PUBLICATION BY: DR. SUHEIL LAHER
The Best Days in the World
Dhul-Ḥijja, the twelfth moth of the Islamic calendar, is one of the 4 sacred months (the others are Muḥarram, Rajab and Dhul-Qaʿda). The first ten days of this month are particularly special.
1. The Prophet Muḥammad has said,
أفضل أيام الدنيا أيام العشر
“The best days in the world are the days of the Ten [of Dhul-Ḥijja].” [Reported by Bazzār and bn Ḥibbān]2. According to Ibn ʿAbbās, the Companion of the Prophet renowned for his knowledge of tafsīr, these Ten are what is implied by the verse of the Qur’ān, “By the dawn, and [by] the ten nights,” [Q.89:1] and also “the known days,” [Q.22:28]
3. Among the virtues of these days are that most of the rites of the Hajj (one of the pillars of Islam) take place within them.
4. The Day of ʿArafa, the 9th of Dhul-Ḥijja, is a day on which more people are set free from the fire of Hell than on any other day. [Reported by Muslim]
مِنْ يَوْمٍ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَنْ يُعْتِقَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ عَبْدًا مِنَ النَّارِ مِنْ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ
Good Deeds
ما من أيام العمل الصالح فيها أحب إلى الله من هذه الأيام
Good deeds during these 10 days carry greater reward than normal (as reported by Bukhārī and others). This applies to good deeds in general, e.g.
1. Avoid sins.
يُّ الهجرةِ أفضلُ؟ قال : أن تهجر ما كرهَ ربُّك عز وجل
The Prophet was asked, “Which hijra (avoidance) is best?” He replied, “That you avoid that which displeases Allāh.” [Nasā’ī]
ʿUmar ibn ʿAbdil-ʿAzīz used to say, “Indeed, the most excellent worship is fulfillment of the obligations and avoiding prohibited things.”
2. Pray on time
أَفْضَلُ الأعْمالِ، أوِ العَمَلِ، الصَّلاةُ لِوَقْتِها
“The best of deeds is prayer at its time.” [Muslim]
3. Remember Allāh (zikr)
فأكْثِروا فيهِنَّ من التَّهْليلِ والتَّكْبيرِ والتَّحْميد
The Prophet has advised us, during these ten days, to “…be abundant in saying لا إله إلا الله (there is none worthy of worship other than God), الله أكبر (Allāh is greater) and الحمد لله (Praise be to Allāh).” [Reported by Aḥmad]
4. Recite the Takbīrs of Tashrīq from Fajr on July 8th (Friday) until ʿAṣr on July 12th (Tuesday)
اللهُ أكبرُ، اللهُ أكبرُ، (اللهُ أكبرُ) لا إلهَ إلَّا اللهُ، واللهُ أكبرُ، اللهُ أكبرُ،
وللهِ الحَمدُ 5. Fast the of ʿArafa (9th Dhul-Ḥijja), which will be Friday, July 8th 2022.
سئل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: عن صوم يوم عرفة؟ قال: يكفر السنة الماضية والباقية
This fast, “is an expiation for the sins of the preceding year and the current year.” [Muslim]
6. Make preparations to perform the animal sacrifice (Qurbani / Uḍḥiyya), between July 9th (Saturday) and July 11th (Monday). Some scholars allow it on the fourth day (July 12th) too. This sacrifice is strongly recommended according to most scholars, with some (like Imām Abū Ḥanīfa) even believing that it is obligatory on those who can afford it.
مَا عَمِلَ ابْنُ آدَمَ مِنْ عَمَلٍ يَوْمَ النَّحْرِ أَحَبَّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ إِهْرَاقِ الدَّمِ وَإِنَّهُ لَيُؤْتَى يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِقُرُونِهَا وَأَشْعَارِهَا وَأَظْلَافِهَا وَإِنَّ الدَّمَ لَيَقَعُ مِنَ الله بمَكَان قبل أَن يَقع بِالْأَرْضِ فطيبوا بهَا نفسا
“The son of Adam does not do any deed more pleasing to Allāh, on the Day of Sacrifice, than the shedding of blood. The sacrifice will be brought on the day of resurrection with its horns, its hairs and its hoofs, and the blood finds acceptance with God before it falls on the ground, so rejoice!” [Reported by Tirmidhī and Ibn Mājah]
In the coming days, we will be sharing some ḥadīths about other good deeds which are especially virtuous, and more, InShāAllāh.
