The first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah

Dhu'l Hajjah is the 12th month of the Islamic calendar, and then we enter a new year, with the first month of Muharram.

10 days of Dhul Hijjah

Significance and virtues of Dhul Hijjah; First 10 days

Dhul Hijjah is a month of great significance as mentioned in the Quran and Hadith.

1. Allah has sworn by these days

In Surah Fajr, Allah swore upon the 10 days of this month, which explains its importance, and honor.

وَلَيَالٍ عَشۡرٍۙ‏

And [by] ten nights [Surah Fajr:2]

According to Sayyidna Ibn `Abbas ؓ , and other leading commentators, the 'ten nights' refers to the [first] ten nights of Dhul Hijjah.

2. Completion of Religion

Scholars mention a lot of reasons for these 10 days to be the most blessed; One of them is that scholars say that Allah SWT completed the religion in these 10 days.

Allah SWT says, “Today I have completed your religion for you, perfected your religion for you.” “And I have completed my favor upon you, and chosen Islam for you as your religion.”

This verse was revealed on the day of Arafah, the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, which in itself makes these 10 days of high significance.

3. 10 additional days to Musa(as)

Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ said that these are the ten nights that are mentioned in the story of Prophet Musa علیہ السلام;

وَ اَتمَمنٰھَا بِعَشرٍ

then We supplemented them with ten [ 7:142].

It is when Musa(as) was sent to the Mount of Sinai to pass thirty nights there sitting in devotion to and for Allah. These thirty nights were later supplemented with ten more nights to make them forty - and the added ten nights were the first 10 nights of Dhul Hijjah.

4. Combination of Five Pillars of Islam

Ibn Hajar, may Allah be pleased with him, claimed that during these ten days, all good deeds are merged in a way that is not possible at any other time. Thus, each of the five pillars of Islam has a component that falls under these ten days.

Hajj is completed. The prayer is with you at all times. We can fast, give sadaqah, and have Shahada, the testimony of the oneness of Allah(swt), and accept Prophet Muhammad(p) as the last messenger.

The manifestation of all the five pillars of Islam cannot be combined or done at any other time of the year, or any other month.

5. Double the reward

“It is recorded in Hadith that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said that the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the most meritorious days for Allah's worship.

Every fast of the day is equivalent to the fasts of the whole year. Worshipping Allah every night during this period is equivalent to worshipping Him on the night of Qadr.

[Transmitted by Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah with a weak chain of authorities from Abu Hurairah Mazhari].”

6. One of the sacred months amongst 4

Allah Himself tells us in the Holy Qur’an:

"Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year) so was it ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them, four are sacred, (i.e., the 1st, the 7th, the 11th, and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar; Dhul Qada, Dhul Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab). That is the right religion; so wrong not yourself therein."

Prophetic Commentary on the Qur'an [V.9:36]

Significant events in the month of Dhul Hijjah

Dhul Hijjah is marked by two most significant events;

The day of Arafah

The 9th day of Dhul Hijjah is the day of Arafah, and the most crucial day of the Hajj! Muslims gather on Mount Arafah to pray for forgiveness from Allah (swt) and ask for his blessings. Hajj is not validated if a pilgrimage does not reach Arafah till night.

The day of Eid al-Adha

After this comes the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the day of Eid al-Adha, the sacrifices are made to honor and celebrate the faith of Prophet Ibrahim(as) and his devotion to Allah (swt).

How To Maximize Your Rewards in the First 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah

Another day and another mercy of Allah on us! We must take every chance given to us as the mercy of Allah upon us.

Ramadan is not the only month to awaken our spirituality and get closer to Allah. However, the benefits of Dhul Hijjah are less recognized in comparison to Ramadan, but it offers more chances to benefit and do good deeds through increased dhikr, charity, prayer, fasting, and other voluntary deeds.

Allah is the most merciful and all-seeing - all our efforts during these days are rewarded with double the ajar(reward), better than any other day or night of the year.

It is better for all of us not to miss out on any blessings during these blessed days. We never know, what actions can bring us closer to ALLAH. Do as much as you can. The beauty and mercy of ALLAH is that He sees the effort, not the size. The intention, dedication, and love we hold for him in our hearts is of greater value than the quantity of it.

Do not lose your obligations

Every voluntary worshipping and good deed comes after obligations. No good deed or voluntary prayer can maximize the reward, if we lack in our obligatory deeds, like praying 5 times a pray.

“Imam Hasan al-Basri (ra) was asked, “What are the best things that we can do in these 10 days?” He said, “The first thing is, don’t lose your obligations. Don’t lose your obligations because these 10 days celebrate the obligations, the pillars of Islam. So don’t lose your obligations.”

Then comes the voluntary acts of worshipping and performing good deeds. What best way can there be to perform voluntary acts other than following the sunnah.

Acts to perform in the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah

Our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said,

“There is no deed that is better in the sight of Allah or more greatly rewarded than a good deed done in the (first) ten days of Dhul Hijjah”.

