Verily, the 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 (RAA) that the Prophet (PBUH) of said: "There are
no days in which righteous deeds done in them are more beloved to Allah than these
days, ie the ten days (of Zul-Hijjah). They said: O Messenger of Allah, not even
Jihaad in the path of Allah? He said: Not even Jihaad in the Path of Allah, the
Most High, except if a man goes out (for Jihaad) with his self and his wealth, then
he doesn''t return with anything from that."
(Al-Bukhaaree, Abu Daawood and others. The exact wording is that of Abu Daawood)
It is narrated from Ibn Umar that the Prophet Muhammad (Blessings of Allah and Peace
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 Zul-Hijjah). So, increase
in them the saying of Tahleel (La Ilaaha illa Allah), and Takbeer (Allah Akbar)
and Tahmeed (al-Hamdu li-llah)" [Musnad Imaam Ahmad]
The Types of Deeds in These Ten Days:
First: The performance of Haj and Umrah, and these are the best of deeds
that may be done. And what indicates their superiority are a number of Ahaadith,
one of which is the saying of the Prophet (PBUH).
Performance of Umrah is an expiation of the sins committed between it and the previous
Umrah, and the reward of the Haj which is accepted by Allah, the Most High, is nothing
but Paradise. (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)
Second: 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 it is I who give reward
for it. Verily, someone gives up his sexual passion, his food and his drink for
My sake..." (Al-Bukhaaree, Muslim, Maalik, at-Tirmidhee, Nasaa''ee and Ibn Maajah)
Also, from Abu Sa''eed al-Khudree who said that the Messenger of Allah said: No servant
(of Allah, the Most High) fasts one day in the Path of Allah, except that Allah,
the Most High, removes his face from the Fire because of it (the distance of travelling)
seventy years. (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)
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)
Third: At-Takbeer (Allah Akbar) and adh-Dhikr (the remembrance of Allah through
different words of praise and glorification) in these (ten) days, Allah said "And
mention the name of Allah on the appointed days"(12:28).
This has been explained (by some) to mean the ten days (of Zul-Hijjah), and the
scholars consider it desirable to increase adh-Dhikr in these days, based upon the
hadith of Ibn Umar narrated by Ahmad, which contains the words:
... so increase in these days the Tahleel and 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 Zul-Hijjah) saying: Allahu Akbar,
causing the people also to 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 illa ''llah Wa ''llahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar Wa
li''llahi al-hamd.
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, ie 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. And this is (generally)
applicable to Dhikr and supplications, except if the person 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 Tasbeeh, and the rest of the Islamic legislated supplications
(from the Qur''an and Sunnah).
Fourth: At-Tawbah (repentance) and abstaining from disobedience and all types of
sins, since forgiveneand mercyare 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 Ghaira,
and Allah''s sense of ghaira is provoked when a person does that which Allah has
prohibited. (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)
Fifth: 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 deeds that are less preferred, are superior and more beloved
to Allah than superior deeds done at other times. (These deeds are superior) even
to al-Jihaad - which is one of the most superior of all deeds - except in the case
of one whose horse is killed and his blood is spilled (loss of life in Jihaad).
Sixth: It is legislated in these days to make at-Takbeer al-Mutlaq at all
times of night and day until the time of the Eid Prayer. Also, at-Takbeer al-Muqayyad
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 Zul-Hijjah)
for those not performing Haj, and from Noon (Zhur) on the Day of Sacrifice (10th
of Zul-Hijjah) for those performing Haj (pilgrims); and it continues until Asr prayer
on the last day of the days of Tash-reeq (13th of Zul-Hijjah).
Seventh: The slaughtering of a sacrificial animal (Adhiyah) is also legislated
for the Day of Sacrifice (10th) and the Days of Tashreeq (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 slaughtered (sacrificed) two horned rams, black
and white in colour, and said Takbeer (Allahu Akbar), and placed his foot on their
sides (while slaughtering them). (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)
Eighth: Offering animal as Udhyia 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 Zul-Hijjah, and any one of you wants 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 one
who is bringing a sacrificial animal for slaughter (in Haj). As Allah, the Most
High, said: And do not 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.
Ninth: It is incumbent for the Muslim (who is not performing Haj) 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 Zul-Hijjah).
Tenth: 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!
Ghaira: A sense of honour and prestige, and the anger caused by its being violated.
At-Takbeer al-Mutlaq: the Takbeer (Allahu Akbar) which is unrestricted to specific
times or any specific form.
At-Takbeer al-Muqayyad: The Takbeer which is done at a particular time and in a
specific manner.