The First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah

by Shaykh Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullāh

Significance of the First Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah

1. Allah has taken oath of ten nights in Sūrah Al-Fajr. According to the majority of the commentators of Qur’ān, the nights are those of the (first) ten days of Dhul Hijjah.

2. Abdullah Ibne ‘Abbās radiyallāhu ‘anhu related that the Prophet sallallāhu alayhi wasallam said, “Good deeds performed on other days are not superior to those performed on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijjah).” The Companions radiyallāhu ‘anhum inquired, “Not even Jihād?” He replied, “Not even jihād, except for that person who goes out putting himself and his wealth in danger and does not return with anything.” (Al-Bukhārī)

3. Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās radiyallāhu ‘anhu narrated that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu alayhi wasallam said, “On no other days are good deeds more liked by Allāh than on these ten days (i.e. The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah).” The Sahābah radiyallāhu ‘anhum asked, “O Rasūlullāh! Not even Jihād in the Way of Allāh?” Rasūlullāh sallallāhu alayhi wasallam replied, “Not even Jihād in the Way of Allāh, except for that person who goes out with his life and wealth and does not return with anything.” (Abū Dāwūd, At-Tirmidhī, Ibn Mājah)

4. Abū Hurayrah radiyallāhu ‘anhu related that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu alayhi wasallam said, “On no days is the worship of Allāh 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.” (At-Tirmidhī, Ibn Mājah)

5. The mother of the believers, Hafsah radiyallāhu ‘anhā reports that Rasūlullāh sallalahu alayhi wasallam used to fast the (first) nine days of Dhul Hijjah. (Nasā’ee, Ahmad, Aboo Dāwood)

6. Abdullah Ibne ‘Umar radiyallāhu anhu related that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu alayhi wasallam said, “No days are as weighty with Allāh and so liked by Him for good deeds than the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. So on these days increasingly read Subhānallah, Lā ilāha illallāh, Alhamdulillāh and Allāhu Akbar.” (Musnad Ahmad)

Virtues of the Day of ‘Arafah (9th Dhul Hijjah)

1. ‘Ā’ishah radiyallāhu anhā reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu alayhi wasallam said, ” There is no day in which Allāh sets free more souls from the fire of hell than on the day of ‘Arafah. And on that day Allāh draws near to the Earth and by way of exhibiting His Pride remarks to the angels, ‘What is the desire of these (servants of mine)?’” (Muslim)

2. Talhah radiyallāhu ‘anhu reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu alayhi wasallam said, “Apart from the day of the Battle of Badr, there is no day on which the Shaytān is seen to be more humiliated, more rejected, more depressed and more infuriated than on the day of ‘Arafah, and indeed all this is only because of beholding the abundance of descending mercy (on the day) and Allāh’s forgiveness of the great sins of the servants.” (Mishkāt)

3. Abū Qatādah Al-Ansārī radiyallāhu ‘anhu narrated that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu alayhi wasallam was asked about the fast on the day of ‘Arafah. He said, “It compensates for the (minor) sins of the past and the coming year.” (Muslim, At-Tirmidhī, Ibn Mājah)

Night of ‘Īd-Al-Adhā

The nights of both ‘Īd are described in the Hadīth as amongst the great and sacred nights in the Muslim calendar. To remain awake on the nights of ‘Īd and perform ‘ibādah is a source of great virtue and reward.

1. Abū Umārah radiyallāhu ‘anhu related that ‘Ā’ishah radiyallāhu anhā reports that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu alayhi wasallam said, “Whosoever stays awake and performs ‘ibādah (worship) on the nights of the two ‘Īd, with hope for abundant reward (from Allāh), his heart will not die on the day (i.e. Qiyāmah) when all hearts will be dead.” (At-Targhīb)

2. Mu’ādh ibn Jabal radiyallāhu ‘anhu relates that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu alayhi wasallam said, “Jannah is wājib (incumbent) for those who stay awake with the intention of making ‘ibādah on the following nights: 8th, 9th and 10th of Dhul Hijjah, the night of ‘Eedul Fitr and the night of the 15th of Sha’bān.” (At-Targhīb)