First 10 days fo Dhul-Hijjah and their Importance

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:salam2: wa Rahmatullah wa Brakatuh


Dear Brothers and Respecetd Sisters,


The first TEN days of Dhul-Hijjah (the month of Hajj-- which will begin November 22nd this year) has a lot of significance in Islam. Allah (swsT) forgives more souls on the day of Arr'afa (day before Eid Al Adha). It holds a lot of rewrad for those who fast on that day (fasting on the day of Eid is however prohibited).


Following is an article from Islamonline.net

The Month of Dhul-Hijjah

Author unknown *
Dec. 26, 2005



By the grace of Allah we are approaching the month of Dhul-Hijjah in which Allah has marked out, for both pilgrims and non-pilgrims, some very blessed days. We shall mention here some of the virtues of those days and acts that merit reward that can be performed on them.

Doing Good Deeds in General

The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are the best and most virtuous days of the year. They are the days in which Allah the Almighty most loves the people to perform good deeds. On this subject, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The best days in the world are the ten days” (Al-Bazzar, authenticated by Al-Albani).

In his Zadul-Ma`ad, Imam Ibn Al-Qayim (d. AH 751) said

Indeed, these days are the most excellent of all the days with Allah. And it has been confirmed in the Sahih of Al-Bukhari from Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “There are no days during which good deeds are more beloved to Allah than these (ten) days.” He was then asked, “Not even jihad in the path of Allah?” He replied, “Not even jihad in the path of Allah, except for a person who goes out with his self and his wealth, and comes back with nothing.” And it is by these ten days that Allah has taken an oath in His Book, by His saying (By the Dawn and by the Ten Nights) (Al-Fajr 89:1-2).
This is why it is recommended to increase remembrance of Allah, as mentioned in the hadith when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “There are no days that are greater with Allah, and in which good deeds are more beloved to Him, than these ten days. So increase in saying Subhan Allah, al-hamdu lillah, la ilaha ila Allah, and Allahu Akbar” (At-Tabarani, authenticated by Al-Mundhiri).

Fasting the Day of `Arafah

The ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah is the day of `Arafah, since it is on this day that the pilgrims gather at a plain located at the base of Mount `Arafah, praying and supplicating to their Lord. It is highly recommended for those who are not performing the Hajj to fast on this day. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was once asked about fasting on this day, and he replied that it expiates the sins of the previous and the upcoming year. Likewise, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “There is no day on which Allah frees people from the Fire more so than on the day of `Arafah” (Muslim).

Imam At-Tirmidhi said, “The people of knowledge consider it recommended to fast on the day of `Arafah, except for those (pilgrims) at `Arafah.”

Offering Sacrifice on the Day of `Eid Al-Adha and the Following Three Days

The tenth day of Dhul-Hiijah marks the ending of the major rites of Hajj and commemorates the bounty and mercy of Allah the Most High when He gave His beloved Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) a ram to sacrifice in place of his firstborn son, Isma`il (peace be upon him). Out of the ten best days of the year, it is this day which is the most excellent.

Imam Ibn Taymiyah (d. AH 728) said

The most excellent day of the week is the day of Friday, by the agreement of the scholars. And the most excellent day of the year is the day of An-Nahr (the tenth of Dhul Hijjah—the day of slaughtering sacrificial animals). And some of the scholars said that it is the day of `Arafah. However, the first opinion is the correct one, since it is related that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The most excellent days with Allah is the day of An-Nahr, then the day of Al-Qarr (the day when the Muslims reside in Mina, Dhul-Hijjah 11)” (Abu Dawud, authenticated by Al-Albani).

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The greatest day of the Hajj (Pilgrimage) is the Day of An-Nahr” (Abu Dawud, authenticated by Al-Albani).

The day of An-Nahr is also known as `Eid Al-Adha and is one of the two major festivals that Allah has granted to this Ummah. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went to Madinah, the people of Madinah had since pre-Islamic times two days that they marked out for play and amusement. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “I came to you, and you had two days of play and amusement in the times of jahiliyah (pre-Islamic period). But Allah has replaced them with something better for you: The day of al-Adha (the sacrifice) and the day of al-Fitr (ending the Fast)” (Ahmad, authenticated by Ibn Hajar).

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also said, “The day of Al-Fitr, and the day of An-Nahr, and the days of At-Tashriq (the three days after An-Nahr) are our days of `Eid; and they are days of eating and drinking” (Ahmad, and authenticated by Al-Albani).

`Eid Al-Adha is a day on which the Muslims slaughter a camel, cow, sheep, or goat in commemoration of the sacrifice of Ibrahim (peace and blessings be upon him). Those who intend to sacrifice an animal—normally the heads of households—must avoid cutting their hair and nails, starting from the first day of Dhul-Hijjah up until after the sacrifice. Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “When the ten days start, and one of you intends to sacrifice, then let him not cut his hair or his nails” (Muslim).

