What should a Muslim do in the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah ?

Question:

What should a Muslim do in the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah? Answer: ِﺑ ْﺴ ِﻢ ا ِﷲ اﻟ ﱠﺮ ْﺣﻤ ِﻦ اﻟ ﱠﺮ ِﺣْﯿﻢ In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Greatness of the First Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah - Allah (s.w.t.) has taken an oath upon ten nights in Surah Al-Fajr-- ﻟﯿﺎل و ﻋﺸﺮ. ِAccording to the majority of the mufasiroon (exegetes of the Quran) the ten nights mentioned in this Surah refer to the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah (Tafseer Ibn Katheer: v. 8, p. 390 (Dar Tayyiba li Al-Nashr wa Al-Tawzee’) When Allah (s.w.t.) takes an oath upon something, it indicates towards the great status of it and virtue. Additionally, the month of Dhul Hijjah is very virtuous on account of it being one of the four sacred months, the Haj takes place therein, and the day of Arafah is in this month. Fasting and Spending the Night in Prayer - The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “There are no days in which worshipping Allah is more beloved to Him than the ten days of Dhul Hijjah. To fast each of these days (i.e. out of the first 9 days of Dhul Hijjah) is equal to the fast of one year, and to stand in prayer each of these nights is equal to standing in prayer on Laylatul Qadr.” (Tirmidhi: Hadith 758) - One of the wives of the Prophet (s.a.w.) reported, “Verily, the Prophet (s.a.w.) used to fast the (first) nine days of Dhul Hijjah.” (Sunan Al-Nasai: Hadith 2416) - Hence, we should maximize our good deeds in these blessed ten days, e.g. recitation of the Quran, zikr, optional prayers, optional fasts, sadaqah (charity), giving da’wah (calling others towards Allah [s.w.t.]), learning and teaching beneficial knowledge, praying Salah in

jama’ah (congregation), etc. Most importantly, we must abstain from all sins and make tawba (repent) from them. Just as the reward of good deeds is multiplied during Al-Ashhur Al-Hurum (the sacred months), similarly, the gravity of committing sins in these months is multiplied and worse in comparison to committing them in other months (Tafseer Ibn Katheer: v. 4, p. 148 [Dar Tayyiba li Al-Nashr wa Al-Tawzee’]) Adhkaar to Read During these 10 Days - Abdullah Ibn Umar (r.a.) narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “No days are greater according to Allah (s.w.t.) nor more beloved to Him in terms of doing good deeds therein than these ten days (of Dhul Hijjah). Thus, recite abundantly therein La ilaaha illallaah, Allahu Akbar, Alhamdulillah.” (Musnad Imam Ahmad: Hadith 5446) Fasting and Making Dua on the Day of Arafah (9th Day of Dhul Hijjah) - Abu Qatada Al-Ansari (r.a.) narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) was asked about the fast of the day of Arafah, so he replied, “It expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year.” (Muslim: Hadith 1162) - The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “The best dua is the dua of the day of Arafah.” (Tirmidhi: Hadith 3585) Takbeerat Al-Tashreeq - From the Fajr of the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah (Yawm Arafa) until the Asr of 13th of Dhul Hijjah, it is necessary for every Muslim male and female to recite the takbeer ONE TIME after every fard (obligatory) prayer regardless of whether one prayed individually or in a congregation (5 days -- 9, 10, 11, 12, & 13-- and 23 prayers in total). The men will recite these takbeerat loudly, and the women will recite them softly. The takbeer is as follows: اﻟﺤﻤﺪ إﻻ إﻟﻪ ﻻ Allahu akbar Allahu akbar, Laa ilaaha illallaahu wallaahu akbar, Allahu akbar wa lillaahil hamd. (Raddul Muhtar: v. 2, p. 177-180 [Darul Fikr])

Virtues of Qurbani - Zaid Bin Arqam narrated that the companions of Rasulullah [s.a.w.] asked, “O Messenger of Allah! What are these sacrifices? He replied, “It is the way of your father, Ibrahim (a.s.).” They inquired, “What is it for us in them (i.e. how much reward will we attain)?” He replied, “For every hair, there is one reward.” They asked, “What about the wool, O Rasulullah?” He responded, “For every fiber of wool, there is one reward.” (Ibn Majah: Hadith 3127) - For details regarding the laws pertaining to how the Qurbani is performed, kindly refer to your local scholars. However, these are some basic rulings mentioned by Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (r.a.): 1. Qurbani is wajib on the person upon whom sadaqatul fitr is wajib. If the person does not have wealth which equals the nisab of sadaqatul fitr, qurbani will not be wajib on him. But if he makes qurbani despite it not being wajib on him, he will be greatly rewarded. 2. Qurbani is not wajib on a traveler. 3. The time of qurbani commences from the day of Eid ul-adha, i.e. the 10th of Zil Hijjah until the sunset of the 12th of Zil Hijjah. Qurbani could be made on any of these three days. However, the best day for qurbani is the day of Eid ul-adha, followed by the 11th and then the 12th of Zil Hijjah. (Bahishti Zewar: p. 288 [DARUL-ISHAAT]) Not Trimming/Shaving Hair nor Cutting Nails - The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “When you see the moon of Dhul Hijjah, and one of you intends to slaughter, then let him refrain from his hair and nails (i.e. he should avoid cutting his hair and nails). (Muslim: Hadith 1977) - Based on the abovementioned Hadith, it is mustahab (recommended) that a person avoids cutting their hair/nails when it becomes known that the month of Dhul Hijjah has commenced. If a person wants to clip their hair and nails before Dhul Hijjah in order to attain the

reward, they should do so before the sunset of the first night of Dhul Hijjah. (Raddul Muhtar: v. 2, p. 181 [Darul Fikr]) Worshipping Allah (s.w.t.) During the Nights of Eid - It is mustahab (desired) to remain awake on the nights of Eid and worship Allah (s.w.t.). - The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “Whoever stands in prayer during the nights of both Eids (Eidul Adha and Eidul Fitr) seeking reward from Allah, his heart will not die on the day when the hearts will die.” (Ibn Majah: Hadith 1782) Sunnahs of Eid Moulana Thanwi (r.a.) mentioned thirteen sunnahs of Eid, however, some are exclusive to Eidul Fitr: (i) To adorn oneself according to the Shari’ah. (ii) To have a bath. (i) To use miswak. (iv) To wear the best of clothing which one possesses. (v) To apply perfume. (vi) To wake up very early in the morning. (vii) To go early to the Eid-gah. (viii) To eat something sweet, such as dates, before going to the Eid-gah (This is for Eidul Fitr. As for Eidul Adha, it is mustahab [desirable] not to eat before the prayer, rather it is recommended that the first thing he eats is from his Qurbani animal that he slaughtered). (ix) To give the sadaqatul fitr before going to the Eid-gah (this is also exclusive to Eidul Fitr). (x) To offer the Eid salah in the Eid-gah. That is, one should not offer Eid salah in the mosque without any valid reason. (xi) To return from the Eid-gah taking a route that is different from the one that he had taken when going it. (xii) To go to the Eid-gah on foot. (xiii) To read the following takbeer softly (however, one should recite it loudly on the day of Eidul Adha) while walking towards the Eid-gah: اﻟﺤﻤﺪ إﻻ إﻟﻪ ﻻ (Bahishti Zewar: p. 198 [DARUL-ISHAAT])

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Mohammad Ahsan Osmani Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham