Best Days, Best Deeds (First 10 Days of Dhul-Hijjah)

Dhul-Hijjah (ذو الحجة) is the twelfth and final month in the Islamic calendar.

This is a very sacred month in the Islamic calendar, marking the end of the year. It is in this month in which the Hajj (pilgrimage) takes place.

“Dhu al-Hijjah” literally means “Possessor of the Pilgrimage.” It is during this month that pilgrims from all around the world congregate at Mecca to visit the Kaaba. The Hajj is performed on the eighth, ninth and the tenth of this month. Day of Arafa takes place on the ninth of the month. Eid al-Adha, the “Festival of the Sacrifice”, begins on the tenth day and ends on the thirteenth.

The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are marked blessed for both, the pilgrims and the non-pilgrims. Rewards of good deeds are multiplied in these days. Imaam Ibn Qayyim (rahimahullah) (d. 751H) said: “Indeed, its days are the most excellent of all the days with Allah”. It has been confirmed in Saheeh al-Bukhari from Ibn Abbas (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “No deeds are more virtuous than deeds on these days.” The companions asked: ‘Not even Jihad (fighting in Allah’s Cause)?’ He (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) replied: “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah, unless a man goes out risking himself and his wealth for the sake of Allah, and does not come back with anything.” [Saheeh al-Bukhari vol: 2, no: 457] And it is these ten days, of which Allah takes an oath saying: “By the dawn; by the ten nights.” [Soorah al-Fajr (89): 1-2] This is why it is recommended to increase in making Takbeer [Allahu Akbar], Tahlil [la ilaha illa Allah] and Tamhid [Alhamdulillah] during these days.” [Zaad al-Ma’aad vol: 1, pp: 56]

These 10 days are the best days of the year. Why not strive to do the BEST deeds in these days? :)

Best of Imaan:

• that which has no doubts in it [Musnad Ahmad: 9700]
• Out of the 70+ branches of Imaan, best is: saying ‘la ilaha illa Allah’ [Abu Dawud: 4678]
• patience and forgiveness [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1495]
• good character [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 551]

Best of Islam:

• consistency, focus and ease [Saheeh Jami’ as-Sagheer: 1090]
• leaving that which doesn’t concern you [Bukhari]
• feeding others, saying Salaam to those you know and those whom you do not know [Bukhari]

Best of Deeds:

• {Highest level:} Iman, Tasdeeq (affirmation), Jihad, Hajj Mabroor
  {Lower level:} being soft-spoken, easy going and feeding people
  {Lowest level:} not thinking bad/wrong about Allah [Musnad Ahmad: 17814]

Best of Jihaad:

• fighting against your desire and nafs [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1496]

Best of Prayers:

• praying in the first time [Abu Dawud: 426] [Bukhari: 2782]
• praying in congregation (for men) [Muslim: 1504]
• praying Fajr in congregation on Jumu’ah (for men) [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1566]
• praying nawafil at home [Bukhari: 731]
• tahajjud/night prayer [Muslim: 2812]
• praying in the last portion of the night (when Allah descends down to the lowest heaven) [Musnad Ahmad: 281555]
• praying like Dawud (AS): sleep the first half of the night, pray one-third, sleep one-sixth. [Irwaa al-Ghaleel: 199/2]
• praying with long qiyaam/recitation [Muslim: 1804] [Abu Dawud: 1325]
• praying in a hidden/covered place (for women) [Abu Dawud: 570]
• praying in Masjid Haraam and Masjid Nabawi [Muslim: 2812]

Best of Fasts:

• fasting like Dawud (AS): on alternate days [Bukhari: 5052]
• fasting in Muharram, esp. on the 10th [Muslim: 2812]
• fasting on the day of Arafah (9th of Dhul-Hijjah)

Best of Hajj:

• that which has lots of talbiyah and sacrifice (of animals) [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1500]
• that which has maximum dhikr/remembrance of Allah

Best of Sadaqah:

