Importance of the First Ten days of Dhul Hijjah

MEANING:

The month of "Hajj" (Pilgrimage).  This is the last sacred month in which fighting was forbidden.

The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are full of virtues and great blessings. According to a large group of mufassireen (commentators of the Qur’aan), the ten nights mentioned in Soorah Al-Fajr are the nights of the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. Allah says:

By the Dawn; By the ten Nights; (89:1-2)

This oath substantiates the greatness and sacredness of these ten nights in the eyes of Allah. This is an extra ordinary oath; it is very reliable and significant and the wise men can understand that by this oath, Allah too attaches great importance and value to the ten nights of Dhul Hijjah.

The Prophet (PBUH&HF) too, has clearly mentioned the importance and the virtue of these blessed moments. It is reported by Abdullah Ibne Abbaas (RA) that the Prophet said, “No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijjah).” Thereupon, 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 these things.” (Bukhaari V1 pp132)

In another Hadith, the Prophet (PBUH&HF) said, “On no days is the worship of Allah desired more than in the (first) ten days of Dhul Hijjah. The fast of each of these days is equal to the fast of a whole year, and the worship of each of these nights is equal to the worship of Laylatul Qadr.” (Tirmizi V1 pp58)

Moreover, what other virtue can be greater for these blessed days than the fact that certain specific devotions cannot be performed but in these specified days. Allah Almighty has specifically chosen these days for the fulfilment of two of the most important devotions, viz. Hajj and Qurbani.

One may argue and say that there are other forms of devotions too, which are fixed to specific days and moments; hence what is the speciality of these particular days? The answer to this argument is simple. Although there are other devotions too, which are also fixed to specific time, such as fasting in the month of Ramadhan; but one may, if he desires, fulfil the devotion of fasting in days other than Ramadhan i.e. as an optional devotion. On the contrary, the wuqoof of Arafat (which is the essence of Hajj), the wuqoof of Muzdalifah, etc., cannot be performed but in these specified days.

If one was to remain in Arafat for many months after the 9th Dhul Hijjah, he will not receive any reward whatsoever and it will never be considered an act of ibaadah.

Similarly, Qurbani is performed only in three days one of which is 10th Dhul Hijjah. There is no possibility whatsoever of a nafl Qurbani once these days have lapsed, so much so that qazaa Hajj or qazaa Qurbaani is not even possible. It is because of these distinguishing characteristics that the ulamaa have stated, in the light of Qur’aan and Hadith that after the days of the month of Ramadhan, the greatest days in virtue are the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.

The reward of ibadah in these days increases abundantly and the results are honoured with specified blessings and mercies by the Creator.

EVENTS:

1. Hadhrat Fatimah (SA) was married in this holy month to Hadhrat Ali (AS)

2. Egypt was conquered by the army sent by Hadhart Umar (RA)

3. "Bay'ate-Aqabah"

4. Shahadat Imam Mohammad Baqir (AS).

5. The Prophet (PBUH&HF) performed the farewell Hajj and gave the historic sermon known as the "Farewell Sermon"

6. 9th Zilhajj: Day of Arafah and Shahadat-e-Hazrat Muslim Ibne Aqeel (AS)

7. The second Muslim festival Eid ul Adha falls on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah.

ACTS OF VIRTUE:

The first ten days of ZulHajjah are extremely sacred and good deeds are most beloved to Allah in these ten days. There are certain specific acts of virtue in these blessed days of Dhul Hijjah which are enumerated and explained below:

These days are so blessed that a day’s fast is equivalent to a year’s fast and a night’s devotion is equivalent to the ibaadah of Laylatul Qadr. The indication is towards the fact that we should endeavor to perform as many virtuous acts as possible in these days.

1. Recite the masnoon dua when sighting the moon of Dhul Hijjah.

2. Recite the Takbiraat as much as possible from the 1st to 13th of Dhul Hijjah.

3. Perform good deeds (Fasting, charity, voluntary prayers, zikr, etc) as much as possible.

4. Observe the fast of 9th Dhul Hijjah as it leads to expiation of sins of the previous year and the coming year.

5. It is recommended to observe fasting on the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah, for it is equal to the fasting of one’s whole lifetime.

6. At each of these ten nights, it is recommended to offer a two unit prayer between the Maghrib and Isha obligatory prayers and to recite at each unit Surah al-F¡tihah once, Surah al-Tawhid once, and the following verse (7/142):

And We appointed with Moses a time of thirty nights

and completed them with ten more,

so the appointed time of his Lord was complete forty nights,

and Moses said to his brother Aaron: Take my place among my people,

7. The Sunnah of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) – the Qurbani. It is to be performed on 10th, 11th or 12th Dhul Hijjah. One may sacrifice a thousand animals on days other than these, but it will never be regarded or considered a Qurbani.

Here, a believer is taught a great lesson that an action or a place or a time does not hold any virtue in itself; but rather it is Allah’s command and order that changes the status, level and grade of things.

BLESSINGS:

1. 9th Dhul Hijjah is the day of Arafah in which the main fardh of Hajj is performed i.e. wuqoof Arafah. This is a great moment for the pilgrims when the Mercy of Allah descends upon them in abundance and their sins are forgiven and du’aa accepted. Allah, through His Compassion and Mercy, has not deprived the non-pilgrims of his mercy, but rather, shown the way to His Pleasure. The Prophet (PBUH&HF) was asked about the fast of the day of Arafah. He said, “It compensates for the (minor) sins of the past and the coming year.”

(Note: One should take note that the sins forgiven are minor sins. The major sins are not forgiven without tawbah.)

2. 10th Dhul Hijjah is the day of Eid ul Adha. The fifth pillar of Islam "Hajj" is performed in this sacred month.  The first ten days of Zul-Hijjah are the most virtuous days in this whole month, Hajj is performed amongst these ten days.

An animal sacrifice in memory of the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) is offered on 10th ZulHajjah.

May Allah ta’aalaa bless us with spiritual gains and His Pleasure in these blessed moments. Aameen.