a. These are days of worship and devotion, remembrance of Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and giving thanks to Him. Allah Most High says,
﴿ ۞وَٱذۡكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ فِيٓ أَيَّامٖ مَّعۡدُودَٰتٖۚ﴾ [البقرة: ٢٠٣]
‘And remember Allah during the specified days.’[1] Explaining this verse, Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) says,
الأَيَّامِ الْمَعْدُوْدَاتُ: أَيَّامُ التَّشْرِيْقِ .
‘The “specified days” refer to Ayyam al-Tashriq.’[2] The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
«أَيَّامُ التَّشْرِيْقُ أَيَّامُ أَكْلٍ وَشُرْبٍ وَذِكْرِ اللهِ».
‘Ayyam al-Tashriq are days of eating, drinking, and remembering Allah, Lord of the Worlds.’[3]
Explaining this hadith, Imam Ibn Rajab (may Allah have mercy on him) says that Ayyam al-Tashriq are days in which blessings for the believers’ bodies and minds—namely, vitality—have been combined. This is because food and drink nourish the body, while the remembrance of Allah and gratitude to Him nourish the mind. Thus, blessings attain their fullness during these days.
b. Ayyam al-Tashriq, that is, the days of Tashriq, are regarded as days of Eid. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
«يَوْمُ عَرَفَةَ، وَيَوْمُ النَّحْرِ، وَأَيَّامُ مِنَى عِيْدُنَا أَهْلُ الإِسْلاَمِ».
‘The Day of Arafah, the Day of Sacrifice, and the days of Mina (the three days following the sacrifice) are our days of Eid—that is, the days of Eid for the followers of Islam.’[4]
These days are connected to the first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah, which are highly meritorious. For this reason as well, they possess considerable distinction. Moreover, several important rites of Hajj are performed during these days. For this reason too, these days are virtuous.
[1]. Al-Baqarah: 203.
[2]. Bukhari, Chapter on Eid.
[3]. Muslim: 1141.
[4]. Abu Dawud: 2419.