Praise be to Allaah Who has created Time and has made some times better than others, some months and days and nights better than others, when rewards are multiplied many times, as a mercy towards His slaves.
Among the special seasons of worship are the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, which Allaah has preferred over all the other days of the year.
Allaah swears an oath by them, and swearing an oath by something is indicative of its importance and great benefit. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "By the dawn; by the ten nights" [al-Fajr 89:1-2]. Ibn ‘Abbaas, Ibn al-Zubayr, Mujaahid and others of the earlier and later generations said that this refers to the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah. Ibn Katheer said: "This is the correct opinion." (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 8/413)
This season of worship brings many benefits, such as the opportunity to correct one’s faults and make up for any shortcomings or anything that one might have missed.
Jaabir bin ‘Abdullaah (may Allaah be pleased with him) narrated that Allaah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “The best days in the world are the Ten Days.” [Ibn Hibaan & al – Bazzaar. Verified to be Saheeh (authentic) by Sheikh al – Albaanee in Saheeh ul – Jaami’ Number 1,113]
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him): The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul – Hijjah).”
Then some companions of the Prophet said, “Not even Jihaad?”
He replied, “Not even Jihaad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allaah's sake i.e., with his life and property), and does not return with any of those things (i.e., is martyred).” [Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 2, Book 13, Hadeeth Number 969]
These texts and others indicate that these ten days are better than all the other days of the year, with no exceptions, not even the last ten days of Ramadaan. But the last ten nights of Ramadaan are better, because they include Laylat al-Qadr ("the Night of Power"), which is better than a thousand months. Thus the various reports may be reconciled. (See Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 5/412).
Mujaahid (may Allaah have mercy on him) reported, “Once the Ten Days started, Sa’eed bin Jubayr (may Allaah have mercy on him) would exert (in worshipping Allaah) so much that it was almost beyond his capability.”
Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “No days are greater to Allaah, the Most High, nor are good deeds more beloved by Him during them, than the Ten Days. So increase tasbeeh, tahmeed, takbeer, and tahleel during these days.”
[Recorded by Ahmad. Verified to be Hasan by Sheikh al – Albaanee]
Tasbeeh – Subhaan Allaah – Exalted is Allaah
Tahmeed – Al –hamdu lillaah – Praise be to Allaah
Tahleel – Laa ilaaha illallaah – There is no (true) god but Allaah
Takbeer – Allaahu akbar – Allaah is greater than all else
Recite the following takbeer frequently during these days-
Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, wa lillaahil-hamd (Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great, there is no god but Allaah, Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great, and to Allaah be praise).
Increase in good deeds during these days- do a lot of sincere tauba(repentance) & istighfar, study the Qur'an, do a lot of charity, fast the first 9 days, specially the 9th day, cut out on distractions and unnecessary chit chats, send salah and salam upon the Prophet (peace be upon him), do adhkaar in general, make loads of du'a.
One of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) wives reported: “Allaah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) used to fast the (first) nine days of Dhul – Hijjah, the day of ‘Aashooraa’ (the tenth of al – Muharram), and three days of each month.” [Sunan Aboo Daawood, Sunan an – Nasaa’ee, and others. Verified to be Saheeh by Sheikh al – Albaanee]
It was narrated from Abu Qataadah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about fasting on the day of ‘Arafah [9th Dhul Hijja] and he said: “It expiates for the past and coming years.” Narrated by Muslim (1162).
O you whose hard heart is as dark as the night, is it not time that your heart was filled with light and became soft? Expose yourself to the gentle breeze of your Lord’s mercy during these ten days, for Allaah will cause this breeze to touch whomever He wills, and whoever is touched by it will be happy on the Day of Judgement. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and all his Family and Companions.
