Verily, all praise belongs to Allah, the Most High, and may the Blessings of Allah and Peace be upon His Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions, all of them.
It is narrated from Ibn Abbaas that the Prophet(SAWS) said: There are no days in which righteous deeds done in them are more beloved to Allah than these days, i.e. the ten days (of Dhu'l-Hijjah). [al- Bukhaaree, Abu Daawood and others].
It is narrated from Ibn Umara That the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: There aren't any days greater, nor any days in which deeds done in them are more beloved to Allah, the Most High, than these ten days( of Dhu'l-Hijjah). So, increase in them saying of Tahleel ( La Ilaha illa Allah), and Takbeer ( Allah Akbar) and Tahmeed (al-Hamdu li-llah). [ Munsad Imaam Ahmad]
The Types of Deeds in These Ten Days:
1. The performance of Hajj and Umrah, and these are the best of deeds that may be done. And what indicates their superiority is a number of Ahaadith, one of which is the saying of the Prophet: Performance of Umrah is an expiation of the sins committed between it and the previous Umrah, and the reward of the Hajj that is accepted by Allah, Most High, is nothing but Paradise, [Bukhaaree, Muslim]
2. Fasting during these days - as many of them as may be easy , (for one to fast); especially the Day of Arafah. There is no doubt that the act of fasting is one of the best deeds, and it is from what Allah, the Most High, has chosen for Himself, as in the Hadith Qudsee: Fasting is for Me, and I am the One who gives reward for it. Verily, someone gives up his carnal desires, his food and his drink for My sake ..." [Bukhaaree, Muslim, Maalik, Tinnidhee, Nasaa'ee & Ibn • Maajah]From Abu Qatadah that the Prophet 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]
3. At- Takbeerm and adh-Dhikrrzj in these (ten) days, because of the saying of Allah, in Surah al-Hajj, verse 28: ...And mention the name of Allah on the appointed days ... This has been explained (by some) to mean the ten days (of Dhu'l-Hijjah), and the scholars consider it desirable to increase adh-Dikr in these days, based upon the hadith of Ibn Umar narrated by Ahmad, which contains the words: .. so increase in these days the Tahleel,Takbeer and Tahmeed. It is reported about Ibn Umar and Abu Hurairah that The two of them used to go out to the-market place during the ten days (of Dhu'l-Hijjah) saying [in a loud voice]: Allahu Akbar, causing the people to also say it. [al-Bukhaaree].Ishaaq narrates from the scholars of the Taabi' een that in these ten days they used to say: Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar Laa ilaaha ill Allah Wallahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar Wa li'llaahi al-hamd.(6) It is a beloved act to raise the voice when saying the Takbeer in the markets, the houses, the streets, the Masjids and other places, because of the saying of Allah, the Most High, in surah al-Hajj, verse 37: ...that you may magnify Allah for His Guidance to you ... The saying of Takbeer in congregation, i.e. everyone pronouncing the Takbeer with one voice, is not permissible since this has not been transmitted (to us) from the early generations of the Sahabah and those who followed their ways. Verily, the Sunnah is for everyone to say the Takbeer individually. This is generally applicable to Dhikr and supplications, except if one doesn't 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 Takbeer and Tahmeed and Tasbeehrn, and the rest of the Islamic legislated supplications (from the Qur'an and Sunnah).
4. At-Tawbah (repentance) and abstaining' from disobedience and all types of sins, since forgiveness and mercy are the results of deeds. Disobedience is the cause of being far away (from Allah, the 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 he said that the Prophet said: Verily Allah has a sense of Ghairarsi, and Allah's sense of ghaira is provoked when a person does that which Allah has prohibited. [al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]
5. Doing plenty of Voluntary (nafl) righteous deeds of , worship like Prayer, Charity, Jihaad, reading the Qur'an, Commanding what is good and forbidding what is evil and other such deeds. Verily these are amongst the deeds that are multiplied in these days. It is during these days that even the deeds that are less preferred, are superior and more beloved to Allah than superior deeds done at other times.
