The greatness of the first ten days and nights of Zul Hijjah can be gauged by the fact that Allah Ta‘ala had taken a qasm on the first ten nights of Zul Hijjah in the Quraan Majeed, and special virtues have been recorded in the Ahaadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) regarding these days. Allah Ta‘ala says:
وَالْفَجْرِ ﴿١﴾ وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ ﴿٢﴾
(I take an oath) by the break of dawn and by the ten nights (of Zul Hijjah). [4]
Sunnats and Aadaab of Zul Hijjah
1. Exert yourself in ibaadah during the first ten days of Zul Hijjah. Great rewards have been mentioned regarding the ibaadah carried out during these ten days.
Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) reports that Hazrat Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “There is no righteous action carried out in any day of the year that is more virtuous than the righteous action carried out in these ten days of Zul Hijjah.” The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) asked, “Not even jihaad?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “Not even jihaad, except for the one who endangers his life and wealth (in jihaad) and does not return with anything (i.e. the jihaad carried out in the ten days of Zul Hijjah is more virtuous than jihaad during the rest of the year, except for the jihaad of the mujaahid who gains martyrdom).” [5]
2. Try to fast during the first ten days. By fasting on any of the first ten days of Zul Hijjah (besides the tenth), you will receive the reward of fasting the entire year. [6]
3. Endeavour to make as much ibaadah as possible during the first ten nights of Zul Hijjah. Making ibaadah on these nights earns one the reward of making ibaadah on Lailatul Qadr.
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “There are no days in the year wherein the worship of Allah Ta‘ala is more beloved to Him than the ten days of Zul Hijjah. The fast during these days (excluding the tenth) is equivalent to the fast of an entire year, and standing up in ibaadah during these nights is equivalent to the reward of the night of Qadr (power).” [7]
Hazrat Hafsah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam would not leave out four actions; fasting on the day of Aashuraa, fasting on the first ten days of Zul Hijjah (i.e. besides the 10th), fasting three days of every month; and performing two rakaats sunnah before the fardh of Fajr. [8]
4. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has mentioned that Paradise becomes waajib for that person who worships Allah Ta‘ala on five nights. i.e. the night of Tarwiyah (8th of Zul Hijjah), the night of Arafah (9th of Zul Hijjah), the night of Nahr (10th of Zul Hijjah), the night of Eidul Fitr and the night of the 15th of Sha’baan.
Hazrat Muaaz bin Jabal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “The one who enlivens five nights of the year with ibaadah, Jannah becomes compulsory for him. (These five nights are) the night of Tarwiyah (8th of Zul Hijjah), the night of Arafah (9th of Zul Hijjah), the night of Nahr (10th of Zul Hijjah), the night of Eidul Fitr and the night of the 15th of Sha’baan.” [9]
5. It is mustahab for one (who is not in the state of ihraam) to fast on the day of Arafah i.e. 9th of Zul Hijjah. Apart from receiving the reward of one year’s fast, two years’ sins will also be forgiven. [10]
Hazrat Abu Qataadah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that a Sahaabi once asked Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), “O Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasalam), what is the reward of the person who fasts on the day of Aashuraa?” Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “It carries the reward of fasting for an entire year.” The Sahaabi then asked, “What is the reward of fasting on the day of Arafah?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “It expiates the (minor) sins of the present year and the previous year.” [11]
Hazrat Ibnu Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) reports, “I performed hajj with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) did not fast on the day of Arafah (during the hajj). I performed hajj with Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and he also did not fast on the day of Arafah (during the hajj). Similarly, I performed hajj with Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), and he also did not fast on the day of Arafah (during the hajj), and I then performed hajj with Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), and he accordingly did not fast on the day of Arafah (during the hajj).” [12]
6. On the day of Arafah, recite the following dua abundantly:
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ وَهُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ
There is no deity besides Allah Ta‘ala alone, who has no partner. To Him belongs the kingdom (of the entire universe), and only for Him belongs all praise. In His hands (control) alone lies all good and He alone has complete power over everything. [13]
[1] عن أبي بكرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال الزمان قد استدار كهيئته يوم خلق الله السموات والأرض السنة اثنا عشر شهرا منها أربعة حرم ثلاثة متواليات ذو القعدة وذو الحجة والمحرم ورجب مضر الذي بين جمادى وشعبان (صحيح البخاري، الرقم: 3197)
[2] عن ابن عباس قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ما من أيام العمل الصالح فيهن أحب إلى الله من هذه الأيام العشر فقالوا يا رسول الله ولا الجهاد في سبيل الله فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ولا الجهاد في سبيل الله إلا رجل خرج بنفسه وماله فلم يرجع من ذلك بشيء (سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 757 وقال: حديث حسن صحيح غريب(
[3] سورة التوبة: 36
[4] سورة الفجر: 1-2
[5] صحيح البخاري، الرقم: 969
[6] ويستحب صوم تسعة أيام من أول ذي الحجة كذا في السراج الوهاج (الفتاوى الهندية 1/201)
[7] سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 758، وقال: هذا حديث غريب
[8] سنن النسائي، الرقم: 2416، صحيح ابن حبان، الرقم: 6422
[9] تاريخ ابن عساكر 43/93، وقد ذكره المنذري في الترغيب والترهيب، الرقم: 1656، بلفظة "عن"، إشارة إلى كونه صحيحا أو حسنا أو ما قاربهما عنده كما بين أصله في مقدمة كتابه 1/50
[10] وأما صوم يوم عرفة ففي حق غير الحاج مستحب لكثرة الأحاديث الواردة بالندب إلى صومه ولأن له فضيلة على غيره من الأيام (بدائع الصنائع 2/79)
[11] صحيح ابن حبان، الرقم: 3631
[12] سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 750، وقال: هذا حديث حسن
[13] مسند أحمد، الرقم: 7080، و قال العلامة الهيثمي رحمه الله في مجمع الزوائد، الرقم: 5550، رواه أحمد ورجاله موثقون