• spending on your family [Muslim: 2357]
• spending on your ride/friends in the Way of Allah (worship/knowledge/jihaad etc.) [Muslim: 2357]
• giving presents to a friend [Musnad Ahmad: 4415]
• making others happy, clothing them, feeding them, fulfilling their needs [Saheeh at-Targheeb wa at-Tarheeb: 2621] [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1494]
• giving to the relative who dislikes/hurts you [Musnad Ahmad: 23530]
• providing residence/shade/ride in Allah’s Way [Musnad Ahmad: 22321]
• helping someone who is serving in the Way of Allah
• gifting a milk-giving animal [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 2587]
• providing drinking-water [Sunan an-Nasaai: 3665]
• spending in health and fear of poverty [Bukhari: 2748]
• spending but keeping some to yourself [Bukhari: 5355]
• making peace between two people [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1448 & 2639]
• paying off someone’s debt [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 2291]
• feeding others [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1494]
• relieving someone off their trouble/problem [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 2291]

Best of People:

• those who praise Allah a lot (and appreciate good things) [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1584]
• those who have beautiful character/akhlaaq [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1384]
• those to whom Allah bestows a long age and they do maximum good deeds (tasbeeh, tahleel, takbeer) in it Musnad Ahmad: 1401 & 20480]
• those who are soft-hearted (fearful of Allah and sincere) and truthful [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 948]
• those who keep others safe from harm (from their hands and tongue) [Bukhari: 2786] [Musnad Ahmad: 15210]
• those who do Jihaad with their wealth and life (time, strength, energy etc.) [Musnad Ahmad: 9723]
• those who worship Allah and deal with people with ‘khayr’ (good) [Musnad Ahmad: 9723]
• strong believers (physical/emotional strength) [Musnad Ahmad: 8839]
• those who live among others and bear with patience the harm that people cause them [as-Sunan al-Kubra lil Baihaqi: 20669] [Saheeh al-Jami’ as-Sagheer lil Albani: 6651]

Best of Dhikr:

• la ilaha illa Allah لا إله إلا الله  [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1497] [Musnad Ahmad: 21847]
• subhan Allahi wa bi hamdihi سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ [Muslim: 7101]
• subhan Allahi wal hamdu lillahi wa la ilaha illa Allah wa Allahu Akbar سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ [Musnad Ahmad: 16412]
• la ilaha illa Allahu wahdahu la shareeka lahu lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-hamdu wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shay’in qadeer لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ [Muslim: 7018]
• سبحان الله عدد ما خلق ، سبحان الله ملء ما خلق ، سبحان الله عدد ما في الأرض و السماء ، سبحان الله ملء ما في السماء و الأرض ، سبحان الله ملء ما خلق، سبحان الله عدد ما أحصى كتابه ، و سبحان الله ملء كل شيء [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 2578]
• Alhamdulillah الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1497]

Best of Qur’an:

• Surah al-Fatihah [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1499]
• Best ayah: Ayat-ul-Kursi [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 109]

Best of Ta’awwuz (Seeking Allah’s Protection):

• Mu’awwizatayn: Surah al-Falaq and an-Naas [Musnad Ahmad: 17297]

Best of Days:

• first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah [Bukhari: 969]
• 9th and 11th of Dhul-Hijjah [Saheeh Ibn Hibban: 2811] [Abu Dawud: 1765]
• Friday [Musnad Ahmad: 7687]

Best Time of the Day:

• last portion of the night (when Allah descends down to the lowest heaven) [as-Silsilah as-Saheehah: 551]

External links (resources):

http://www.download.farhathashmi.com/dn/Portals/0/E-Library/pamphlets/ashrae-zulhajj/ashrae-zulhajj.html

http://www.download.farhathashmi.com/dn/Portals/0/E-Library/pamphlets/Karnay-k-Kaam/zulhijjah.html
http://www.download.farhathashmi.com/dn/Portals/0/Latest-Events/Hajj/ZilHijjah-Karnay-Kay-Kaam/ZilHijjah-KarnayKayKaam.html 

http://soundvision.com/info/hajj/first10.asp

http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/1699/Virtues%20of%20the%20Ten%20Days%20of%20Dhul%20Hijjah

http://www.missionislam.com/knowledge/dhul%20hijjah.htm

http://www.allaahuakbar.net/eid/virtues_of_the_first_ten_days.htm

Compiled from Dr. Farhat Hashmi’s lecture: Dhul-Hijjah (October 27th, ’11)