Eight Hadiths About The Importance Of The First Ten Days Of Dhul-Hijjah You Should Know

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The month of Dhul-Hijjah is the twelfth and final month in the Islamic calendar. Dhu al-Hijjah can be translated as "the month of the pilgrimage". It is the month in which Muslims perform hajj rites in Mecca. Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) in Saudi Arabia is one of the five pillars of Islam in addition to the declaration of faith (Shahada), obligatory five daily prayers (Salat), compulsory alms giving (Zakat) and fasting in the month of Ramadan (Sawm). 

Eid-al-adha, (the feast of Sacrifice or the festival of sacrifice) one of the two Islamic celebrations takes place on the tenth day of Dhul-Hijjah. Eid-al-Adha is considered the holier and bigger celebration, the second is Eid-el-Fitri.

Hadiths about the importance of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah:

1. 

Ibn'Abbas reported that the Messenger of ALLAH (May the peace and blessings of ALLAH be upon him) said, "No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these days [meaning the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah]." The companions asked, "O Messenger of ALLAH 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 [for ALLAH's sake] and returns with neither of them."  (Reported by Tirmidhi).

2.

Ibn'Umar reported that the Messenger of ALLAH (May the peace and blessings of ALLAH be upon him) said, "There is no day more honorable in ALLAH's sight and no acts more beloved therein to ALLAH than those in these ten days. So say tahlil (There is no god worthy of worship but ALLAH : Laa ilaaha illallaah), takbir (ALLAH is the greatest: ALLAHU Akbar) and tahmid (All praise is due to ALLAH: Alhamdulillah) a lot [on those days]." [Reported by Ahmad, 7/224; Ahmad Shaakir stated it is saheeh].

3.

Abu Hurairah relates that the Messenger of ALLAH (May the peace and blessings of ALLAH be upon him) said, "There are no days more loved to ALLAH for you to worship Him therein than the ten days of Dhul Hijjah. Fasting any day during it is equivalent to fasting one year and to offer salatul tahajjud (late-night prayer) during one of its nights is like performing the late night prayer on the night of power. [Lailatul Qadr]." [This is related by at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and al-Baihaqi].

4.

Ibn' Umar narrated that during the month of dhul-hijjah at Mina, the Messenger of ALLAH (May the peace and blessings of ALLAH be upon him) said, "Do you know what is the day today?" The people replied, "ALLAH and His Messenger know it better." He said, "It is the forbidden (sacred) day. And do you know what town is this?" They replied, "ALLAH and His Messenger know it better." He said, "This is the forbidden (sacred) town (Mecca). And do you know which month is this?" The people replied, "ALLAH and His Apostle know it better." He said, "This is the forbidden (sacred) month." The Messenger added, "No doubt, ALLAH made your blood, your properties, and your honour sacred to one another like the sanctity of this day of yours in this month of yours in this town of yours."


5.

Abu Qatadah reported that the Messenger of ALLAH (May the peace and blessings of ALLAH be upon him) said, "Fasting on the day of 'Arafah is an expiation for two years, the year preceding it and the year following it. Fasting the day of 'Ashurah is an expiation for the year preceding it." 

6.

Abu Hurairah stated, "The Messenger of ALLAH (May the peace and blessings of ALLAH be upon him) forbade fasting on the day of'Arafah for one who is actually at 'Arafah." [This is related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah].

7.

'Uqbah ibn'Amr reported that the Messenger of ALLAH (May the peace and blessings of ALLAH be upon him) said, "The day of 'Arafah, the day of sacrifice, and the days of tashreeq are eids for us - the people of Islam and they are days of eating and drinking." [At-Tirmidhi grades it sahih].

8.

Narrated Ibn' Umar: On the Day of Nahr (10th of Dhul-Hijjah), the Messenger  of ALLAH (May the peace and blessings of ALLAH be upon him) stood in between the Jamrat during his Hajj which he performed and said, "This is the greatest Day (i.e. 10th of Dhul-Hijjah)." The Messenger of ALLAH (May the peace and blessings of ALLAH be upon him) started saying repeatedly, "O ALLAH! Be Witness (I have conveyed Your Message)." He then bade the people farewell. The people said, "(This is Hajjat-al-Wada)." [Bukhari 2.798].