The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah

[mabdullah]

The Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) said,


There is no other day where righteous actions are more beloved to Allaah than these days (meaning the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah).

They said,“O Messenger of Allaah, better than even struggling in the way of Allaah?”
He replied,

Yes, even better than struggling in the way of Allaah, except a man who left  with himself and all his wealth, and then he did not return back with anything

This hadeeth shows the superiority of these first ten days, and that any worship that is performed in these first ten days is better and more beloved to Allaah than all the other days of the world without exception.
Allaah (the Most High) also made an oath by these days, He said:
{By the dawn, and by the ten nights…} [Fajr;2]

The beginning of this blessed month also contains the days of Hajj, particularly the day of ‘Arafah.
Some from amongst the scholars mention that a lesser form of worship in this month is more beloved to Allaah than that which would otherwise be a better action in any other month.

It is also said that an obligatory form of worship in this month is better than the same worship in any other month, and similarly an optional form of worship is better in this month than the same worship in any other month.

Thereafter there are certain good deeds that have been specified above others:

1. Fasting the first 10 days – Hafsa, the wife of the Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) mentioned that, ‘the Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) would never leave the fasting of Ashoora (the 10th of Muharram), Al-Ashr (the first 10 days of this month, excluding Eid) and three days of every month.’

2. The praying of the night prayer – Many of the Salaf, including Imaam Ash-Shaafi’ee, would emphasise the night prayer during these days. Sa’eed bin Jubayr would strive much in praying the night prayer in the ten days, to an extent that he would almost go beyond that which he was physically able to do.

3. Dhikr: the remembrance of Allaah –This is in accordance with the following verse:
{…and make mention of the name of Allaah throughout the appointed days…}
‘The appointed days’ refer to the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.
The Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) also said,
there are no other days more greater with Allaah and no other days wherein worship is more beloved to Allaah than these ten days, so increase in your remembrance of Allaah by making Tahleel (saying Laa ilaaha illa Allaah), Takbeer (saying Allaah Akbar) and Tahmeed (saying Alhamdulillaah)

4. In general all other good deeds –

[mabdullah]

Takbeer of Dhu'l-Hijjah


'Abd Allah ibn 'Umar رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

ما من أيام أعظم عند الله ولا أحب إليه العمل فيهن من هذه الأيام العشر ، فأكثروا فيهن من التهليل والتكبير والتحميد

"There are no days greater with Allah and more beloved to perform (good) deeds therein, than on these ten days, so recite much Tahleel (saying Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah), and Takbeer (saying Allaahu akbar) and Tahmeed (saying al-hamdu Lillaah)."
[Musnad Ahmad, 7/224]

It is from the recommended Sunnah to become habitual in reciting the takbeer at any time during the first ten days of Dhu'l-Hijjah (and all the days of Tashreeq),

beginning from the onset of the month of Dhu'l-Hijjah, until the end of the days of al-Tashreeq, when the sun has set on the thirteenth day of Dhul-Hijjah.

Revive this Sunnah by making your takbeer audible during all of the first ten days of Dhu'l-Hijjah.

To show magnificence towards it, in your masajid, homes, roads, markets etc. and not to limit any good deeds on these days, but rather work towards increased wholesome goodness. Ibn 'Umar and Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to go out to the market-place on first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, reciting Takbeer, and the people used to recite Takbeer because of their Takbeer. 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab and his son (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to recite Takbeer during the days of Mina in the mosque and in the camps, and they would raise their voices until Mina echoed with their Takbeer. It was narrated that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and a group of the Sahabah used to recite Takbeer following each of the five prayers from Fajr on the day of 'Arafah until 'Asr on the thirteenth day of Dhu’l-Hijjah. For those who were not on Hajj...

Also Refer to:
http://islamqa.com/en/10508
http://islamqa.com/en/ref/36627
http://www.islamweb.net/ahajj/index....icle&id=136204

[mabdullah]

Thirty and ten:

"And We made an appointment with Moses for thirty nights and perfected them by [the addition of] ten; so the term of his Lord was completed as forty nights." [7:142]

Most of the scholars are of the opinion that "thirty" refers to Thul-Qi'dah and that 'ten" refers to the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah.

Thus, the appointment would be on the day of Nahr (sacrifice), and it is on this day that Moosa, may Allaah exalt his mention, spoke to Allaah,

and it is on this day that Allaah completed and perfected the religion of Muhammad ﷺ. (Ibn Katheer)

الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ

وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِى

وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الأِسْلاَمَ دِيناً

This day, I have perfected your religion for you,

completed My favor upon you,
and have chosen for you Islam as your religion

(surah Maidah)


...

[mabdullah]

The Messenger of Allāh صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ said:
“The best supplication is the one made on the Day of Arafah. The best thing ever said by me and the previous prophets is:
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ ، وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ ، وهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
"There is no deity worthy of worship in truth other than Allāh, who is alone, having no partner or associate. His is the dominion, and to Him belongs all praise. He has power over all everything, All-Capable.”
Saheeh at-Tirmidhi 3585 | Shaykh al-Albāni رحمه الله | Hasan
Saheeh al-Jāmi' 3274 | Shaykh al-Albāni رحمه الله | Hasan