AE

This is a re-post from “o9 which was a re-post of “08 of a re-post in “06 and I think you get the idea by now. Clearly the missing years where I didn’t re-post, I mustn’t have been too impressed with Dhu’l-Hijjah then. Or just insane. I think the latter.

Keep in mind that this coming Sunday might be the first of Dhu’l-Hijjah although it should really be Monday for many of us…

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What are the First Ten Days of Dhu’l-Hijjah?

With the onset of the 12th and final month in the Islamic Calender, Dhu’l-Hijjah, we have the most blessed days of the year (with the last 10 nights of Ramadhān being the most blessed nights) as taken from various narrations.

To understand this, we must appreciate that from the immense mercy of Allah ‘azza wa jall, is His giving us specific extra opportunities during our lives to really take advantage and grab the chance to please Him and worship Him even more, thanking Him for his countless bounties and grace.

When we’re told that a single prayer in the Haram in Makkah is equal to 100,000 prayers, we don’t stand around and ask why! We get on with it! That’s because we all appreciate what a great opportunity it is to seize the moment.

Likewise Allah jalla wa ‘alā gives us special times and places and occasions to use in a similar way i.e. the Day of Nahr (i.e. the Day of Hajj on the 10th of Dhu’l-Hijjah), the Day of ‘Arafah, the Month of Ramadhān, the Hour of acceptance before Maghrib on the Day of Jumu‘ah, the time beween the Adhān and Iqāmah etc.

Likewise we have certain places too, such as the two sacred Mosques of Makkah and Madīnah, Masjid al-Aqsā, the Rawdha of the Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam), the Black Stone, the Multazam, the plain of ‘Arafah, the Masjid of Khaif, etc.

All these times and places are there to make use of just like these ten days and when we have the Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) informing us in Sahīh al-Bukhāri that,

“There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days”

…then we’d be mad not to act!

What to do in these Ten Days

In no particular order:

1. Fast – every one of these days if possible and if not then especially the 9th of Dhu’l-Hijjah for those back in their homes. And why are you fasting this day of ‘Arafah? Because the Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Fasting the day of ‘Arafah: I hope Allah will expiate thereby for the year before it and the year after it.” (Muslim)

Now that’s what you call a good reason.

2. Make a Sacrifice on behalf of yourself and your dependents. Do it locally if possible so as to share in the meat but if this is not possible, there are plenty of charities (such as Interpal and Human Appeal) that will do it for you in needy areas. Remember, no cutting of your hair or your nails during this period of time until after the sacrifice has been done i.e. after ‘Eed day.

And if you’re a ‘stud’ who likes to prepare himself for ‘Eed – well, you should have of thought of that one beforehand…

3. Make as much Dhikr as you can; this includes reading the Qur’ān of course, sending salawāt upon our beloved Messenger (‘alayhi’l-salātu w’l-salām) and as the Salaf used to do: much Takbīr, Alhamdulillāh, Subhānallāh and Lā ilāha Illallāh as possible.

4. Reflect. Yes, think for a little while and reflect upon your year so far. Reflect how quickly the time has passed by between the last Hajj and this Hajj. Reflect whether you’ve improved since Ramadhān, whether you have benefited yourself and others.

5. After that, I’m sure like me you’ll realise that we can do much better and we’ve probably underachieved big time. So it’s seeking Forgiveness and Repentence time. And Du‘ā time! Use the day, use the nights, increase in extra prayers, increase in charity to wipe the slates clean, and increase all your happy good actions because remember folks, Allah jalla wa ‘alā says:

وَأَقِمِ الصَّلاةَ طَرَفَيِ النَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِنَ اللَّيْلِ إِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ ذَلِكَ ذِكْرَى لِلذَّاكِرِينَ

“Establish Prayer at each end of the day and in the first part of the Night. Good actions eradicate bad actions. This is a reminder for a people who pay heed.” (al-Hood, 114)

May Allah accept our good deeds and make it easy for us, Amīn!

What Happens Next?

Then it’s ‘Eed! And as my mother always used to say, it’s BIG ‘Eed! Enjoy yourselves, eat, drink and be very merry as the Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) told us:

“The day of ‘Arafah, the day of Sacrifice, and the days of al-Tashrīq (the 3 days after) are our festival, and they are days of eating and drinking.” (al-Tirmidhi, Sahīh)

Don’t be guilty about it either; if you’ve done your duties correctly, observed the Sunnah correctly, given charity generously, then this is the time to smile! And for three days too! And don’t forget to keep making those takbīrs loudly and proudly all over town as per the action of the Companions, from the Fajr prayer on the Day of ‘Arafah until the ‘Asr prayer on the 13th of Dhu’l-Hijjah.

And Allah knows best.