VIRTUES OF FIRST 10 DAYS OF DHUL-HIJJAH DAYS ALLAH SWT LOVES! The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are just about at our doorstep but what is so special about these days, why are they so significant. Well our beloved prophet PBUH indicated to us that they are the most beloved to Allah and the best days in the sight of Allah. He also told us any good deed that we do in these days are multiplied. SubhanAllah yet another chance for us to earn lots of ajr (reward). This is again another one of those rare opportunities for anyone who is looking for opportunities. We should always be looking out for these seasons which Allah SWT brings us, if we don’t grab them then its kind of being unthankful to Allah. Allah SWT created the years, He (SWT) created the months, the days, hours , seconds and as we know some days, some months are better than others eg we know from the Prophet PBUH about Friday, how it is the best day of the week : The 5 prayers and from one Friday prayer 2 (the next) Friday prayer, is an expiation (of the sins committed in between them) if major sins are not committed. (Muslim, vol.1, no.448.) Within the Friday itself we have one period , an hour between Asr & maghrib in which supplications are answered. Within the years you have the month of Ramadan in which we know how precious the hours and the minutes in that month are. So if we are seeking the reward of the akirah then we will rush to grab this opportunity that is about to face us. Jannah has many levels and our aim should be to reach the highest level which Inshallah can be achieved. We want to aim to be with the Prophet. We can be as we have the same book , the same guidance , we are reciting the same verses that was recited back then so we too can achieve the high levels that the companions of the Prophet achieved. Alhamdulillah we have just passed Ramadan but for many it may have not been as productive as they had hoped for due to many reasons , maybe we didn’t reach the targets that we had hoped to reach but Allah is the one who gives favour again and again, He gives chances again and again so this is for us another great chance whether you did well in Ramadan or you didn’t, HOW MERCIFUL IS ALLAH SWT! In reality the first 10 days of Dhul hijjah are the forgotten days as many people dont actually know the value of them. These days are so blessed that Allah SWT has sworn an oath by them and when Allah SWT swears an oath by something that shows its importance. Allah says: By the dawn; by the 10 nights ( 89:1-2 ). Ibn katheer & others have said this refers to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. This is another great opportunity for us to do lots of good and gain lots of good deeds. These days of worship brings many benefits such as the opportunity to correct our faults and make up for any shortcomings or anything that we might have missed. MORE EVIDENCE TO SHOW IMPORTANCE OF THESE DAYS: The Prophet PBUH said No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these days (meaning the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah). The companions asked, O Messenger of Allah, not even jihad in the way of Allah? He said, Not even jihad, except for the man who puts his life and wealth in danger (for Allahs sake) and returns with neither of them. ( Bukhari) Also our beloved Pophet PBUH said: There arent any days greater, nor any days in which deeds done in them are more beloved to Allah Most High, than these ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah). So, increase in them the saying of Tahleel (Laa-ilaaha-ill-Allaah), and Takbeer (Allaahu-Akbar) and Tahmeed (al-hamdu-lillaah). (At-Tabarani) This is the season of hajj, pilgrims go to perform their hajj and they do all the rites following in the footsteps of Ibrahim AS. Its because of the virtues of this season that hajj is within these 10 days, its such a great pillar of Islam, its an obligation, a duty that mankind owes to Allah if they can afford to. Also another evidence to indicate the importance of these 10 days is that these 10 days include Yawm al Arafah, the day of Arafah when the pilgrims will stand on the plain of Arafah making dua to Allah SWT, seeking HIs forgiveness. Its said about this day that Subhanallah it’s the day when Iblees (Shaitaan) feels so miserable, he is devastated as all his previous work is destroyed. Why, because the people are there repenting to Allah and this is not something that he wants to see, he hates this. In fact his mission and goal is the complete opposite to this. He wants to see us in the hell fire along with him not standing there crying to Allah, begging Allah for His forgiveness. IBLEES HATES THIS SO MUCH! But for the pilgrims this day is so special, its like you are standing on the day of Judgement and Allah SWT is freeing you from the fire: Prophet PBUH said: There is no day on which Allah frees as many of His servants from the fire as on the day of Arafah. Indeed He draws near and then boasts of them to the angels and says, What do they want? Subhanallah, imagine this, Your Rubb is boasting to the angels and freeing you from the doom of hell! How great is this day! So what are some of the acts of worship that we can perform: - First thing we can do is to repent to Allah SWT. Do lots of Tawbah (repentance), cry to Allah SWT, ask him to forgive you and to save you from the fire whose fuel is men and stones after all none of us wants to be the fuel for the fire of hell. Seeking forgiveness for our sins and shortcomings is something we should strive for constantly throughout the year as death can come any time. Don’t let these days pass without doing some good, without changing ourselves by making ourselves better Inshallah. We need to strengthen our relationship with Allah SWT. - We should make sure that we should pray all our prayers on time (believe me as many dont). REMEMBER THE FIRST THING WE