Verily, the praise belongs to Allah Most High, and may the blessings of Allah
and Peace be upon His Messenger Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), and
his family and companions, all of them.
Ibn Abbas (radhiAllaahu 'anhumaa) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu
'alaihi wa sallam) said, "There are not any days in which righteousdeeds done in
them are more beloved to Allah than these days, i.e. the ten days (of
Dhul-Hijjah). They said, "O, Messenger of Allah, not even Jihad in the path of
Allah?" He said, "Not even Jihad in the path of Allah Most High, except if a man
goes out (for Jihad) with his self and his wealth, then he doesn't return with
anything from that." [Bukhari]
Imam Ahmad narrated from Ibn 'Umar (radhiAllaahu 'anhumaa) that the Messenger
of Allah Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "There aren't any days
greater, nor any days in which deeds done in them are more beloved to Allah Most
High, than these ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah). So, increase saying Tahlil (Laailaaha
illallaah), and Takbir (Allahuakkbar) and Tahmid (alhumdulillaah) in them."
The Types of Deeds in These Ten Days
First: The performance of Hajj and 'Umrah, and these are the best of
deeds that may be done. Their superiority is indicated by a number of hadiths.
One of them is the saying of (the Messenger of Allah) (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa
sallam), "Performance of 'Umrah is an expiation of the sins committed between it
and the previous 'Umrah, and the reward of the Hajj which is accepted by Allah
Most High is nothing but Paradise." [Bukhari and Muslim]
Second: The fasting during these days as many of them as may be easy -
especially the Day of 'Arafah. There is no doubt that the act of fasting is one
of the best deeds. It is something that Allah Most High has chosen for Himself,
as in the Hadith Qudsi, "Fasting is for Me, and it is I who give reward for it.
Verily, someone gives up his sexual passion, his food and his drink for my
sake..." [Bukhari, Muslim, Malik, Tirmidhi, Nasai and Ibn Majah] Also, from Abu
Sa'id al-Khudri (radhiAllaahu 'anhu), who said that the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu
'alaihi wa sallam) said, "No servant (of Allah Most High) fasts one day in the
way of Allah, except that Allah Most High removes his face from the fire because
of it (the distance of travelling) seventy years." [Bukhari and Muslim]
Abu Qatadah reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa
sallam) said, "Fasting the Day of 'Arafah will be credited with Allah by
forgiving one's sins of the previous year and the following year." [Muslim]
Third: At-Takbir (saying: Allahu-Akbar) and adh-Dhikr (remembrance of
Allah) in these (ten) days, because of the saying of Allah in Surah al-Hajj Ayah
28: "...And mention the name of Allah on the appointed Days..."
This has been explained (by some) to mean the ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah). The
scholars consider it desirable to increase adh-Dhikr in these days because of
the hadith of Ibn 'Umar (radhiAllaahu 'anhumaa) narrated by Ahmad, which says in
it, "...so increase in these days the Tahlil and Takbir and Tahmid".
Bukhari mentioned about Ibn 'Umar and Abu Hurairah (radhiAllaahu 'anhu) that,
"the two of them used to go out to the market place during the ten days (of
Dhul-Hijjah) saying 'Allahu-Akbar', causing the people to say it also."
Ishaq narrated from the scholars of the Tabi'in that in these ten days they
used to say: Allahu-Akbar, Allahu-Akbar; Laailaaha illallaah; Wa Allahu-Akbar,
Allahu-Akbar; wa lillaahil-hamd.
It is a beloved act to raise the voice when saying the Takbir in the markets,
the houses, the streets, the masjids and other places, because of the saying of
Allah Most High in Surah al-Hajj Ayah 37: "... that you may magnify Allah for
His Guidance to you.."
The saying of Takbir in congregation, i.e., everyone pronouncing the Takbir
with one voice (in unison), is not permissible since this has not been
transmitted (to us) from the early generations of the Sahabah and those who
followed their ways. Indeed the Sunnah is for everyone to say the Takbir
individually (each at his own pace). And this is applicable for all Dhikr
(remembrance of Allah) and supplications, except if the person does not know
what to say. In that case he may repeat after someone else until he learns (the
words to be said). It is also permissible to make Dhikr with all the different
wording of Takbir (Allahu-Akbar) and Tahmid (alhumdulillaah) and Tasbih (SubhaanAllah),
and the rest of the Islamic legislated supplications (from the noble Qur'an and
blessed Sunnah).