Glorifying Allah With the Takbir

From the day of `Arafah (Dhul-Hijjah 9), up until the `Asr Prayer on the thirteenth day, are days in which the takbir (saying “Allahu Akbar”—Allah is the Greatest) is highly recommended. Imam Al-Khattabi (d. AH 456) said

The wisdom behind saying the takbir in these days is that in the times of jahiliyah (pre-Islamic ignorance), they used to slaughter for their false objects of worship. So the takbir was prescribed in order to indicate that the act of slaughtering is directed to Allah alone, and made in His name only.

Ibn Abi Shaibah relates that `Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) used to make the takbir beginning right after the Fajr Prayer on the day of `Arafah, up until after the `Asr Prayer on the last day of At-Tashriq.

As regards the actual wording of the takbir, nothing authentic has been related from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). However, certain wordings have been authentically related from a group of Companions. Ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say:

Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, La ilaha illa Allah, wa Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, wa lillahil-hamd.

Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest. None has the right to be worshiped except Him. And Allah is greatest, Allah is greatest, and to Him belongs all praise (Ibn Abi Shaibah).

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PLEASE READ: Best days of a year.....coming our way

Best 10 Days of the year
Posted on Fri 20 Oct 2006 (97 reads)

Upon us now are the best ten days of the year. There are no other days more rewarded than these ten. They are the first ten days of the Islamic month Dhul-Hijjah. Unfortunately many of us do not know and let them fly by ...

If there was some great sale advertising ridiculously low prices you will find many of us there waiting on long lines just to get such great deals. Well we should all hurry to catch this great sale that Allah is advertising. “It’s all come all served!”

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “ No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these days.” His companions asked “ Not even Jihad in the way of Allah?” He said: “Not even jihad, except for the man who puts his life and wealth in danger and returns with neither.” (1)

Subhanallah, how merciful is our Lord. So what can we do? One could read Quran, read things to increase our Iman, help our Muslim neighbor, give charity (even a smile is charity), volunteer at our masjid, fast, dthikr (remembering Allah), etc…

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “There are no days more loved to Allah for you to worship Him therein than the ten days of Dhul-Hijja. Fasting any day during it is equivalent to fasting one year and to offer salatul Tahajud (late night prayer) during one of its nights is like performing the late night prayer on (Lilatulqadr) the night of power” (2)

So if we can why not at least try to fast one day during these days so we would have one year fasting on our bank records towards the purchase of the next life.


Ibn Abbas said that the ayah: “Remember Allah during the well known days,”(2:203) refers to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijja.We should say Allahuakbar (Allah is great), Alhamdulillah (all praises is due to Allah), Laillhaillallah (there is no deity but Allah), etc. This is what the Prophet (peace be upon him) told us to do during these days. That’s not too much to ask from us and it is only for our own benefit. On the ninth day it will be the day of Arafat. We should all try to fast this day because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “It is an expiation for the sins of the preceding year and the current year.” (3)

There for my dear brothers and sisters in Islam, please do not let these days go by without getting on line for this great bargain that Allah the most high is giving away to all that come. May Allah forgive us all and have mercy on us all.

A. Adly

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1- Reported by Muslim. Fiqh of Sunnah,Sayyid Sabiq, Dar el fateh, p.154
2- Reported by At-Tirmidhthi , Fiqh of Sunnah,Sayyid Sabiq, Dar el fateh,
p.154
3- Reported by Muslim,Riyad us saliheen,Dar us salaam,v2,p.959,h.#1250


http://english.islamway.com/bindex.php?section=article&id=68

 

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Do NOT forget to FAST on Yum Al Ar'afa: A day when Allah forgives most souls

Asalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuh



Dear Brothers and respected Sisters
According to a hadith fasting on 9th of Dhul Hijjah expiates sins (minor) for TWO years. (see evidence from hadith below)

Please mark your calendars, call family and friends and remind all muslims taht you know to FAST on the Ninth of Dhil Hijjah (expected to be on December 28th or 29th)....day of the Hajj (day fo Ar'afa also called Day of the Hajj). Regardless of what day you are celeberating Eid Al Adha you can fast on this day. There is a lot of hasannat (rewards,ajr, Thawab) associated with fasting on this day.

The Prophet (saw) said, "There is no day in which Allah liberates more servants from the hellfire than the Day of Arafah-9th of Dhul-Hijjah"

EVIDENCE
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Day of Arafaah in different time zones

Question:
What will be the day of Arafat for countries that are in different time zones?


Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.

