Dhul Hijjah is a very important time of the year for the Muslims; more specifically the first ten days of this blessed month have been favoured by Allaah over any other days throughout the year. The Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, There is no other day where righteous actions are more beloved to Allaah than these days (meaning the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah). They said,“O Messenger of Allaah, better than even fighting jihaad in the way of Allaah?” He replied, Yes, even better than fighting jihaad in the way of Allaah, except a man who left for Jihaad with himself and all his wealth, and then he did not return back with anything This hadeeth shows the superiority of these first ten days, and that any worship that is performed in these first ten days is better and more beloved to Allaah than all the other days of the world without exception. Allaah (the Most High) also made an oath by these days, He said: {By the dawn, and by the ten nights…} [Fajr;2] The beginning of this blessed month also contains the days of Hajj, particularly the day of ‘Arafah. Some from amongst the scholars mention that a lesser form of worship in this month is more beloved to Allaah than that which would otherwise be a better action in any other month. It is also said that an obligatory form of worship in this month is better than the same worship in any other month, and similarly an optional form of worship is better in this month than the same worship in any other month. Thereafter there are certain good deeds that have been specified above others: 1. Fasting the first 10 days – Hafsa, the wife of the Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) mentioned that, ‘the Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) would never leave the fasting of Ashoora (the 10th of Muharram), Al-Ashr (the first 10 days of this month, excluding Eid) and three days of every month.’ 2. The praying of the night prayer – Many of the Salaf, including Imaam Ash-Shaafi’ee, would emphasise the night prayer during these days. Sa’eed bin Jubayr would strive much in praying the night prayer in the ten days, to an extent that he would almost go beyond that which he was physically able to do. 3. Dhikr: the remembrance of Allaah –This is in accordance with the following verse: {…and make mention of the name of Allaah throughout the appointed days…} ‘The appointed days’ refer to the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. The Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) also said, there are no other days more greater with Allaah and no other days wherein worship is more beloved to Allaah than these ten days, so increase in your remembrance of Allaah by making Tahleel (saying Laa ilaaha illa Allaah), Takbeer (saying Allaah Akbar) and Tahmeed (saying Alhamdulillaah) 4. In general all other good deeds – avoiding sins and making Tawbah (repentance) and Du’aa. Therefore, as Muslims we should strive in performing good deeds during these blessed days, there is no replacement or value that can be put on them. Perform righteous actions and strive before these blessed days are gone – just as Ramadhaan has previously. Benefit from these days before there comes a time when you will be sorrowful for leaving off such opportunities; before there comes a time when you will ask to be returned to this world so you can perform good deeds but will not be given the opportunity. Do not wait until it is too late… A poet once said: ‘The nights of the ten are nights when the du’aa is accepted So strive and rush [to] attain their reward, Alas, there is no other time for worship where the reward is greater and more readily accepted truly, than these nights of the ten. So prepare yourself and toil, and seek in them repentance.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 03:19:16 +0000
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