Importance of Dhul Hijjah

Asalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatahu.

Firstly, we would like to take this opportunity to wish all our parents who are about to embark on a journey of a lifetime to Makkah for Hajj this year, a most emaan lifting and rewarding experience. May Allah (SWT) accept their Hajj and all who are endeavouring to fulfil this great act of worship. Ameen.

We would also like this letter to act as a reminder to the non-Hajjis, to seize the opportunity and make the most of the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah which should either begin on either Thursday or Friday, 1st or 2nd August, In shaaAllaah.

The importance of these aforementioned days was declared in a hadith reported by Ibn Abbaas (RA) where the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said:

“There are no days during which the righteous action is so pleasing to Allah than these days (first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah). ‘He was asked, “O Messenger of Allah, not even striving with one’s wealth and life, in the cause of Allah?’ ‘He (SAW), replied: “Not even striving with one’s wealth and life, in the cause of Allah, except in case one goes forth with his life and his wealth and does not return with either of it’. (Bukhari)

Scholars have further concluded that the days (between Fajr and Maghrib) of the ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the best of the year, even more so than the days of Ramadhan.
So, in order to take full advantage of these blessed days and the magnified reward attached, the Prophet (SAW) specifically encouraged us to increase in certain recommended deeds listed below:

– To perform the night prayer- an extremely rewardful act
– To fast the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah
– To say Al-Takbir, Al-Tahlil, Al-Tahmid & Tasbee, that is:

Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illallah, Al-Hamdu lillah, Subhanallah (Allah is the Greatest, There is none worthy of worship except Allah, All Praise if for Allah, Glorified be Allah)

– To say: Allahu Akbar, Allah Akbar, La ilaha illa Allah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa lillahil-Hamd, (Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, There is none worthy of worship except Allah. Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest and to Allah belongs all Praise)

These above-mentioned takbir/dhikr should be performed out aloud by the men and quietly by the women from the first day of Dhul Hijjah to the last day of Tashriq (13th of Dhul Hijjah).
– To slaughter sacrificial animals
– To not cut his/her hair and nails until after the sacrifice has been carried out
– To make sunnah and nafl prayers
– To make further dhikr
– To make sincere repentance
– To read Qur’an
– To give in charity
– To make du’aa

Also, be sure to fast on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah which is the auspicious Day of Arafah, as Abu Qatadah Al-Ansari (RA) narrated that the Prophet (SAW) 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)

Further, we Muslims are encouraged to make plenty of du’aa on this day and the following dhikr, elucidated by the Prophet (SAW) who said:

The best of du’aa is the du’aa on the Day of Arafah, and the best that I and the Prophets before me said, is:

‘Laa ilaaha ill-Allaahu wahdahu la shareekalahu lahu’l-mulku wa lahu’l-hamdu wa huwa ‘aala kulli shay’in Qadir’
(There is no diety worthy of worship except Allah. He has no partners. His is the Kingdom and His is the Praise and He is Able to do all things.)
[Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi & Malik: see Al-Silsilah Al-Sahihah by Sheikh Al-Albani (4/39)]

May Allah help us and all the Muslims to take full advantage of these first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. Ameen.

Wasalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu
Sister Afshan Siddiqui
Islamic Education Lead