Among the great seasons of worship are the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah

Among the great seasons of worship are the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, which Allah (Allah Subhanahu-wa-Taala) has favored over other days. It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (radi-allahu-anhu) that the Prophet (SAW) said: “There are no days on which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” They said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah?” He said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah, unless a man goes out himself for jihad taking his wealth with him and does not come back with anything.

So the Muslim should start these days with sincere repentance to Allah (Allah Subhanahu-wa-Taala), then he should do a lot of righteous deeds in general, then he should pay attention to doing the following deeds:

1. Fasting
2 – Reciting tahmeed, tahleel and takbeer abundantly: It is Sunnah to recite takbeer (saying Allaahu akbar (Allah is most great)), tahmeed (saying al-hamdu Lillah (praise be to Allah)), tahleel (saying Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah (There is no god but Allah)) and tasbeeh (saying Subhaan-Allah (Glory be to Allah)), during the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, saying these words out loud in the mosques, homes, streets and every place in which it is permissible to remember Allah (Allah Subhanahu-wa-Taala), to perform this act of worship openly and proclaim the greatness of Allah (Allah Subhanahu-wa-Taala).

Men should recite out loud and women should recite quietly.Allah says: “That they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allah on known days over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals. So eat of them and feed the miserable and poor” [al-Hajj 22:28]

The majority are of the view that the “appointed days” are the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, because it was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (MALE radi-allahu-anhu) that the appointed days are the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah.

It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar (radi-allahu-anhu) that the Prophet (SAW) said: “There are no days that are greater before Allah or in which good deeds are more beloved to Him, than these ten days, so recite a great deal of tahleel, takbeer and tahmeed during them.” The takbeer is as follows: Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, Allaahu akbar, wa Lillaah il-hamd (Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, there is no god but Allah; Allah is Most Great and to Allah be praise).

3 – Doing Hajj and ‘Umrah
4 – Udhiyah (sacrifice) :One of the righteous deeds that bring a person closer to Allah in these ten days is to slaughter the sacrifice and to look for a good, fat animal and to spend money on it for the sake of Allah (Allah Subhanahu-wa-Taala).

Let us hasten to make the most of these great days, before the negligent regrets what he did, and before he asks to go back and receives no response.