The Best Days Ever: First 10 days of Dhul Hijjah
By: Sr. Uzma Azmi
This is from the mercy of Allah subhanahu wa ta’aala that He has made some days, nights or months better than the others where rewards get multiplied many times, hence infusing in us the zeal to worship Him more and do more good deeds to seek His pleasure.
Among the special seasons of ibadah are the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah which Allah has preferred over all other days of the year.
Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said, "There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days". The companion, may Allah be pleased with them, asked: O Messenger of Allah, not even jihad in the path of Allah?" He, Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said: "Not even jihad in the path of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back nothing (lost both his property and life)" [Saheeh Al Bukhari 969]
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded us to recite a lot of Tasbeeh (Subhanallah), Tahleel (Alhumdulillaah) and Takbeer (Allahuakbar) during these days. [Narrated by Abdullah Ibn Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), Musnad Ahmed]
There is no doubt that the act of fasting is one of the best deeds, and it is from what Allah (Most High) has chosen for Himself as in sacred Hadeeth, "Fasting is for Me (Allah), and I shall reward for it [Saheeh Bukhari 5927]. Verily, someone gives up his sexual passion, his food and his drink for Allah’s sake. The prophet, may peace and blessings be upon him, said that fasting on the day of Arafah expiates the sins of the previous year and of the coming year. [Saheeh Muslim 1162 a, b]
Along with fasting, there are many more righteous deeds from which we can attain the 'qurb' (closeness) of Allah and add in our bank of akhirah, in sha Allah, like reading the Qur'an, increase in nawaafil prayers, doing lots of dhikr, seeking repentance from Allah, perform charity, preserving the ties of kinship and so on.
Make dua, though this dua is not exclusive for this occasion, the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, recommended Muad Ibn Jabl, may Allah be pleased with him, not to leave this supplication after every (prescribed) prayer:
"Allahumma inni ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husni ibadatik".
(O Allah, help me to remember You, to give You thanks and to perform Your worship in the best manner)
[Sunan Abu Dawood 1522, Saheeh by Albani]
May Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala accept from us and from you.
Aameen.
The author, Uzma Azmi writes for Islamic Reasoning through The Muslim Writers.
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