It was asked, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah?” The Prophet Pbuh replied, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah unless a man goes out himself for Jihad taking his wealth with him and does not come back with anything.” [Al Bukhari]

1. Fasting

We usually fast on the 8th and 9th of Dhul Hijjah or mostly the 9th, day of Arafah. There is an interesting narration, narrated by Hunayda bin Khalid, from his wife that one of the wives of the Prophet SAW said that “the messenger SAW used to fast the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah., and the day of Ashura, and three days each month, the first Monday of the month and two Thursdays.”

So, it gives a greater opportunity to combine the intention of fasting, fasting in Dhul Hijjah, and also following the Sunnah of Prophet(p). SubhanAllah. For voluntary acts, we can combine the intention to get greater rewards with one deed.

2. Dhikar (Remembrance)

Nothing better than the remembrance of Allah - a way to connect to Allah on a deeper level, and also gain double the reward for it.

TAKBEER - Allah hu Akbar

لله أكبر

Allah is [the] greatest

TAHMEED - Alhamdulillah

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ

All praise and thanks be to God

TAHLEEL - Laa ilaaha ill-Allah

لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا ٱلله

There is no god but Allah

TASBEEH - SubhanAllah

سبحان الله

Glory be to Allah

3. Recite Takbirat-e-Tashriq

The reward for reciting takbeerat-e-tashreeq is significant during all first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah.

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ, اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ, لَا إلَهَ إلَّا اللَّهُ وَاَللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ, اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْد

“Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest, there is no god but Allah. And Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest and to Allah belongs all praise.”

Context of Takbir-Tashriq; Story of Ibrahim(AS)

Prophet Ibrahim, (AS) had a dream, he was commanded by Allah subhana wa ta’ala to sacrifice his son Isma’il.

When he told his son about this dream, his son agreed that whatever Allah has ordained you must follow.

They both agreed to submit to the will of Allah. Ismail lay prostrate with his forehead touching the ground, while his father laid a sharp knife upon his neck.

Allah then called down right before Ibrahim (a) began moving the knife, “O Ibrahim! You have done my bidding and now you will be rewarded!”. A large ram was brought as an alternative sacrifice, so instead of killing his son, Ibrahim slaughtered the sheep in the name of Allah.

The angels exclaimed: Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar.

Ibrahim heard the voice of the angels and said: “La Ilaha Illallahu Wallahu Akbar”

Isma’il heard this conversation and realized that God had relieved him from this great trial and so he said: “Allahu Akbar Wa Lillahil Hamd”

4. Nawafil (Voluntary prayer); Tahajjud

Increase your voluntary prayers in the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah.

The most virtuous nawafil (voluntary) prayer is the Tahajjud prayer as it enables one to get closer to Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla. The best recitation of the Qur’an is done during the Tahajjud prayer. You can recite as much of the Qur’an as you have memorized, no matter even it's one surah from the Quran. The intention is to recite Quran for the sake of Allah, to please Allah.

You can recite four Quls, instead of just surah Ikhlas. We can never imagine the reward with a sincere intention for reciting even one more surah in our prayer - especially during these blessed days.

Pray 12 raka’ahs of daily sunnah

Umm Habibah Ramilah bint Abu Sufyan raḍyAllāhu 'anhu narrated she heard the Prophet ﷺ saying: “A house will be built in Paradise for every Muslim who offers twelve units of prayers other than the obligatory ones in day and night, to seek the pleasure of Allah.”

Salaatul Duhaa

The Prophet ﷺ is reported to have said: Whoever prayed two rakaats (before midday), then Allah will, as a reward, prepare a palace of gold for him in Paradise. [Sunan An-Nasai]

5. Repentance

Repentance is the way to closeness to Allah. Allah loves those who repent to Him.

‘Seek forgiveness of your Lord and repent to Him, [and] He will let you enjoy a good provision for a specified term and give every doer of favor his favour’. [The Noble Qur’an, 11:3]

Dhul Hijjah is a gift to us from Allah, these blessed days double the reward for every act. Indulge yourself in repentance.

6. Give more sadaqah

Hasan al-Basri (rh) said, ‘Going to fulfill the need of your brother is better for you than performing Hajj after Hajj’.

Try to give Sadaqah, and help others during these 10 days even more than the normal days. Even if you are on a tight budget, and cannot help anyone with something significant, help as per how much you can.

Our merciful lord sees the intention and the quality, not the quantity. Rizq is from Allah, and it will reach you in any way possible or impossible. Take out a penny and give it in the name of Allah.

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “The believer’s shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity.” [Tirmidhi].

What can be the best time to do charity than the blessed months or days, right?

Indeed, those men and women who give in charity and lend to Allah a good loan will have it multiplied for them, and they will have an honorable reward. [Surah Al Hadeed 57:18]

7. Return to the Quran

The Prophet (saw) said, ’Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah, he will have a reward. And that reward will be multiplied by ten. I am not saying that “Alif, Laam, Meem” is a letter, rather I am saying that “Alif” is a letter, “laam” is a letter, and “meem” is a letter. [Tirmidhi]

Make sure to give time to Quran. Be it one small surah, or an ayah - make an intention for a higher reward from Allah(swt), and His pleasure.

As His creations, we should all remember and glorify Allah as much as we possibly can, but even more so during these blessed days. Sticking to easy and very beautiful duas, and practices to gain the reward and to please Allah.

May Allah accept our efforts, and bless us with afiyah in this world and the world hereafter. Ameen