The first 10 days of Dhul Hajj are very blessed indeed

As prospective Haijs set off for Hajj – the fifth pillars of Islam – and among the most meritorious acts of ibadah how can non-pilgrims gain rewards from the month of Dhul-Hijjah.

Here are some of the virtues acts that are connected to these blessed days:

Hastening to do good deeds

They are the days in which Allaah the Mighty and Majestic – most loves the doing of good deeds.

Narrated Ibn Abbas: The Prophet (saw) said, “No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijja).” Then some companions of the Prophet said, “Not even Jihad?” He replied, “Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah’s sake) and does not return with any of those things.” (Sahih Bukhari Book #15, Hadith #86)

A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: “There is no day when God sets free more servants from Hell than the Day of ‘Arafa. He draws near, then praises them to the angels, saying: What do these want? (Sahih Muslim Book #007, Hadith #3126)

Fasting for non-pilgrims on the day of Arafa

The ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah is the day of ’Arafah, since it is on this day that the pilgrims gather at the mountain plain of ’Arafah, praying and supplicating to their Lord. It is recommended for those who are not pilgrims to fast on this day, since the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was asked about fasting on the day of ’Arafah, so he said, “I seek from Allah that fasting on the day of ‘Arafa may atone for the sins of the preceding and the coming years”

This is reported at the end of a long narration from Abu Qatada who said: Thereupon he (the Messenger of Allah) said: I wish, I were given strength to observe that. Thereafter he said: The observance of three days’ fast every Month and that of Ramadan every year is a perpetual fasting. I seek from Allah that fasting on the day of ‘Arafa may atone for the sins of the preceding and the coming years. and I seek from Allah that fasting on the day of Ashura may atone for the sins of the preceding year. (Sahih Muslim Book #006, Hadith #2602)

A similar Hadith has also been reported in Sunan of Abu Dawud Book #13, Hadith #2419

However, it is forbidden for the pilgrim to fast at Arafa on the day of Arafa according to the following narration:

Narrated AbuHurayrah: Ikrimah said: We were with AbuHurayrah in his house when he narrated to us: “The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) prohibited fasting on the day of Arafah at Arafah.” (Sunan Abudawud Book #13, Hadith #2434)

Slaughtering on the day of An-Nahr (Id –AlAdha)

The tenth day of Dhul-Hiijah is known as the day of an-Nahr (slaughtering) since it marks the ending of the major rites of Hajj (Pilgrimage).

’Id Al-Adhaa, is a day in which the Muslims slaughter a camel, cow, sheep or goat, in commemoration of the sacrifice of Ibraaheem – ’alayis-salaam. It is recommended for pilgrims and non-pilgrims to slaughter an animal of the occasion of Id-Al-Adha.

Narrated ‘Abdur Rahman bin Abi Bakra’s father: Once the Prophet (saw) was riding his camel and a man was holding its rein. The Prophet asked, “What is the day today?” We kept quiet, thinking that he might give that day another name. He said, “Isn’t it the day of Nahr (slaughtering of the animals of sacrifice)” We replied, “Yes.” He further asked, “Which month is this?” We again kept quiet, thinking that he might give it another name. Then he said, “Isn’t it the month of Dhul-Hijja?” We replied, “Yes.” He said, “Verily! Your blood, property and honor are sacred to one another (i.e. Muslims) like the sanctity of this day of yours, in this month of yours and in this city of yours. It is incumbent upon those who are present to inform those who are absent because those who are absent might comprehend (what I have said) better than the present audience.” (Sahih Bukhari Book #3, Hadith #67)

Glorifying Allah with Takbeers

From the day of ’Arafah (the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah), up until the ’Asr Prayer on the thirteen day, are days in which the takbeeraat (saying Allaahu Akbar) should be said.

Narrated Muhammad bin Abi Bakr Al-Thaqafi: While we were going from Mina to ‘Arafat, I asked Anas bin Malik, about Talbiya, “How did you use to say Talbiya in the company of the Prophet?” Anas said: “People used to say Talbiya and their saying was not objected to and they used to say takbir and that was not objected to either. ” (Sahih Bukhari Book #15, Hadith #87)

Muhammad b. Abu Bakr reported: I said to Anas b. Malik in the morning of ‘Arafa: What do you say as to pronouncing Talbiya on this day? He said: I travelled with Allah’s Apostle (may peace he upon him) and his Companions in this journey. Some of us pronounced Takbir and some of us pronounced Tahlil, and none of us found fault with his companion. (Sahih Muslim Book #007, Hadith #2940)

Ibn Mas’ood (radiyallaahu ’anhu) would say, “Allaah is great, Allaah is great. None has the right to be worshipped except Him. And Allaah is great, Allaah is great. And to Him belongs all praise. [Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, Laa ilaahaa illallaah, wallaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar wa lillaahil-hamd.]”

And all praise is for Allaah, Lord of the worlds. And may Allaah extol and send the choicest blessings of peace upon our Leader, Muhammad, and upon his Family, his Companions, and all those who follow them.