Virtues of the First 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah

All praise is due to Allah; we praise Him, seek His help and beg for His forgiveness. We seek Allah’s refuge from the evil of our souls and the wickedness of our deeds. Whomever Allah guides there is no one to misguide him, and whomever Allah leads astray shall find none other to guide him. […]

All praise is due to Allah; we praise Him, seek His help and beg for His forgiveness. We seek Allah’s refuge from the evil of our souls and the wickedness of our deeds. Whomever Allah guides there is no one to misguide him, and whomever Allah leads astray shall find none other to guide him.
I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah alone Who has no partner and I bear witness that Muhammad (SAW) is His Slave and Messenger.
“Oh you who believe, keep your duty to Allah with all seriousness and do not die except as Muslims’.” “Oh you mankind, keep your duty to your Lord, Who created you from a single soul and created from it its mate, and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And keep your duty to Allah, through whom you ask one another and the wombs.
Indeed Allah is ever, over you, an Observer. “Oh you, who believe, keep your duty to Allah and speak words of appropriate justice. He will (then) amend for you your deeds and forgive you your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His messenger has certainly attained a great victory.”
O’ slaves of Allah! Among the great and most prestigious seasons of worship are the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah, which Allah has favoured and elevated over other days, according to Shaykh Munajjid (R). It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) says:
“There are no days on which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these 10 days.” They said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah?” He said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah, unless a man goes out himself for jihad taking his wealth with him and does not come back with anything.” (Narrated by Bukhaari: 2/457).
In addition, it was also narrated from Anas (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) says: “There is no deed that is better before Allah or more greatly rewarded than a good deed done in the (first) 10 days of al-Adha.” It was said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah?” He said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah, unless a man goes out himself for serving Allah’s religion taking his wealth with him and does not come back with either.” (Al-Irwa’, 3/398).
According to Bn Katheer (RA) these texts and many more indicate that these 10 days are better than all other days of the year, with no exception. In fact, even the last 10 days of Ramadan. However, the last 10 nights of Ramadan are better than the first 10 nights of Dhul-Hijjah, because they include Laylat al-Qadr, which is better than a thousand months. Furthermore, the majority of scholars are of the view that the “appointed days” mentioned in the Glorious Qur’an, are the first 10 days of Dhu’l-Hijjah. This is also the opinion of Ibn Abbas (RA).
Allah says: “Mention and remember the Name of Allah on appointed days, over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them for sacrifice.”(Hajj 22:28).
 In addition, the Sunnah has warned those who are planning to sacrifice an animal, to abstain from cutting either their hair or nails.
The Prophet (SAW) says: Whoever has a sacrificial animal that he wants to slaughter, if the crescent of Dhul-Hijjah, he should stop cutting his hair and nails until he has offered his sacrifice.” According to another report he said: “He should not remove anything from his hair or skin.” (Muslim: 13/146).
So a Muslim should strive to start these days with sincere repentance to Allah from major and minor sins. Then he should do a lot of righteous deeds in general, and he should also pay more attention to doing the following deeds specifically:
1 – Fasting: It is a recommended Sunnah for the Muslim to fast on the first nine days of Zhul-Hijjah, because the Prophet (SAW) encouraged us to do righteous deeds in the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah, and fasting is one of the best and most prestigious deeds. In line with this, the Prophet (SAW) used to fast on the first nine days of Zhul-Hijjah. It was narrated from one of the wives of the Prophet (SAW) that: the Prophet (SAW) used to fast on the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah and the day of ‘Ashoora’…(Saheeh Abi Dawood, 2/462).
2 – Reciting a great deal of Tahleel, Takbeer and Tahleel: It is a Sunnah to recite Takbeer (Allah akbar (Allah is most great)), Tahmeed (al-hamdu Lillah (praise be to Allah)), Tahleel (saying Laa ilaaha ill-Allah (There is no god but Allah)) and Tasbeeh (saying Subhaan-Allah (Glory be to Allah)), during the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah, saying these words out loud in the Masaajeed, offices, homes, markets, streets and every place in which it is permissible to remember Allah, to perform this act of worship openly and proclaim the greatness of Allah and His glorification.
Similarly, men should recite out loud, contrary to women, who are urged to recite quietly. It was narrated from Bn ‘Umar (RA) that the Prophet SAW) said: “There are no days that are greater before Allah or in which good deeds are more beloved to Him, than these 10 days, so recite a great deal of Tahleel, Takbeer and Tahmeed during them. ‘ (Ahmad, 7/224; and classed as saheeh by Ahmad Shaakir).
The takbeer is as follows: Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allah, Allah Akbar, wa Lillaah il-hamd. Meaning: Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, there is no god but Allah; Allah is Most Great and to Allah be praise.
Unfortunately, this takbeer has become a forsaken Sunnah nowadays, especially at the beginning of these 10 days. You can hardly hear it except from a few. It should be recited out loud, so as to revive the Sunnah and remind the heedless and those in slumber.
3 – Udhiyah (Sacrificing an Animal): One of the righteous deeds that bring a person closer to Allah in these 10 days is to slaughter the sacrifice; to look for a good, fat and healthy animal and to spend money on it for the sake of Allah. The greater the quality of the sacrifice, the greater the reward. We should encourage our families to partake in all these righteous actions. May Allah accept from all of us, ameen.
Being Juma’at Khutbah translation of Al-Noor Masjid, Icice Wuse 2, Abuja, 23rd Zhul-Qa’adah/1437 ( August 26, 2016)