The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are one of Allah’s greatest days among other days with many virtues. As many worship deeds are applied these days such as prayer, fasting, Hajj, and many others.
scholars have shown that the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are better than the last ten days of Ramadan, and the last ten nights of Ramadan are better than the ten nights of Dhul-Hijjah.
The virtues of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah
The good deeds in these days are doubled
The days of Dhul-Hijjah and its nights are honorable. The deeds are doubled in them. and it is desirable to worship diligently and increase doing good deeds.
Good deeds in these days are better than the good deeds in other days of the year, as narrated by the prophet (PBUH):
“There are no days during which the righteous action is so pleasing to Allah than these days (i.e., the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah).” He was asked: “O Messenger of Allah, not even Jihad in the Cause of Allah?” He (PBUH) replied, “Not even Jihad in the Cause of Allah, except in case one goes forth with his life and his property and does not return with either of it”
[Al- Bukhari]
Fasting the first 8 days in Dhul-Hijjah
It is desirable to fast the first eight days of Dhul-Hijjah not because it is a sunnah, but because it is desirable to do good deeds in general in these days, and fasting is of good deeds, although it is not mentioned about the Prophet PBUH fasting these days.
fasting the day of Arafat
Fasting on the day of Arafat is a sunnah done by the Prophet, peace be upon him.
Abu Qatadah narrated that: the Prophet said: “Fast the Day of Arafat, for indeed I anticipate that Allah will forgive (the sins) of the year after it, and the year before it.”
So, fasting on the day of Arafat for non-Hajj, which is the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah, is a sunnah about the prophet. Fasting this day erases the sins of two years: a past year, and a future year as mentioned by the prophet in the hadith.
How about fasting the first day of the EID?
It is forbidden to fast on the tenth day of Dhul-Hijjah because it is the day of Eid al-Adha. It is prohibited to fast in the days of any EID in general as narrated in the hadith:
Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri (RAA) narrated. ‘The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) has prohibited fasting on two days; the day of Fitr (breaking the fast of Ramadan) and on the day of sacrifice.
Praying in the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah
Remembrance and praying to Allah are considered one of the best deeds in the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, as mentioned in the hadith
Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger saying, “There are no days in which a good deed is more pleasing to God than these ten days.” On being asked whether not even jihad in God’s path was as pleasing, he replied, “Not even jihad in God’s path, except when a man goes out in person with his property and loses both life and property.”
The best Saying words of Allah’s remembrance in the days of Dhul-Hijjah
Tahlilah:
which means to say that “there is no God but Allah”, which is the testimony of Islam, and the first Pillars of Islam.
Many of the hadiths of the Prophet were received in the virtue of praise, including his saying, Peace be upon him:
The Prophet said:
The best invocation is that of the Day of Arafat, and the best that anyone can say is what I and the Prophets before me have said:
None has the right to be worshipped but Allah Alone, Who has no partner. His is the dominion and He is the praise, and He can do all things.
Takbir:
it is meant to say: Allah is greater, and in Takbir is an indication of the magnification of the Almighty. It is an acknowledgment that Allah Almighty is greater and greater than all, and that he is the only worthy of worship.
Takbir is considered one of the greatest purposes of Hajj.
Praise:
It is intended to repeat the saying Of Praise to Allah, and praise is worship that the Muslim continuously performs. Praising shows satisfaction to the divine, both good and bad
As for these days, the greatest blessing is that Allah made us live these virtuous days in which good deeds are doubled, and sins are forgiven, every Muslim in return must be careful to increase the praise.
