Tuesday 1 October 2013

The Excellence Of Ibadah During The First Ten Days Of Dhul-Hijjah

In the Name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful
Indeed all praise is due to Allah, we praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness, we seek refuge with Allah from our soul’s evil and our wrong doings, he whom Allah guides, no one can misguide, and he whom He misguides, no one can guide.

May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad the Messenger of Allah and his family and Companions and all who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment.

My Dear respective brother and sisters in Islam,

Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala has blessed the nation of Muhammad SAW with many opportunities to reap rewards and blessings every day of the year.
The last ten nights of Ramadan (the month of fasting) are among the most blessed nights of the year and in particular Laylatul-Qadr (the night of power) is extremely sacred. Similarly, the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah (the 12th Islamic calendar month) carry special status during the blessed month of “Pilgrimage”. The following  Hadith of the Prophet SAW will highlights the importance of these ten days in the sight of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala and the amplified reward for all good deeds during this blessed season.

Just like the last ten nights of Ramadan are the best ten nights out of the year, these first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are the best days of the year and the most beloved to Allah.

Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with Him) reported that The Messenger of Allah SAW said, "There are no days during which the righteous action is so pleasing to Allah than these days (i.e. the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah)." He was asked thus "O Messenger of Allah, not even Jihad in the Cause of Allah?" He SAW replied, "Not even Jihad in the Cause of Allah, except in case one goes forth with his life and his property and does not return with either of it."[Sahih Al-Bukhari]
And in another narration He SAW said "There are no days greater in the sight of Allah and in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Him than these ten days, so during this time recite a great deal of Tahleel, Takbeer and Tahmeed." [Reported by Ahmad]
This Hadith brings out the following the point Righteous deeds during the first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah are far better and more rewarding than righteous deeds done on other days of the year, because they are Hajj days in the sacred season of pilgrimage. Because of their excellence and importance, Allah (SWT) swore by them thus:"By the Dawn; by the ten Nights..." [Al-Fajr 89:1-2]
So, the questions we should be asking ourselves are the following.
  1. How do we make the most of this season of blessings?
  2. What deeds can we perform to attain Allah’s pleasure?
Every Muslim should strive to fill these days with worship and righteous deeds as much as he is able.
 In his wisdom, the Prophet SAW did not specify certain deeds so that each person would be able to choose those deeds that suit his circumstances and his personal inclinations.
Recitation of the Quran might be difficult for some while it is easy for others, and likewise fasting, charity and so forth. Therefore, each of us should strive to earn Allah’s Pleasure in these days in the manner that Allah has facilitated for him e.g.

1.  Perform Hajj (Pilgrimage)
Obviously, Hajj is one of the best deeds that one can do during these ten days. However for those of us who are not able to fulfill the Hajj Obligation this year, there are still many more ways to earn the pleasure of Allah.

2.  Fast on the ‘Day of Arafah.
The Prophet SAW said: “Fasting the Day of Arafah (ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah) is expiation for (all the sins of) the previous year and expiation for (all the sins of) the coming year.” [Muslim]
and in another narration he also said “Anyone who fasts for one day for Allah’s pleasure, Allah will keep his face away from the (Hell) fire for (a distance covered by a journey of) seventy years.” [Bukhari, Muslim]

3.  Perform Dhikr and Takbeer
This is as specified in the Hadith above with Takbeer (Allahu-Akbar) Tahmeed (Al-Hamdu-Lillah) and Tasbeeh (Subhana-Allah).

4.  Stand the Night in Prayer
Seeking Allah’s forgiveness and humbling ourselves in front of Him in supplication and prayers during the latter part of the night is an act of worship that is very beloved to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala.
Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala calls out to His servants in the latter part of the night thus: “Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to his invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?” [Bukhaari, Muslim]

5.  Read the Book of Allah (The Quran).
It is time to re-establish your connection the Quran if we haven’t been doing so, and do more of it if we have. Establish a beautiful relationship with the book of Allah starting in these ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. Recite its verses and we will surely reap its blessings. Understand its message. Implement the commandments of this book in your life.
 This relationship with the Quran will open for us the doors of wisdom and happiness in our lives. This will ultimately lead us to guidance and success in this life and the Hereafter.

6.  Increase in doing ALL good deeds
if we are not able to perform Hajj this year, we can occupy ourselves during these blessed days by any and every possible good deed. Every act that is done with sincerity for the pleasure of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala will bring you closer to Him for He says “So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it; and whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it.“[Al-Zalzalah 99:7-8].

7.  Slaughter an animal and distribute the meat (Sacrifice)
Ibn Umar said: “The Prophet SAW lived in Madeenah for ten years and every year he slaughtered an animal.” [Ahmad]

8.  Attend Eid prayers
Attending Eid prayer is from the Sunnah of the Prophet SAW. We should therefore be keen on practicing this Sunnah and performing it according to the teachings of our Prophet SAW.

9.  Thank Allah
One of the biggest forms of worshiping Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala is to thank Him, deeply, sincerely and continuously. After all, it is He who blessed us with all that we have. In fact, we wouldn't even be here if it wasn’t for the Mercy of our Creator. So we should thank Him for everything that He gave us, the blessing of Islam, the blessing of life and every blessing we possess. Thank Him for the opportunity to experience these ten days. Ask Him for His mercy, forgiveness and guidance.
10.         Remembrance and Da’wah
Let us pass this message round hopping that it may benefit the Ummah through us for the Prophet SAW said “Whoever revives an aspect of my Sunnah that is forgotten after my death, he will have a reward equivalent to that of the people who follow him, without it detracting in the least from their reward.” [Tirmidhi]


May Allah Forgive us our sins, guide us right from the evil of insincere intention, save us from misguided knowledge, grant us beneficial knowledge, righteous deeds and benefit the entire Ummah from this work. AMIN.
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