The Importance and Significance of the First Ten days of Dhul Hijjah Dr. Mozammel Haque Every year Allah Subhanahu wa Taala has given hundreds and thousands of rewards or the door of blessings and rewards open for HIS slaves and worshippers – especially on two occasions – the last ten days of Ramadan along with the blessed Night of Power (Lailatul Qadr) immediately followed by a happy day for the worshippers – Eid-ul-Fitr. Similarly, instead of last ten days, this time the first ten days of the month of Dhul Hijjah is the blessed days – full of blessings and rewards from Allah Subhanahu wa Taala along with Arafah Day (9th of Dhul Hijjah) followed by a happy day – Eid-ul-Adha. Eid-ul-Adha is always followed after the Arafah day, the 10th of Dhul Hijjah. This year the first day of the month of Dhul Hijjah starts from Wednesday, the 22nd of July, 2020. The High Judiciary Council of Saudi Arabia announced Eid-ul-Adha on Friday, the 31st of July 2020. Ist of Dhul Hijjah, 22nd of July 2020; 9th of Dhul Hijjah (the Arafah Day) on 30th of July, 2020 and 10th of Dhul Hijjah (Eid-ul-Adha) on 31st of July 2020. The first ten days of the month of Dhul Hijjah is very important, precious and rewarding. According to Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days (Bukhari). 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.” (Bukhari). So what can we do in the best 10 days of the year? Fast on the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah. Increase in the praise and glorification of Allah The Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam said: “..so during this time recite a great deal of Tahlil (La Ilaha Illa Allah) (Ahmad), Takbeer (Allahu Akbar) and Tahmid (Alhamdu Lillah) (Ahmad) Fasting specifically on the day of Arafah. These ten days include Yawm Arafah (The Day of Arafah). The fasting on this day will expiate for the sins of two years. (Muslim) Abu Qatada Al-Ansari RA narrated “The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him was asked about fasting on the day of Arafah (9th of Dhul Hijjah). (Muslim) He replied: “Fasting on the day of Arafah is an expiation for the preceding year and the following year.” Offer a sacrifice. The Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu wa Sallam.” said: When you see the new moon of Dhul Hijjah, if any of you wants to offer a sacrifice, then he should stop cutting hair and nails until he has offered his sacrifice . (Muslim) Give charity even if it’s a little bit each day since good deeds on these ten days are more beloved to Allah. For my readers, I have summarized briefly the Khutbah of the Haramain – Masjid al-Haram and Masjid al-Nabawi – delivered on last Friday, the 3rd of Dhul Hijjah, 22nd of July 2020 and telecast by Islam Channel UK (Courtsey Islam Channel UK) Friday Khutbah from Masjid al-Haram on 3rd of Dhul Hijjah By Imam Sheikh Dr. Maher Al-Muaiqly While speaking on Hajj, Imam Sheikh Dr Maher said, “Let us contemplate on Hajj. Hajj is one of the important pillars of Islam. It is very important in the life of Muslims who can afford to travel to Hajj; but because of the pandemic and health and other considerations Hajj has been limited this year. The utmost priority of religion is to provide safety for the human being for health and peacefulness. So we are thankful to the Government of Saudi Arabia for whatever guidelines they have issued to perform Hajj this year. Those who are allowed to do Hajj this year, may Allah Subhanahu wa Taala give them reward and they will perform the Hajj. Those who intended to come for Hajj they could not come because of the pandemic external reasons, external factors; May Allah Subhanahu wa Taala reward them – full reward for all their intentions.” Speaking on the day of Arafah, Imam Sheikh Dr Maher mentioned, “On the day of Arafah, on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah when we fast our Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam has given us a glad tiding. He said, this fast on the Arafah day will wipe out sins of two years – the past year and the future year. So during these ten days of Dhul Hijjah Muslims can virtually enjoy an excellent reward of normal activities like Zikr Allah, Taqbeer, Tahlil, Tasweeh and Sadaqah and all the good deeds. For this they have acquired very very high rewards than anything else – even Jihad is not regarded highest deed in these ten days. The Imam continued, “So let us pause for those who cannot perform Hajj this year intend to do and looking forward to do Hajj and other Islamic pillars. There are other activities even normal activities become very very highly rewardable during these ten days of Dhul Hijjah. Rasullullah Sallallahu wa Sallam said, “No action has higher reward than these ten days – good deeds – even Jihad. Jihad except if somebody has gone for Jihad himself and with mal and they sacrifice everything for the sake of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala. Apart from that the normal activities of Zikr Allah, Taqbeer, Tahlil, Tasweeh, Sadaqah and fasting becomes highly rewarded during these ten days.” While concluding his Khutbah, Imam Sheikh Dr. Maher said, “Let us go into these activities. Let us send peace and blessings to Prophet Muhammad. O Allah send peace and blessings on Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings on Ibrahim alais salam, O Allah send peace and blessings to all Khulafah-e-Rashideen…..” Friday Khutbah at Masjid al-Nabawi on 3rd of Dhul-Hijjah By Shaikh Abdul Muhsin Al-Qasim The imam of Masjid al-Nabawi Shaikh Abdul Muhsin Al-Qasim stated with sending peace and blessings on Prophet Muhammad Sallallau wa Sallam. And then said, “I bear witness no one is worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad Sallallahu was Sallam is His Last Messenger. O Muslims, religion of Islam is a great religion and its basis is to acquire all the goodness and dispel all the dangerous or displeasable