Fourth: At-Tawbah (repentance) and abstaining from disobedience and
all types of sins, because forgiveness and mercy are the results of deeds.
Disobedience is the cause of being far away (from Allah Most High) and
repulsion, while obedience is the cause of being near (to Allah Most High) and
His love. In the Hadith of Abu Hurairah (radhiAllaahu 'anhu), he said that the
Messenger of Allah Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Verily Allah
has a sense of 'Ghayrah' (honour, prestige and anger over it's violation), and
Allah's sense of Ghayrah is provoked when a person does that which Allah has
made prohibited". [Bukhari and Muslim]
Fifth: Doing plenty of voluntary (Nafl) righteous deeds of worship
like prayer, charity, Jihad, reading the Qur'an, commanding what is good and
forbidding what is evil, and other deeds like this. Indeed they are amongst
those deeds whose (virtue) are multiplied in these days. Because, during these
days even those deeds which are less preferred are superior and more beloved to
Allah than superior deeds done at other times - even the Jihad which is one of
the most superior of all deeds, except in the case of one whose horse is killed
and his blood is spilled.
Sixth: It is legislated in these days to make at- Takbir al-Mutlaq
(unrestricted to specific times or form) at all times of night and day until the
time of the `Eid Prayer. Also, at-Takbir al-Muqayyid (restricted to specific
times and done in a particular manner) is legislated, and it is done after the
(five) obligatory prayers which are performed in congregation. This begins from
Dawn (Fajr) on the Day of 'Arafah (the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah) for those not
performing Hajj, and from Noon (Dhur) on the Day of Sacrifice (10th of
Dhul-Hijjah) for those performing Hajj (pilgrims); and it continues until 'Asr
prayer on the last day of the days of Tashriq (13th of Dhul-Hijjah).
Seventh: The slaughtering of a sacrificial animal (Udhiyyah) is also
legislated for the Day of Sacrifice (10th) and the Days of Tashriq (11th, 12th
and 13th). This is the Sunnah of our father Ibrahim ('alayhis-salaam) - since
the time Allah Most High redeemed his son by the great sacrifice (of an animal
in his place). It is authentically reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu
'alaihi wa sallam) slaughtered two horned rams, black and white in colour, and
that he slaughtered them with his own hands. He mentioned the name of Allah Most
High (saying Bismillaah), then said Takbir (Allahu-Akbar) and placed his foot on
their sides (while slaughtering them). [Bukhari and Muslim. Bukhari English
translation - Dr. Muhsin Khan, Vol.2, Pg. 447-448 #770 and 772, 1979]
Eighth: Muslim and others narrated from Umm Salamah (radhiAllaahu `anhaa)
that the Messenger of Allah Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "If
you see the Hilal (new moon) of Dhul-Hijjah, and any one of you wants to make a
sacrifice, then he should not cut (anything) from his hair and his nails." In
another narration he said, "...then he should not take (cut) anything from his
hair, nor from his nails, until he performs the sacrifice." Perhaps this is
because of the similarity with the one who is bringing a sacrificial animal for
slaughter (in Hajj). As Allah Most High said, "...and do not shave your heads
until the Hadi (sacrifice) reaches the place of sacrifice..."
The apparent meaning of this prohibition is that it is meant particularly for
the one whom the sacrifice is for and does not include the wife or children,
unless there is an individual sacrifice for one of them. There is no harm in
washing the head, or scratching it, even if some hair may fall out.
Ninth: It is incumbent for the Muslim ( who is not making Hajj) to
make every effort to perform the `Eid Prayer wherever it is performed, and to be
present for the Khutbah and benefit from it. He must know the wisdom behind the
legislation of this `Eid. It is a day of thankfulness and performing deeds of
righteousness. So, he must not make it a day of wildness, pride and vanity. He
should not make it a season of disobedience and increase in the forbidden things
like music and singing, uncontrolled amusement, intoxicants and the like - those
things which could cause the cancellation of the good deeds done in these ten
days (of Dhul-Hijjah).
Tenth: After what has been mentioned, it is fitting that every Muslim,
male and female, take advantage of these days by obeying Allah Most High,
remembering Him, thanking Him, fulfilling all the obligatory duties, and staying
far away from the prohibited things. He must take full advantage of this season,
and the open display of Allah's gifts to attain the pleasure of his Lord.
Surely, Allah Most High is the One who grants success, and He is the Guide to
the Straight Path. And may the blessings of Allah Most High, and Peace be upon
Muhammad and his family and companions.