ARE GOING TO BE QUESTIONED ABOUT ON THE DA Y OF JUDGEMENT IS ABOUT OUR PRAYERS so please PRAY BEFORE YOU ARE PRAYED UPON! Also increase in performing nawafil prayers, for indeed, this is what brings a person closer to their Lord. Our beloved Prophet PBUH said: Upon you is to increase in your prostration to Allah, for verily you do not prostrate to Allah with even one prostration, except that He raises you in degrees and decreases your sins because of it. [Reported by Muslim] Examples for increasing nawafil salah [voluntary prayers]: a) Salat Dhuha: Also known as al-Awwabeen, may be offered as 2, 4, 6 or 8 rakah, prayed after the sun has risen and before the time for Zuhr approaches. (Muslim,1238) b)Pray your 12 rakah sunnah as our beloved Prophet PBUH said: A house will be built in Heaven for one who prays 12 Rakaat in a day and evening as follows: 4 Rakaat before and 2 after the Dhuhr Prayer, 2 after the Maghrib Prayer, 2 after the ‘Ishaa’ Prayer and 2 before the Fajr Prayer. (Tirmidhi, 380) This is a piece of real estate we can all afford to buy. Why not work on this during these blessed days, it takes just minutes of your time and unlike a house in the duniya it will not sink you into debt. c) 4 rakat before ‘Asr – The Prophet PBUH said: “May Allah have mercy on those who pray four rakah before ‘Asr prayer.” (Tirmidhi, 395) d) Qiyam al-Layl: Pray at least 2 rakah but If you want to follow the Sunnah, then pray all 11 rakah this includes your witr as well. Remember that in these special days and nights, Allah is sending His special mercy. This mercy will not reach all, not if they are busy watching TV, wasting time, listening to music etc. But inshallah it will be for those who are busy making sujud, ruku, reciting Quran, fasting etc. - Do Lots of Dhikr as Dhikr of Allah is an excellent form of worship and is stressed over a hundred times in the Holy Quran. It is the most praiseworthy work to earn Allahs pleasure. The Prophet PBUH said There is no days more honorable in Allahs sight and no acts more beloved therein to Allah than those in these ten days. So say tahlil (There is no deity worthy of worship but Allah : Laa ilaaha illallaah), takbir (Allah is the greatest : Allaahu Akbar) and tahmid (All praise is due to Allah : alhumdulillaah) a lot [in these days]. Invest in this supplication wherever you happen to be; shopping, cooking, lying down, at work or during a quiet moment during a busy day etc. - Perform Hajj and Umrah if you are able to , which no doubt is the best of all observances. Its excellence is signified by many Prophetic traditions. The Prophet PBUH said: Performing Umrah and following it with another expiates sins that are committed in between. And the perfect Hajj would be requited with nothing other than Jannah. - Fast all the 9 days if you can but if you cant do all of them then do the 9th of Dhul Hijjah which is the day of Arafah. This is the day when the pilgrims stand in worship on the plains of Arafah, the day when Allah SWT frees people from the fire of hell. The Prophet PBUH said Fasting on the day of Arafah is an expiation for two years, the year preceding it and the year following it. Fasting the day of Ashurah is an expiation for the year preceding it. (Bukhari and at-Tirmidhi) You should still make the intention of fasting all these nine days even if you may not be able to fulfill it as you may just get the reward for fasting all the days due to your intention as actions are by intentions. Ask yourself what have I got to lose! - Give charity as what can be said about charity. Subhanallah charity never decreases your wealth as you shall only gain and gain and carry on gaining! Don’t remind yourself of what you have already given in the past. If Allah wills, He has accepted and written it for you. Think of how you can outdo that sadaqah during these days. Spend from what you love and Allah will love you, we all want Allah SWT to love us, DONT WE? - The slaughtering of a sacrificial animal (Adhiyyah) is also legislated for the Day of Sacrifice (10th) and the Days of Tashreeq (11th, 12th and 13th). This is the Sunnah of our father Ibraheem AS . It is authenticated that the Prophet PBUH slaughtered (sacrificed) two horned rams, black and white in colour, and that he slaughtered them with his own hands, mentioned the name of Allah Most High (saying Bismillah), said Takbeer (Allahu Akbar), and placed his foot on their sides (while slaughtering them). ( Bukhari & Muslim) - Make lots of dua as dua is one of the best ways to improve your relationship with Allah SWT and keep your mind focused on the positive. It can be something as simple as thanking Allah SWT for His endless bounties upon you , seeking His Mercy and forgiveness or making very specific requests about the state of your life, your health & your wealth. Actual sunnah for the first ten days is to increease in all good deeds. Make it a point to look for easy good deeds that you are capable of doing whatever it is examples such as help the poor and the needy, visit the sick, removing something harmful from the road, reading extra Quran, attending gatherings of dhikr etc No good deed is off limits during these blessed days and almost anything can be a good deed when it is done with a pure intention for the sake of Allah SWT. After all this that has been mentioned it is only fitting for us to take full advantage of these days by obeying Allah SWT, remembering Him & thanking Him truly for all that He has bestowed upon us as we may not live to see another day so make the most of this moment that is with you. May Allah SWT make it easy for all of us to do lots of good, to acquire His mercy and His pleasure as it is Allah alone who grants success and guides to the right path. Also may He (SWT) accept it from us Ameen.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 07:39:48 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015