The day of ‘Arafaah and the fasting that goes with it should be observed in each country according to the local times of fajr and maghrib. Fasting on this day expiates the sins of two years, as the Prophet (Peace & Blessings of Allaah be upon Him) said: "Fasting the day of ‘Arafaah, I hope, will expiate the sins of the year before it and the year to come, and fasting the day of ‘Aashooraa’ (the tenth day of Muharram), I hope, will expiate the sins of the year before it." (Reported by Muslim, 1976).

And Allaah knows best.

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

The best supplication is the one on the day of Arafah -9th of Dhul-Hijjah Day of ‘Arafa , and the best thing which I and the prophets before me have said is, ‘There is no god but Allah alone who has no partner; to Him belongs the dominion, to Him praise is due, and He is Omnipotent (able to do all things)

( La ilaaha illallah wahdahu la sharikalah, lahulmulk, wa lahulhamd, wa huwa ala kulli shay in qadir)
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Some other good advice for the 9th Dhul Hijjah:

Virtues of the Day of Arafaah

Question:
What are the Virtues of the Day of Arafaah ?

Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

1. It is the day on which the religion was perfected and Allaah’s Favour was completed.

In Al-Saheehayn it was reported from ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him) that a Jewish man said to him, “O Ameer al-Mu’mineen, there is an aayah in your Book which you recite; if it had come to us Jews, we would have taken that day as an ‘Eid (festival).” ‘Umar said, “Which aayah?” He said: “This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” [al-Maa’idah 5:3 – interpretation of the meaning]. ‘Umar said, “We know on which day and in which place that was revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). It was when he was standing in ‘Arafaah on a Friday.”

2. It is a day of Eid for the people who are in that place.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Yawm ‘Arafaah (the day of ‘Arafaah), Yawm al-Nahr (the Day of Sacrifice) and Ayyaam al-Tashreeq (the 3 days following Yawm al-Nahr) are Eid (festival) for us, the people of Islam. These are days of eating and drinking.” This was narrated by the authors of al-Sunan. It was reported that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab said: “It – i.e., the aayah ‘This day I have perfected…’ was revealed on a Friday, the Day of ‘Arafaah, both of which – praise be to Allaah – are Eids for us.”

3. It is a day by which Allaah swore an oath.

The Almighty cannot swear by anything except that which is mighty. Yawm ‘Arafaah is the “witnessed day” mentioned in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

“By the witnessing day [Friday] and by the witnessed day [the Day of ‘Arafaah].” [al-Burooj 85:3].

It was reported from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The promised day is the Day of Resurrection, the witnessed day is the Day of ‘Arafaah, and the witnessing day is Friday.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.

It is the “odd” [i.e., odd-numbered, Witr] by which Allaah swore in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

“And by the even and the odd” [al-Fajr 89:3]. Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “The even is the Day of al-Adhaa [i.e., 10th Dhoo’l-Hijjah] and the odd is the Day of ‘Arafaah [i.e., 9th Dhoo’l-Hijjah] This is also the view of ‘Ikrimah and al-Dahhaak.

4. Fasting on this day is an expiation for two years.

It was reported from Abu Qutaadah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about fasting on the Day of ‘Arafaah. He said, “It expiates for the sins of the previous year and of the coming year.” Narrated by Muslim.

This (fasting) is mustahabb for those who are not on Hajj. In the case of the one who is on Hajj, it is not Sunnah for him to fast on the Day of ‘Arafaah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not fast on this day in ‘Arafaah. It was narrated that he forbade fasting on the Day of ‘Arafaah in ‘Arafaah.

5. It is the day on which Allaah took the covenant from the progeny of Adam.

It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah took the covenant from the loins of Adam in Na’maan, i.e., ‘Arafaah. He brought forth from his loins all his offspring and spread them before Him, then He addressed them, and said: ‘Am I not your Lord? They said, ‘Yes, we testify,’ let you should say on the Day of Resurrection: ‘Verily, we have been unaware of this.’ Or lest you should say: ‘It was only our fathers aforetime who took others as partners in worship along with Allaah, and we were (merely their) descendents after them; will You then destroy us because of the deeds of men who practised Al-Baatil (i.e., ploytheism and committing crimes and sins, invoking and worshipping others besides Allaah)?’ [al-A’raaf 7:172-173 – interpretation of the meaning].” Narrated by Ahmad and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani. And there is no greater day than this and no greater covenant than this.

6. It is the day of forgiveness of sins, freedom from the Fire and pride in the people who are there:

In Saheeh Muslim it was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no day on which Allaah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of ‘Arafaah. He comes close and expresses His pride to the angels, saying, ‘What do these people want?’”

It was reported from Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah expresses His pride to His angels at the time of ‘Ishaa’ on the Day of ‘Arafaah, about the people of ‘Arafaah. He says, ‘Look at My slaves who have come unkempt and dusty.’” Narrated by Ahmad and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.

And Allaah knows best.

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid