Virtues Of The First 10 Days Of Dhul Hujja

Main Topic

This discourse highlights the immense spiritual virtues and blessings of the first ten days and nights of Dhul Hijjah, urging Muslims to maximize good deeds, fast, perform Qurbani, and strengthen their faith through trials.

Key Lessons

• Virtue of Dhul Hijjah: Allah Ta'ala has given special distinction and virtue to specific times, places, and people. The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are among the most sacred times in the Islamic calendar.
• Significance of Fasting and Qiyam: Fasting on any of the first nine days carries the reward of fasting a full year (with the Day of Arafah carrying even higher forgiveness), while worshipping during its nights equals the reward of worshipping on Laylatul Qadr.
• Historical Precedent: The extra ten days added to Prophet Musa's (A.S.) thirty-day fast on Mount Tur correspond to the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, after which he was granted the Torah.
• Purpose of Trials: Worldly tests and changing conditions (halat) serve to evaluate a believer's true Iman and Yaqeen. If trials bring a person closer to Allah, they are a mercy in disguise.

Quranic/Hadith References

• Surah Al-Fajr (89:1-3): "Wal-fajr. Wal-ayalin ashr. Wal-shaf'i wal-watr." - Swearing by the dawn, the ten nights (first ten of Dhul Hijjah), and the even and odd days (Eid al-Adha and the Day of Arafah).
• Surah Al-A'raf (7:142): "And We appointed for Musa thirty nights and completed them with ten..."
• Hadith on Dhul Hijjah: Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) stated that there are no days in which good deeds and worship are more beloved to Allah Ta'ala than the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.

Practical Advice

• Search for the Moon: Be attentive to the lunar calendar and look for the Dhul Hijjah crescent.
• Engage in Nawafil: Increase voluntary prayers, Quran recitation, and Zikr during both the days and nights of Dhul Hijjah.
• Fast the Nine Days: Endeavor to fast during the first nine days, especially on the 9th day (Day of Arafah).
• Sunnah Rules for Qurbani: Refrain from cutting hair and clipping nails from the sighting of the Dhul Hijjah moon until after your Qurbani animal is slaughtered.
• Perform Personal/Family Qurbani: Execute Qurbani at home with family rather than relying solely on automated or hands-off arrangements where possible.