Not going to Hajj? Get closer to Allah in these Blessed Days of Dhul Hijjah

The Blessed Days of Dhul Hijjah

In what follows, we will highlight some of the Sunnah regarding these days, hoping by this to provide an incentive to make the best out of them and gain Allah’s reward, insha’ Allah.

Righteous actions in the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.

"There are no days in which righteous deeds are dearer to Allah than these ten [days of Dhul Hijjah]." They said, "O Messenger, even jihad in the way of Allah? " He said, "Not even jihad in the way of Allah, except for the man who leaves with his wealth, and does not return with any of it (life or wealth)." [al-Bukhari].

All good deeds can be done during these days and the early generations of Muslims used to exert themselves excessively in worshipping Allah. In particular, fasting and dhikr (mentioning and remembering Allaah) are to be done in plenty on these days.


Dhikr

Ibn Abbas commented on the verse "…and to mention Allah’s name [plentifully] on Known days" [22:28] by saying: "…these known days are the ten days [of Dhul Hijjah]." [Tafseer ibn Katheer]

Fasting

One of the wives of the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa salam, said: "Allah’s Messenger used to fast the (first) nine days of Dhul Hijjah, the day of Ashora, and three days of each month. [Saheeh Sunan Abee Daawood #2129]

Fasting on all these days, however, is not a wajib (compulsory), nor is it a constant sunnah that the Messenger, sallallaahu alayhi wa salam, never dropped. Aishah said: "I never saw the Messenger, sallalahu alayhi wa salam, fast the ten days." [Muslim Book #006, Hadith #B2645]

The Day of Arafah - The Best Day of the Whole Year

The day of Arafah is the day when the pilgrims stand in worship on the Mountain of Arafah.

"Fasting the day of Arafah expiates the [minor] sins of two years: a past one and a coming one. And fasting the day of Ashora expiates the sins of the past year." [Muslim]

"There is no day on which Allah azza wa jall frees people from the Fire as He does on the day of Arafah. He comes close (to those standing on `Arafah) and then revels before His angels, saying: "What are these people seeking?" [Muslim]

The Day of  Eid al-Adha

The tenth of Dhul-Hijjah is Eid ul-Adha or the day of an-Nahr (slaughtering). It marks the conclusion of the major rites of Hajj, and commemorates Allah’s bounty on His Messenger Ibrahim, when He gave him a ram to sacrifice as ransom for his son Ismael, alayhimassalam.

"The day of al-Fitr [i.e. Eid ul-Fitr], the day of an-Nahr, and the days of Tashreeq are Eid days for us Muslims. They are days of eating and drinking." [Ahmad, an-Nasae, Saheeh ul-Jaami #8192]


Allahu Aalam!