Significance for the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah

Zil Hajj is the 12th month of Islamic calendar. This holy month has significance due to Pilgrimage that all Muslims around the world who are financially stable perform every year in Makah the city of Saudi Arabia. The Pilgrimage rites occur on 8th to 12th Dhul Hijjah. According to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are a special time for devotion, during these days Muslims who are performing Hajj can prepare themselves for Hajj and those who are not performing can do good deeds to earn rewards and blessings from Almighty Allah.

Allah Almighty increases His forgiveness on the day of Arafat, as Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said in one of His hadiths: “There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the day of Arafat. He comes close and expresses His pride to the angels saying, ‘What do these people (the pilgrims) want?’” (Muslim)

Muslim should take the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah seriously and try to perform as many good deeds as one can in order to get closer to Almighty Allah and earn great rewards from Him.

  • The significance of the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah is mentioned in the Holy Quran.
  • Dhul Hijjah is one of the four sacred months mentioned in the Holy Quran. The four sacred months are Dhul Qadah, Dhul Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajjab.
  • The first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are the most superior days in order to perform good deeds. Ibn Abbas reported our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said in one of His hadiths: “No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijjah).” Then some companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Not even Jihad?” He replied, “Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah’s sake) and does not return with any of those things.” (Tirmidhi)
  • In this Holy month, one of the most important pillars of Islam the Hajj takes place where Muslims from all around the world gather to worship Allah Almighty. Many other deeds are also performed such as voluntary fasts and charity in this blessed month especially in first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah.
  • On the day of Arafat Islam was perfected as Allah Almighty says in Holy Quran: “This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.” (Quran,5:3)
  • Fasting on the day of Arafat forgives sins. Abu Qatadah reported that Holy Prophet (SAW) said: “Fasting on the day of ‘Arafat is an expiation (of sins) for two years, the year preceding it and the year following it.” (Ibn Majah)
  • Muslims have been instructed to glorify the name of Allah excessively. Known as Takbeer Tashreeq, we should recite the following after every Fardh salah commencing from the Fajr of the 9th of Dhul Hijjah until after Asar of the 13th of Dhul Hijjah.
  • In this holy month, Udhhiyyah (Qurbani) is performed in remembrance of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS). Qurbani is performed in three prescribed days 10th, 11th and 12th Dhul Hijjah.

Let us all try to increase our prayers and the remembrance of Allah Almighty on these 10 blessed days of Dhul Hijjah. We should also try to fast especially on the day of Arafat it is not for those who are performing Hajj due to their hardships during Pilgrimage. May Allah give us the strength to do good deeds in the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah! Ameen

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