Virtues

Among the special seasons of worship are the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah , which Allah has preferred over all the other days of the year.

Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

"There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days." The people asked, "Not even jihad for the sake of Allah?" He said, "Not even jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing."

(Reported by al-Bukhari, 2/457).

Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

"There is no deed more precious in the sight of Allah, nor greater in reward, than a good deed done during the ten days of Sacrifice ." He was asked, "Not even jihad for the sake of Allah?" He said, "Not even jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing."

(Reported by al-Darimi, 1/357; its isnad is hasan as stated in al-Irwa, 3/398).

These texts and others indicate that these ten days are better than all the other days of the year, with no exceptions, not even the last ten days of Ramadan. But the last ten nights of Ramadan are better, because they include Laylat al-Qadr ("the Night of Decree"), which is better than a thousand months. Thus the various reports may be reconciled.

(Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 5/412)

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Reasons for the Virtuue of First 10 Days

• Allah swears an oath by them, and swearing an oath by something is indicative of its importance and great benefit. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"By the dawn; by the ten nights"

[al-Fajr 89:1-2]

Ibn 'Abbas, Ibn al-Zubayr, Mujahid and others of the earlier and later generations said that this refers to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. Ibn Kathir said: "This is the correct opinion."

(Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 8/413)

• The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) testified that these are the best days of this world proven from above discussed sahih ahadith.

• The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) encouraged people to do righteous deeds because of the virtue of this season for people throughout the world, and also because of the virtue of the place - for the Hujjaj (pilgrims) to the Sacred House of Allah.

• The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) commanded us to recite a lot of

Tasbih ("Subhan-Allah"), Tahmid ("Al-hamdu Lillah") and Takbir ("Allahu akbar") during this time.

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

"There are no days greater in the sight of Allah and in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Him than these ten days, so during this time recite a great deal of Tahlil ("La ilaha ill-Allah"), Takbir and Tahmid."

(Reported by Ahmad, 7/224; Ahmad Shakir stated that it is sahih).

• These ten days include Yawm ‘Arafah (the Day of ‘Arafah ), on which Allah perfected His Religion. Fasting on this day will expiate for the sins of two years. These days also include Yawm al-Nahar (the Day of Sacrifice ), the greatest day of the entire year and the greatest day of Hajj , which combines acts of worship in a way unlike any other day.

• These ten days include the days of sacrifice and of Hajj.