By Abu Amina Elias / 3 Oct 2013

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, the month of the Hajj pilgrimage, are a virtuous and blessed time for performing good deeds and remembering Allah. The good deeds performed during these ten days are greater than all others, except for someone who shows exemplary bravery and is martyred in a just cause for the sake of Allah.

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَاالْعَمَلُفِيأَيَّامٍأَفْضَلَمِنْهَافِيهَذِهِ

No good deed done on other days is superior to what is done on these first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.

Then some companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

“Not even struggling in the cause of Allah?”

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

وَلَاالْجِهَادُإِلَّارَجُلٌخَرَجَيُخَاطِرُبِنَفْسِهِوَمَالِهِفَلَمْيَرْجِعْبِشَيْءٍ

Not even struggling in the cause of Allah, except in the case of a man who goes out with his life and wealth in danger and returns with nothing.

Source: Sahih Bukhari 926, Grade: Sahih

Allah swears by the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, which indicates their great importance.

Allah said:

وَالْفَجْرِوَلَيَالٍعَشْرٍ

By the dawn and the ten nights…

Surah Al-Fajr 89:1-2

It is recommended to increase our glorification of Allah and acts of charity during these first ten days.

Allahsaid:

لِّيَشْهَدُوا مَنَافِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَّعْلُومَاتٍ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا الْبَائِسَ الْفَقِيرَ

That they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allah on appointed days over what He has provided for them of animals. So eat of them and feed the poor and downtrodden.

Surah Al-Hajj 22:28

Muslims should increase the declaration of the oneness of Allah (tahleel), the exaltation of Allah (takbeer), and the praise of Allah (tahmeed).

This is to say the following supplications:

لاإلهإلاالله

La Ilaha Illa

Allah There is no God but Allah.

 اللهأكبر

Allahu Akbar

Allah is the greatest.

الحمدلله

Al-Hamdulillah

All praise is due to Allah.

Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَا مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أَعْظَمُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَلَا أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ الْعَمَلِ فِيهِنَّ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأَيَّامِ الْعَشْرِ فَأَكْثِرُوا فِيهِنَّ مِنْ التَّهْلِيلِ وَالتَّكْبِيرِ وَالتَّحْمِيدِ

There are no days greater and more beloved to Allah then these ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, so increase in them your declaration of the oneness of Allah, your exaltation of Him, and your praise of Him.

Source: Musnad Ahmad 5423, Grade: Sahih

It is an obligation to perform the Hajj pilgrimage at least once for those who are able to do so.

Allah said:

وَلِلَّهِعَلَىالنَّاسِحِجُّالْبَيْتِمَنِاسْتَطَاعَإِلَيْهِسَبِيلًا

Due to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House for whoever is able to find a way.

Surah Ali Imran 3:97

Proper performance of the Hajj pilgrimage will result in the complete expiation and purification from sin.

Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَنْحَجَّهَذَاالْبَيْتَفَلَمْيَرْفُثْوَلَمْيَفْسُقْرَجَعَكَمَاوَلَدَتْهُأُمُّهُ

Whoever performs the pilgrimage to this house without having intimate relations or committing wickedness, then he will return pure like the day he was born from his mother.

Source: Sahih Bukhari 1723, Grade: Mutaffaqun Alayhi

It was not the regular practice of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to fast during the first ten days of the month. Aisha reported:

مَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَائِمًا فِي الْعَشْرِ قَطُّ

I never saw the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, fasting during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.

Source: Sahih Muslim 1176, Grade: Sahih

However, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would sometimes fast during the first nine days of the month.

Hunaida ibn Khalid (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:

بَعْضِ أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَصُومُ تِسْعَ ذِي الْحِجَّةِ وَيَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ

Some of the wives of the Prophet said that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would fast for nine days during the month of Dhul-Hijjah and on the day of Ashura.

Source: Sunan Abu Dawud 2437, Grade: Sahih

It is highly recommended to fast on the day of Arafat for those not performing the Hajj pilgrimage, as it is expiation and purification from sins. The day of Arafat is the ninth day of Dhull-Hijjah.

Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:

A man came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and he said,

“What is your view about fasting on the day of Arafat?”

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him,  said:

أَحْتَسِبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الْمَاضِيَةَ وَالْبَاقِيَةَ

I consider it with regard to Allah that it expiates the sins of the previous and upcoming years.

Source: Musad Ahmad 22115, Grade: Sahih

It is not recommended to fast on the day of Arafat for those who are performing the Hajj pilgrimage, although it is permissible to do so, in order that they have more strength to perform supplications.

Abu Najeeh (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:

He asked Ibn Umar about fasting on the day of Arafat for those who are at Arafat.

Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

حَجَجْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَلَمْ يَصُمْهُ  وَمَعَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَلَمْ يَصُمْهُ وَمَعَ عُمَرَ فَلَمْ يَصُمْهُ وَمَعَ عُثْمَانَ فَلَمْ يَصُمْهُ وَأَنَا لَا أَصُومُهُ وَلَا آمُرُ بِهِ وَلَا أَنْهَى عَنْهُ

I have performed the Hajj pilgrimage with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and he did not fast it. I performed it with Abu Bakr and he did not fast, with Umar and he did not fast, and with Uthman and he did not fast. I do not fast it, nor do I command it or prohibit it.

Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 751, Grade: Hasan

At-Tirmidhi (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

وَالْعَمَلُعَلَىهَذَاعِنْدَأَكْثَرِأَهْلِالْعِلْمِيَسْتَحِبُّونَالْإِفْطَارَبِعَرَفَةَلِيَتَقَوَّىبِهِالرَّجُلُعَلَىالدُّعَاءِوَقَدْصَامَبَعْضُأَهْلِالْعِلْمِيَوْمَعَرَفَةَبِعَرَفَةَ

The practice among the majority of scholars is that it is recommended to break fasting on the day of Arafat in order for a man to have strength to supplicate, but some of the scholars would fast on the day of Arafat while at Arafat.

Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 750

A Muslim should not fast on Eid Al-Adha or the following three days (tashreeq) because these are celebrations for eating, drinking, showing gratitude, and remembering Allah.

Uqbah ibn Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

يَوْمُعَرَفَةَوَيَوْمُالنَّحْرِوَأَيَّامُالتَّشْرِيقِعِيدُنَاأَهْلَالْإِسْلَامِوَهِيَأَيَّامُأَكْلٍوَشُرْبٍ

The day of Arafat, the day of sacrifice, and the three following days are our celebrations for the people of Islam, so they are days of eating and drinking.

Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 773, Grade: Sahih

Therefore, as Muslims we should increase our good deeds of prayer, fasting, and charity during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. If it is possible we should perform the Hajj pilgrimage, but if it is not possible then we should fast on the day of Arafat.

Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.

/strong