The Ten Days of Dhu’l Hijja

[Mujib]

The Ten Days of Dhu’l Hijja: Merits & Striving in Spiritual Works:

The scholars have concured that it is recommended to fast during the first nine days of Dhu’l Hijja. Note, however, that the tenth day is the day of Eid, and is prohibitively disliked and sinful to fast this day. [Buhuti, Kashshaf al-Qina`; Nawawi,Majmu`; Fatawa Hindiyya; Haskafi, Durr al-Mukhtar; Dardir,al-Sharh al-Saghir]

Of these, it is particularly recommended to fast the Day of `Arafah (9th of Dhu’l Hijjah), even for the one on Hajj in the Hanafi school, if it does not weaken the pilgrim from spending the day busy in worship. [Haskafi, Durr; Kasani, Bada’i`]

[Mujib]

Advice: The First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah:

We are about to enter the blessed month of Dhu`l-Hijjah. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us that there are no days in which righteous actions are more beloved to Allah than the first ten days of this month.[1] For that reason some scholars have ruled that these days are better than the final ten days of Ramadan, although the nights of Ramadan are superior to these nights. Allah Himself swears by “the Ten Nights” in Surat al-Fajr, which is sufficient evidence of their greatness. Most of the scholars say that these are the first ten nights (and days) of Dhu’l-Hijjah.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said that fasting one of these days is equal to the reward of fasting for a whole year and standing in one of these nights in prayer is equal to standing in prayer on Laylat al-Qadr.[2] It has also been narrated that the reward for actions in these days is multiplied seven hundred times.

This is not to mention the Day of Arafat (the 9th of Dhu’l-Hijja) which is the greatest day of the year. Fasting that day wipes out the sins of the previous year and the year to come.