The first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah are immensely virtuous. It is narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
“مَا مِنْ أَيَّامٍ الْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ فِيهَا أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ هَذِهِ الأَيَّامِ. يَعْنِى أَيَّامَ الْعَشْرِ. قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَلاَ الْجِهَادُ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ قَالَ وَلاَ الْجِهَادُ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ رَجُلٌ خَرَجَ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ فَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ مِنْ ذَلِكَ بِشَىْءٍ”
‘There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than deeds performed during these ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.’ The noble Companions asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Not even jihad in the path of Allah?’ The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied, ‘Not even jihad in the path of Allah, except for a person who sets out to fight in the path of Allah with his life and wealth and returns with neither of them.’[1]
It is narrated from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
“مَا مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أَعْظَمُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَلا الْعَمَلُ فِيهِنَّ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ هَذِهِ الأَيَّامِ، فَأَكْثِرُوا فِيهَا مِنَ التَّهْلِيلِ، وَالتكبير والتَّحْمِيدِ، يَعْنِي: أَيَّامَ الْعَشْرِ.”
‘There are no deeds more beloved and greater to Allah than righteous deeds performed during these ten days. Therefore, during this time, frequently recite tahlil (La ilaha illallah), takbir (Allahu Akbar), and tahmid (Al-hamdu lillah).’[2]
In another narration, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
“مَا مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أَفْضَلُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ أَيَّامِ عَشَرِ ذِي الْحِجَّةِ قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، وَلا مِثْلُهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: إِلا مَنْ عَفَّرَ وَجْهَهُ فِي التُّرَابِ.”
‘There are no days better in the sight of Allah than the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.’ The Companions asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, are there no days better than these even for jihad in the path of Allah?’ He replied, ‘Yes, except for the one who has pressed his face into the dust in jihad.’[3]
The purport of these hadiths is that, among all the virtuous days of the year, each of these ten days is the best. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) encouraged his Ummah to perform righteous deeds during these days. This encouragement from him proves the virtue of this period. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) instructed that tahlil and takbir be recited frequently during these days, as mentioned above in the hadith of Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him).
The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah include the Day of ‘Arafah and the Day of Sacrifice, and both of these days possess immense virtue. Another reason for the virtue of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah is that important acts of worship such as salah, fasting, charity, Hajj, and sacrifice are combined within these days, something for which no other example can be found.[4]
The Virtue of Righteous Deeds During the First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah
Ibn Rajab (may Allah have mercy on him) says that the above hadiths indicate that the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are the best season for righteous deeds, and righteous deeds performed during these days are more beloved to Allah. In some narrations of the hadith, the word أَحَبُّ (‘ahabbu,’ meaning most beloved) occurs, while in other narrations the word أَفْضَلُ (‘afdalu,’ meaning best) is used.
Therefore, performing righteous deeds during this period is more honorable and virtuous than performing righteous deeds at any other time of the year.
Deeds That May Be Performed During the First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah
1. Making Sincere Tawbah
Tawbah means to return or come back. It means abandoning the words and deeds that Allah, Lord of the Worlds, dislikes and returning to the words and deeds that He loves, while at the same time expressing heartfelt remorse and regret for having engaged in such deeds in the past.
2. Performing Hajj and ‘Umrah
The virtues of performing Hajj and ‘Umrah have previously been discussed in detail.
3. Fasting and Performing Righteous Deeds Frequently
Times of righteous deeds are beloved to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. However, the merit and reward of righteous deeds during these blessed days are far greater. There is no doubt that those who have had the opportunity to perform Hajj during these days are very fortunate. They should fast and perform as many righteous deeds as possible during these blessed days of Dhul-Hijjah.
4. Engaging in Qur’an Recitation and Dhikr
Dhikr has special importance during these days. It is stated in the hadith:
It is narrated from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘There are no deeds more beloved and greater to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, than righteous deeds performed during these ten days. During this time, frequently recite tahlil (La ilaha illallah), takbir (Allahu Akbar), and tahmid (Al-hamdu lillah).’[5] Furthermore, since recitation of the Qur’an is the best form of dhikr, the Qur’an should be recited frequently.
5. Reciting Takbir Aloud
During these days, it is Sunnah to recite takbir in order to proclaim the greatness of Allah, Lord of the Worlds. It is desirable to recite this takbir openly and aloud in mosques, homes, streets, marketplaces, and everywhere else. Women, however, should recite the takbir in a low voice. The words of the takbir are as follows:
اَللهُ أَكْبَرُ، اَللهُ أكْبَرُ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ، وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ، اَللهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِله الحَمْدُ.
(Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illallahu wallahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa lillahil-hamd)
Takbir has now become an abandoned and nearly forgotten Sunnah. It is the duty of us all to promote it widely with the aim of reviving this Sunnah. It is mentioned in a hadith,
مَنْ أَحْيَا سُنَّةً مِنْ سُنَّتِيْ، قَدْ أُمِيْتَتْ بَعْدِيْ، فَإِنَّ لَهُ مِنَ الأَجْرِ مِثْلَ مَا عَمِلَ بِهَا، مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أُجُوْرِهِمْ شَيْئاً
‘Whoever revives one of my Sunnahs that has become extinct after me will be given a reward equal to that of all those who act upon it, without the reward of those who perform it being diminished in the least.’[6]
It is generally mustahabb for everyone to recite this takbir from the beginning of the month of Dhul-Hijjah until the end of the Days of Tashriq. However, particular emphasis has been placed on reciting this takbir after every salah from after Fajr on the Day of ‘Arafah until the end of the days of Mina—that is, until ‘Asr on the day one finishes stoning at Mina. This view is narrated from ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud and ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with them). Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) regarded it as the most authentic view. It should be noted that if a person enters ihram, he should occasionally recite takbir along with the talbiyah. This is established by hadith.[7]
[1]. Abu Dawud: 2438; Tirmidhi: 757.
[2]. Musnad Ahmad: 2/75.
[3]. Sahih al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib: 2/15.
[4]. Durus ‘Ashri Dhul-Hijjah: 22–23.
[5]. Musnad Ahmad: 2/75.
[6]. Tirmidhi: 677.
[7]. Ibn Taymiyyah, Majmu‘ Fatawa: 24/220.