, it would be sufficient to show their virtue.
5 The Day of Sacrifice Falls During ThemThe day of sacrifice is the best day of the entire year according to some scholars.The Prophet- sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam- said: "The greatest day in the sight of Allaah The Almighty is the Day of Nahr and then the day of Qarr (the 11th day of Thul-Hijjah)”. (Reported by Abu Daawood and an-Nasaaee and authenticated by al-Albani).
6 The Most Significant Forms of Worship are All Performed During These Days
Al-Haafidh ibn Hajar says in al-Fath: “And it appears that the reason for the excellence/preference of the ten (days) of Thul Hijjah is that the ummahaat (foundations/basis) of worship all gather in this month; they are salaah, fasting, sadaqah and Hajj and this does not occur at any other time.”
Virtue of Deeds Performed in the Ten Days
Ibn-Abbaas- may Allaah be pleased with him- reported that the Prophet- sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam- said: "No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah).” Then some companions of the Prophet- sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam- said, "Not even jihaad for the sake of Allaah?” He replied, "Not even jihaad for the sake of Allaah, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allaah's sake) and does not return with any of those things." (al-Bukhari). A similar hadeeth is narrated by Abdullah ibn ‘Umar- may Allaah be please with him- as found in a hadeeth related by Ahmad and verified to be be hasan-sound- by al-Albani.
These ahaadeeth clearly show that every deed done during these ten days are more beloved to Allaah than if the very same deeds were to be done on any other days. The ahaadeeth also show that one who does righteous deeds during these days is superior to one who went out for jihad (battle) for the sake of Allaah but returned with his self and wealth. They also indicate that the reward for every deed during these days is multiplied, without exception.
Now that we have learned the virtue of these days and the merits of carrying out good deeds during them, it is only right that we pay more attention to them and strive to be diligent in worshipping Allaah during them.We should try to do a variety of good deeds during these days as this was the habit of our pious predecessors as well.
Some Good Deeds to Perform During These Days
1 Performing Hajj and ‘Umrah
These are the best of deeds one can do during these days. Whosoever Allaah makes the performance of these deeds easy for during these days (in the manner required by Allaah), his reward is no less than Paradise. The Prophet- sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam- said: “From one ‘Umrah to another is an expiation for the sins committed between them, and the accepted Hajj has no less a reward than Paradise.” (Bukhaari & Muslim) The accepted Hajj is that Hajj which is performed in accordance to the guidance of the Prophet- sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam- and which is not tainted by sins such as showing off, lewdness and other evils.
2 Fasting
Fasting is of course from good deeds in general and is in fact from the greatest and best of deeds. Fasting as many of the days (first nine days) of Thul Hijjah is recommended, but the Prophet- sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam- specifically singled out fasting the day of ‘Arafah and mentioned the reward for it. He said about fasting on the day of ‘Arafah: “It expiates the sins of the preceding year and the coming year." (Muslim)
3 As-Salaah
The five daily prayers are from the greatest and most important of all acts of worship. Therefore, it is imperative that one safeguards the prayer by offering it on time and in congregation (for men particularly). And during these, one should try and increase in offering voluntary prayers as they are from the most meritorious of deeds. The Prophet- sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said (relating from Allaah): “And my slave continues to draw near to Me with superogatory actions until I love him.” (al-Bukhari)
4 At-Takbeer, at-Tahleel, at-Tahmeed and Thikr
Ibn ‘Umar- may Allaah be pleased with him- narrated that the Prophet- sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam- said: There are no days during which good deeds are greater or more beloved to Allah than these ten days. So say tahlil (There is no deity worthy of worship but Allaah : Laa ilaaha illallaah), takbir (Allaah is the greatest : Allaahu Akbar) and tahmid (All praise is due to Allaah : alhumdulillaah) a lot [on those days].. (Imam Ahmad)
Al-Bukhari relates that Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah- radi Allaahu ‘anhumaa- used to go out to the market place during the ten days saying the takbeer, causing the people to say it also.
One should raise the voice with takbeer during these days but we need to avoid doing the takbeer in unison (together in one voice) as this is not proven to be from the guidance of the Prophet- sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam- nor our pious predecessors. Rather, the basic principle is that each person says the takbeer on his own.
5 Charity
Charity is also from good deeds and so one should try to give more during these days. Allaah says: (يا أيها الذين آمنوا أنفقوا مما رزقناكم من قبل أن يأتي يوم لا بيع فيه ولا خلة ولا شفاعة والكافرون هم الظالمون) which means: O you who have believed, spend from that which We have provided for you before there comes a Day in which there is no exchange and no friendship and no intercession. And the disbelievers – they are the wrongdoers. [2:254]
And the Prophet- sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: Charity does not in any way decrease the wealth (Muslim).
In reality, there are many other deeds one can do more of as well. Let us mention a few more here as a reminder.
Recitation of Quraan and studying its meanings, istighfaar, being good to parents, maintaining family ties, spreading salaam, feeding the poor, reconciling differences between people, enjoining good and forbidding evil, safeguarding the tongue, being good to neighbours, being hospitable to guests, removing obstacles from the road, sponsoring orphans, visiting the ill, helping Muslims fulfill needs, invoking peace and blessings on the Prophet, abstaining from harming others, supplicating for oneself and for other Muslims in their absence, making other Muslims happy and the list can go on.
As can be seen, there is no shortage of good deeds to do, therefore, make a concerted effort to do as many righteous deeds as possible and as regularly as possible, particularly during these ten days.
May Allaah grant us the strength and ability to take advantage of these days.