things. Allah Subhanahu wa Taala has blessed this country with Haramain – the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and Masjid al-Nabawi in Madinah.” Speaking on Hajj, the Imam Shaikh Abdul Muhsin said, “The month of Dhul Hijjah has special rewards attached to it. In his Farewell Hajj Sermon, Prophet Muhammad Sallallhu wa Sallam has declared that the time has been reset like Allah Subhanahu wa Taala did the day He created this Heaven and Earth. All the confusion about calendars should be shaded and now it is the month of Dhul Hijjah. Rasullullah Sallallahu wa Sallam urged that we should be thankful to Allah and we should exploit whatever we have got – our youth before old age; our health before we get sick; and our life before we Are dead and our prosperity before we become poor.” Imam Shaikh Abdul Muhsin said, “Allah says I swear by the dawn and the ten nights and these ten nights, according to most of the Mufassirin of the Qur’an, is that these are the ten days of Dhul Hijjah. Our Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam has been reported to say that the best days of the world are the ten days of Hajj. Normal actions such as prayer, Sadaqah and Zikr Allah, and fasting acquire extraordinary rewards, may be on these ten days even outside activities becomes less important. Our Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam has been reported by Abdullah ibn Abbas said that good actions during these ten days have extraordinary rewards than in any other days eeven Jihad during these ten days have inferior rewards except someone who has lost his position, that means he has obtained sahadah, during these ten days . Allah Subhanahu wa Taala likes to repeat Takbeer, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar la illaha illaha and subhanallah and many other. Speaking about the good deeds, Imam Al-Qasim mentioned, “Sahabah, the companions of the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam used to mark these days by indulging themselves in good deeds of Zikr Allah, fasting, Sadaqah and Takbeerat, Zikr Allah, the mention of Allah’s name and this is the purpose of Hajj even. And these ten days if you mention and glorified the name of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala this is more liked than any other good deed. These ten days are the cup of the lists of good deeds and the people who explained the Hadiths like Imam Nabawi who says that doing Zikr Allah and the normal Ibadat becomes extraordinary rewards and the 9th of Dhul Hijjah is the best of them.” The Imam Shaikh Abdul Muhsin also spoke about repeating Takbeerat. He said, “And the best thing we can do is reciting the Qur’an and all the other times repeat Takbeer – Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar La Ilaha Illalla Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar wa Lillahil Hamd. Sahabah used to do it during these days in public places and roads and in other gatherings in Masjid and outside Masjid. And generally, we also practice nowadays that from 9th till the Asr of the 13th we do Takbeer at the end of each prayer. So before these days from 1st of Dhul Hijjah you can still do in our personal life and in our private life.” Imam Shaikh Abdul Muhsin also mentioned about Taubah repentence. He said, “Apart from the recitation of the Qur’an, Zikr Allah, we should do the Taubah, repentence and regret for all our wrong doings and misdeeds and seek forgiveness from Allah Subhanahu wa Taala . Allah urges in the Qur’an that all Muslims repent to Allah Subhanahu wa Taala and our Prophet sws used to seek forgiveness from Allah swt at least 100 times every day. Ashtaqfirullah Ashtaqfirullah at least 100 times every day. Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu wa Sallam has been reported to say that the best day of someone is the day when someone repentence like Obaid bin Kaab was given this is the best day that you have been given the acceptance of your Taubah.” Imam al-Qasim also mentioned, “The importance of these ten days are – because the highest pillar of Islam – Hajj - is during these ten days. Allah Subhanahu wa Taala says those who can afford and those who can come to Hajj, they are obliged to do that. And on the day of Arafah Allah frees greatest number of people from the fire of Jahannum. “10th of Dhul Hijjaj – Qurbani day - is the best day to do many multiple activities locally and Hajj time and globally as a Qurbani. Rasullullah Sallallahu wa Sallam has said that the cup of these ten days is the 10 Dhul Hijjah – Eid day and do Qurbani and the next day the people will be moving after Hajj.” Imam Shaikh Abdul Muhsin also mentioned about the Mina days. He said, “During the Mina days 10,11 and 12 Dhul Hijjah Zikr Allah, Takbeer, Tahlil and the Tasbeeh are the highest rewarding activities but these days fasting is prohibited and these are the feasting days from Allah Subhanahu waTaala. It is a global invitation for feasting during 10, 11, 12 and 13 of Dhul Hijjah. And during these 10 to 13 days rhe best thing one can do is to do Qurbani sacrifice animals by buying the best animals they can do and this is the best rewardable activity and there are no other activity which can supersece the sacrifice and Qurbani because Allah Subhanahu wa Taala says Allah does not get from you any flesh or blood or meat. What reaches Allah Allah Subhanahu wa Taala or what is acceptable is this devotion of your hearts, the intentions and your Taqwa, your piety towards Allah Subhanahu wa Taala and your devotion. Rasullullah Sallallahu wa Sallam used to choose his Qurbani among the best of Qurbanis one can do.” While concluding his Khutbah, Imam Shaikh Abdul Muhsin made dua, supplication and salam. He said, “During these ten special days of Dhul Hijjah, whenever we are indulging to mention the name of Allah, May Allah Subhanahu wa Taala accept our Zikr, accept our deeds and rewards us abundantly.”