SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FIRST TEN DAYS OF DHUL HIJJAH
Allah Ta’ala states in The Holy Quran:
“And by the ten nights”
(Surah Al-Fajr. verse 02)
Allah Ta’ala mentions the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah in this verse of The Holy Quran. The last ten nights of Ramadhan and the first ten nights of Muharram are also mentioned in this verse. Allah Ta’ala likes specific times of worship and so is linked with His beloved servants.
The first ten days of the month of Dhul Hijjah has a lot of excellence and greatness.
The Islamic scholars have stated that whoever observes fast on the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, Allah Ta’ala makes them worthy of the following ten blessings:
1. Age is exalted and glorified.
2. An increase in the wealth.
3. Divine protection for the family.
4. Protection from sins.
5. Good deeds are doubled.
6. Easiness in being ‘unconscious before death’ (sakraat).
7. Light in the grave.
8. Good deed side of the scale (mizaan) will be heavier on the judgement day.
9. Protection from the deep down section of the Hell.
10. An elevated status in Paradise.
In a narration, it is mentioned that Allah Ta’ala has instituted three ashra (3 sets of 10 days) in a year:
1. the last ten days of Ramadhan- because Laylat al Qadr is in this set of ten nights
2. the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah- because the day of Arafat, the day of Qurbani, and the day of hajj are in this set of ten days
3. the first ten days of Muharram- because of the blessings of the day of Ashura in this set of ten days.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has said that ‘if any person observes fast on the day of Arafat, in the month of Dhul Hijjah, Allah Ta’ala will reward him with seventy years of sawab, and Allah Ta’ala will have his name enlisted in the faithfulness group of people’.
Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Abbas(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that Prophet ﷺ has said that ‘no deeds are more pure to Allah Ta’ala, nor greater in reward, than good deeds performed in the ten days (ashra) of the month of sacrifice’.
Hazrat Abu Hurairah(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has said: ‘there are no days more beloved to Allah Ta’ala that He be worshiped in them than the ten days of Dhul Hijjah, fasting for a day is equivalent to fasting a year, and standing a night (in salaah) is equivalent to standing on the night of Qadr’.
In a hadith, Hazrat Musa(alaihis salaam) requested Allah Ta’ala to teach him a deed by which his dua can be immediately accepted. Allah Ta’ala sent a revelation to Musa(alaihis salaam) to recite ‘laa ilaaha illal laah’ at the beginning of the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah and Allah Ta’ala will fulfil all of his necessities. Hazrat Musa(alaihis salaam) asked Allah Ta’ala about any other person reciting this kalima at the beginning of the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. Allah Ta’ala revealed that a person having sins equivalent to the weight of seven skys and seven earth (total area of ground in the world) is put on one side of the scale (mizaan), the weight of ‘laa ilaaha illal laah’ recited only, will be greater on its side of the scale.
Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Abbas(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has said that:
1. On the 1st day of Dhul Hijjah, Allah Ta’ala accepted the supplication of Hazrat Adam(alaihis salaam). Whoever observes fast on this day, Allah Ta’ala will forgive all his previous sins.
2. On the 2nd day Of Dhul Hijjah, Allah Ta’ala accepted the supplication of Hazrat Yunus(alaihis salaam) and he was released from the belly of the whale. Whoever observes fast on this day, in the court of Allah Ta’ala, he is like one who has spent worshiping Allah Ta’ala day and night for one year.
3. On the 3rd day of Dhul Hijjah, Allah Ta’ala accepted the dua of Hazrat Zakariya(alaihis salaam). Whoever observes fast on this day, will be accepted in the court of Allah Ta’ala.
4. On the 4th day of Dhul Hijjah, Hazrat Isa(alaihis salaam) was born. Whoever observes fast on this day, Allah Ta’ala will keep him away from poverty and from relying upon others. And on the judgement day, his name will be enlisted with the people of honour.
5. On the 5th day of Dhul Hijjah, Hazrat Musa(alihis salaam) was born. Whoever observes fast on this day, will be saved from the torment of the grave, and will be pardoned forever.
6. On the 6th day of Dhul Hijjah, Allah Ta’ala opens the door of goodness of his Nabi ﷺ. Whoever observes fast on this day, Allah Ta’ala will reward him with His blessings.
7. On the 7th day of Dhul Hijjah, all the gates of the hell are closed, and not opened till the end of the 10th day of this ashra.
8. The 8th day of Dhul Hijjah is known as the day of tarwiyah. Whoever observes fast on this day, is rewarded so much so that no one except Allah Ta’ala knows how much he is being rewarded.
9. The 9th day of Dhul Hijjah is known as the day of Arafat. Whoever observes fast on this day, all his sins of the preceding year and the coming year are expiated. But this only for the people who are not performing hajj. Those performing hajj should refrain from observing fast so that they can perform the rituals of the hajj easily.
On this day, the following verse of The Holy Quran was revealed:
“This day I have completed My favour upon you and have chosen Islam as the religion for you”
(Surah Al-Ma’ida. verse 03)
10. The 10th day of Dhul Hijjah is known as the day of Qurbani. Whoever slaughters an animal for Qurbani, all his, and his families sins are forgiven, before the first drop of blood reaches the earth. Whoever feeds a mu’min on this day or gives a charity to the poor people, Allah Ta’ala will raise him on the judgement day without any fear. And the weight of his deeds on the scale (mizaan) will be heavier than the mount Uhud.
Hazrat Aa’isha(Radi Allaahu Anha) narrates that Prophetﷺ said that: ‘there is no other day, other than the day of 9th Dhul Hijjah, when Allah Ta’ala releases the most number of people from Hell’.
Dhul Hijjah is the twelfth month of the Islamic year. This month is called Dhul Hijjah because it is the month of Hajj. Whoever performs nawafil, does dhikr of Allah, charity and worship of Allah Ta’ala is rewarded tremendously by Allah Ta’ala.
The sacred ten nights of Dhul Hijjah are mentioned in The Holy Quran.
Allah Ta’ala states in The Holy Quran:
“By the dawn”
“And by the ten nights”
(Surah Al-Fajr. verse 01,02)
In a hadith, Prophet Muhammadﷺ has said that: ‘when the month of Dhul Hijjah begins, and one of you intends to make a sacrifice (ud’hiyah/qurbani), then let him not take away anything from the body, hair or nails until he has sacrificed’.
The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are most sacred, honourable and superior.
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This article is an abridged English translation of Urdu sermons delivered by his eminence, Peer Syed Imroz Dean Saifi, Hanfi, Maturidi of Masjid Anwaar e Madina, Surrey BC Canada
If there is an inaccurate translation, please pardon it and not let it be a means to negatively reflect on the honoured presenter.
