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By
the grace of Allah we are approaching the month of Dhul-Hijjah in
which Allah has marked out, for both pilgrims and non-pilgrims,
some very blessed days. We shall mention here some of the virtues
of those days and acts that merit reward that can be performed on
them.
Doing
Good Deeds in General
The
first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are the best and most virtuous days
of the year. They are the days in which Allah the Almighty most
loves the people to perform good deeds. On this subject, the
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The best
days in the world are the ten days” (Al-Bazzar,
authenticated by Al-Albani).
In
his Zadul-Ma`ad, Imam Ibn Al-Qayim (d. AH 751) said
Indeed,
these days are the most excellent of all the days with Allah. And
it has been confirmed in the Sahih of Al-Bukhari from Ibn `Abbas
(may Allah be pleased with him) that Allah’s Messenger (peace
and blessings be upon him) said, “There are no days during
which good deeds are more beloved to Allah than these (ten)
days.” He was then asked, “Not even jihad in the path of
Allah?” He replied, “Not even jihad in the path of Allah,
except for a person who goes out with his self and his wealth, and
comes back with nothing.” And it is by these ten days that
Allah has taken an oath in His Book, by His saying (By the Dawn
and by the Ten Nights) (Al-Fajr 89:1-2).
This
is why it is recommended to increase remembrance of Allah, as
mentioned in the hadith when the Prophet (peace and blessings be
upon him) said, “There are no days that are greater with
Allah, and in which good deeds are more beloved to Him, than these
ten days. So increase in saying Subhan Allah, al-hamdu lillah, la ilaha ila Allah, and
Allahu Akbar” (At-Tabarani, authenticated by Al-Mundhiri).
Fasting
the Day of `Arafah
The
ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah is the day of `Arafah, since it is on
this day that the pilgrims gather at a plain located at the base
of Mount `Arafah, praying and supplicating to their Lord. It is
highly recommended for those who are not performing the Hajj to
fast on this day. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
was once asked about fasting on this day, and he replied that it
expiates the sins of the previous and the upcoming year. Likewise,
the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “There is
no day on which Allah frees people from the Fire more so than on
the day of `Arafah” (Muslim).
Imam At-Tirmidhi said, “The people of knowledge consider it
recommended to fast on the day of `Arafah, except for those
(pilgrims) at `Arafah.”
Offering
Sacrifice on the Day of `Eid Al-Adha and the Following Three Days
The
tenth day of Dhul-Hiijah marks the ending of the major rites of
Hajj and commemorates the bounty and mercy of Allah the Most High
when He gave His beloved Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) a ram
to sacrifice in place of his firstborn son, Isma`il (peace be upon
him). Out of the ten best days of the year, it is this day which
is the most excellent.
Imam
Ibn Taymiyah (d. AH 728) said
The
most excellent day of the week is the day of Friday, by the
agreement of the scholars. And the most excellent day of the year
is the day of An-Nahr (the tenth of Dhul Hijjah—the day of
slaughtering sacrificial animals). And some of the scholars said
that it is the day of `Arafah. However, the first opinion is the
correct one, since it is related that the Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) said, “The most excellent days with
Allah is the day of An-Nahr, then the day of Al-Qarr (the day when
the Muslims reside in Mina, Dhul-Hijjah 11)” (Abu Dawud,
authenticated by Al-Albani).
The
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The greatest
day of the Hajj (Pilgrimage) is the Day of An-Nahr” (Abu Dawud, authenticated by
Al-Albani).
The
day of An-Nahr is also known as `Eid Al-Adha and is one of the two
major festivals that Allah has granted to this Ummah. Anas (may
Allah be pleased with him) said that when the Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) went to Madinah, the people of Madinah had
since pre-Islamic times two days that they marked out for play and
amusement. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “I
came to you, and you had two days of play and amusement in the
times of jahiliyah (pre-Islamic period). But Allah has
replaced them with something better for you: The day of al-Adha
(the sacrifice) and the day of al-Fitr (ending the Fast)”
(Ahmad, authenticated by Ibn Hajar).
The
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also said, “The day
of Al-Fitr, and the day of An-Nahr, and the days of At-Tashriq
(the three days after An-Nahr) are our days of `Eid; and they are
days of eating and drinking” (Ahmad, and authenticated by Al-Albani).
`Eid Al-Adha is a day on which the Muslims slaughter a camel, cow,
sheep, or goat in commemoration of the sacrifice of Ibrahim (peace
and blessings be upon him). Those who intend to sacrifice an
animal—normally the heads of households—must avoid cutting
their hair and nails, starting from the first day of Dhul-Hijjah
up until after the sacrifice. Allah’s Messenger (peace and
blessings be upon him) said, “When the ten days start, and
one of you intends to sacrifice, then let him not cut his hair or
his nails” (Muslim).
Glorifying
Allah With the Takbir
From
the day of `Arafah (Dhul-Hijjah 9), up until the `Asr Prayer on
the thirteenth day, are days in which the takbir (saying
“Allahu Akbar”—Allah is the Greatest) is highly recommended.
Imam Al-Khattabi (d. AH 456) said
The
wisdom behind saying the takbir in these days is that in
the times of jahiliyah (pre-Islamic ignorance), they used
to slaughter for their false objects of worship. So the takbir
was prescribed in order to indicate that the act of slaughtering
is directed to Allah alone, and made in His name only.
Ibn
Abi Shaibah relates that `Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) used
to make the takbir beginning right after the Fajr Prayer on
the day of `Arafah, up until after the `Asr Prayer on the last day
of At-Tashriq.
As
regards the actual wording of the takbir, nothing authentic
has been related from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon
him). However, certain wordings have been authentically related
from a group of Companions. Ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with
him) used to say:
Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, La ilaha illa Allah, wa Allahu
akbar, Allahu akbar, wa lillahil-hamd.
Allah
is the greatest, Allah is the greatest. None has the right to be
worshiped except Him. And Allah is greatest, Allah is greatest,
and to Him belongs all praise (Ibn Abi Shaibah).
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