Read the article below to understand the opportunity of spiritual elevation during the first 10 days of Dhulhijjah!
- Allah swears an oath by the first 10 days of the month Dhul Hijjah
Allah swears an oath by the first 10 nights of Dhul-hijjah, and swearing an oath by something is indicative of its importance and great benefit. Allah says in the Quran: “By the dawn; by the ten nights.” (Surah Al-Fajr 89:1-2) Ibn `Abbas, Ibn Az-Zubayr, Mujahid and others of the earlier and later generations are of the opinion that this refers to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. Ibn Kathir said: “This is the correct opinion.” (Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 8/413)
2. It was also testified by The Prophet (PBUH) on the virtues of the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah
Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: There is no virtue more to the liking of Allah in any day than in these days, that is, the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. They (the Companions) asked: Messenger of Allah, not even the struggle in the path of Allah (Jihad) ? He said: (Yes), not even the struggle in the path of Allah, except a man who goes out (in the path of Allah) with his life and property, and does not return with any of them. Hadith Grade: Sahih (Al-Albani) Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 2438
3. Increase our good deeds especially during the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah
Here are some things to do that you may add as checklist:
- Observe voluntary fasting (especially on the 9th of dhulhijjah, day of Arafah – “Fasting on the day of Arafah is an expiation for the preceding year and the following year.” H.R Muslim)
- Increasing your night prayer (tahajjud) & nawafil (voluntary prayers)
- Increasing your recitation of Quran
- Increasing in remembrance of Allah (dhikr) by doing Takbir (Allahuakbar), Tahmid (Alhamdulillah) & Tahlil (La ilaa ha illallah)
- Giving in Charity
- Performing Qurban
4. Dont miss the opportuniy especially during the 9th of Dhul Hijjah
- One of the best time to make doa is during the day of Arafah (follow your local time which falls on the 9th of dhulhijjah)
- Increase your recitation of adhkar e.g “La ilaha illalla-h wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul Mulku, wa lahul Hamdu wa hua ala kulli shai’in qadir.”
- You may start to recite Takbir muqayyad after each obligatory prayer, starting from 9th of Dhulhijjah until last days of Tashriq, which ends on 13th of Dhulhijjah Asar prayer)
- Muqayyad means specified timing whereas mutlaq means no specified timing
- Fasting on the day of Arafah only applies for those who are not performing Haj
- Takbir for Pilgrims starts on 10th of Dhulhijjah day of Nahr after zuhur prayer till last days of Tashriq
- Recitation of Takbir : Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa ilaha illallah, Wallahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Walillahil Hamd.
5. Sahibul Qurban should refrain from shaving, cutting of nails & trimming of hair from 1st of Dhul Hijjah until the animal is sacrificed, which will be carried out between the 10th to 13th of Dhul Hijjah
وَحَدَّثَنِي عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو اللَّيْثِيُّ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ مُسْلِمِ بْنِ عَمَّارِ بْنِ أُكَيْمَةَ اللَّيْثِيِّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ سَعِيدَ بْنَ الْمُسَيَّبِ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ، زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ ذِبْحٌ يَذْبَحُهُ فَإِذَا أُهِلَّ هِلاَلُ ذِي الْحِجَّةِ فَلاَ يَأْخُذَنَّ مِنْ شَعْرِهِ وَلاَ مِنْ أَظْفَارِهِ شَيْئًا حَتَّى يُضَحِّيَ ”
Umm Salama, the wife of Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ), reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) to have said:
He who has a sacrificial animal with him whom (he intends) to offer as sacrifice, and he enters the month of Dhu’I-Hijja, he should not get his hair cut or nails trimmed until he has sacrificed the animal. Sahih Muslim