6. It is legislated in these days to make at-Takbeer al-Mutlaqoi at all times of night and day until the time of the Eid Prayer. ,. Also, at-Takbeer al-Muqayyadnoi is legislated, and it is done after the (five) obligatory prayers that are performed in congregation. This begins from Dawn (Fajr) on the Day of Arafah (the 9th of Dhu'l-Hijjah) for those not performing Hajj,and from Noon (Zhur) on the Day of Sacrifice (10th of Dhu'I-Hijjah) for those performing Hajj (Pilgrims); and it continues until Asr prayer on the last day of the days of Tash-reeq (13th of Dhu'l-Hijjah).
7. The qurbani of a sacrificial animal (Adhiyah) is also legislated for the Day of Sacrifice (10th) and the Days of Tash-reeq (11th, 12th and 13th). This is the Sunnah of our father Ibraaheem - when Allah, the Most High, redeemed Ibraaheem's son by the great sacrifice (of an animal in his place). It is authentically reported that the Prophet Muhammad sacrificed two homed rams, black and white in color, and said Takbeer (Allahu Akbar), and placed his foot on their sides (while slaughtering them). [al-Bukhaaree & Muslim]
8. It has been narrated from Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet said: If you see the Hilal (new moon) of Dhu'l-Hijjah, and anyone of you intends to make a sacrifice, then he should not cut (anything) from his hair and his nails. [Muslim and others].And in one narration, he said: ...Then he should not cut (anything) from his hair, nor from his nails, until he performs the sacrifice. Perhaps this is because of the similarity with the ones who is bringing a sacrificed animal for qurbani( in Haj). As Allah, the most High said: And donot shave your heads until the Hady(Sacrifice) reaches the place of sacrifice.The apparent meaning of this prohibition is that it is 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 hairs may fall out.
9. It is incumbent for the Muslim (who is not performing Hajj) to make every effort to perform the Eid Prayer wherever it is performed, and to be present for the Khutbah and benefit. He must know the wisdom behind the legislation of this Eid (celebration). 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 for 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 days (of Dhu'l-Hijjah)
10. After what has been mentioned, it is fitting that every Muslim, male and female, take advantage of these days by obeying Allah, the 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, the Most High, is the One Who Grants Success,and He is the Guide to the Straight Path. And may the blessings of Allah, the Most High, and peace be upon Muhammad and his family and companions!
Written by: The one who is in need of the Mercy of his Lord,
Al-Madinah an-Nabawiyyah, 28th Dhu'l-Qa'dah 1414 AH
Notes :--
1- At Takbeer: the saying: Allahu Akbar, which means: Allah is the greatest
2- Adh-Dhikr: the remembrance of Allah through different words of praise and glorification from the Quraan and authentic Sunnah.
3 Tahleel: the saying: Laa ilaaha illa Allah, which means: Nothing has the right to worshipped except Allah.
4 Takbeer: the saying: Allahu Akbar.
5 Tahmeed: the saying: AI-Hamdu li-llah, which means: All praise belongs to Allah!
6 Meaning: Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest; There is nothing which has the right to be worshipped except Allah; Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest; and all Praises belong to Allah.
7 Tasbeeh: The saying: Subhaan Allah, which is a declaration and acknowledgement of the fact that Allah is Free of all imperfections and falsehoods that have been attributed to Him, such as having a 'son' or the false belief that Allah is 'three gods in one' etc.
8 Ghaira: A sense of honor and prestige, and the anger caused by its being violated.
9 At-Takbeer al-Mutlaq: The Takbeer (saying: Allahu Akbar) which is unrestricted to specific times or any specific form, as opposed to atTakbeer al-Muqayyad which is restricted to specific times and done in a particular manner.
10 At- Takbeer al-Muqayyad: The Takbeer which is done at a particular time and in a specific manner.
11 Khutbah: religious speech given on the day of Eid or Jumu'ah etc.
12 Jihad: Striving for constructive spiritual and social outcome, the means to attain the outcome is subject to prescribed laws.
