The Types of Deeds in These Ten Days
First: The
performance of Hajj and 'Umrah, and these are the best of deeds that
may be done. And what indicates their superiority are a number of
authentic narrations, one of which is the saying of the Messenger (ﷺ):
"Performance
of Umrah is an expiation of the sins committed between it and the
previous 'Umrah, and the reward of the Hajj which is accepted by Allaah,
the Most High, is nothing except Paradise." [Bukhaaree and Muslim].
Second: Fasting
during these days - as many of them as may be easy for one - especially
the Day of 'Arafah. There is no doubt that the act of fasting is one of
the best deeds, and it is from what Allaah, the Most High, has chosen
for Himself, as in the Hadeeth Qudsee:
"Fasting is for
Me, and it is I who give reward for it. Verily, someone gives up his
sexual passion, his food and his drink for my sake..." [Bukhaaree, Muslim, Maalik, Tirmidhee, Nasaa'ee and Ibn Maajah]
Also, from Abu Sa'eed al-Khudree (radiyallaahu anhu), who said that the Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) said:
"No
servant (of Allaah, the Most High) fasts one day in the way of Allaah,
except that Allaah, the Most High, removes his face from the fire
because of it (the distance of travelling) seventy years."[narrated by Bukhaaree and Muslim]
Muslim narrates from Abu Qataadah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Fasting
the Day of Arafah will be credited with Allaah by forgiving one's
(minor) sins of the previous year and the following year."
Third: at-Takbeer
(saying: Allaahu-Akbar) and adh-Dhikr (remembrance of Allaah, the Most
High) in these days, because of the Saying of Allaah in Soorah al-Hajj
verse 28: "...And mention the name of Allaah on the appointed Days..."
This
has been explained to mean the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, and the
scholars consider it desirable to increase adh-Dhikr (remembrance of
Allaah Most High) in these days, because of the Hadeeth of Ibn Umar
(radhi-yallaahu anhumaa) narrated by Ahmad:
"....so increase in these days the Tahleel and Takbeer and Tahmeed."
Bukhaaree stated about Ibn 'Umar and Abu Hurayrah (radhi-yallaahu 'anhumaa) that:
"...the
two of them used to go out to the market place during the ten days of
Dhul-Hijjah saying Allaahu-Akbar, causing the people to also say it."
Ishaaq narrates from the scholars of the Taabi'een that in these ten days they used to say:
Allaahu-Akbar, Allaahu-Akbar; Laa-ilaaha-ill-Allaah; Wallaahu-Akbar, Allaahu-Akbar; Wa-lillaahil-hamd.
It
is a beloved act to raise the voice when saying the Takbeer in the
markets, the houses, the streets, the masjids and other places, because
of the Saying of Allaah, the Most High, in Soorah al-Hajj verse 37: "...that you may magnify Allaah for His Guidance to you..."
The
saying of Takbeer in congregation, i.e., everyone pronouncing the
Takbeer with one voice, is not permissible since this has not been
reported to us from the early generations of the Sahaabah and those who
followed their ways.
Verily the sunnah is for everyone to say the
Takbeer individually. And this is applicable for all Dhikr and
supplications, except if the person doesn't know what to say. In that
case he may repeat after someone else until he learns (the words to be
said). It is also permissible to make Dhikr with all the different
wording of Takbeer (Allaahu-Akbar) and Tahmeed (al-hamdu-lillaah) and
Tasbeeh (Subhaan-Allaah), and the rest of the Islaamic legislated
supplications from the Qur'aan and Sunnah.
Fourth: at-Tawbah
(repentance) and abstaining from disobedience and all types of sins,
since forgiveness and mercy are the results of deeds.
Disobedience
is the cause of being far away (from Allaah, the Most High) while
obedience is the cause of being near to Allaah, the Most High, and His
love.
In the Hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (radiyallaahu anhu), he said that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:
"Verily
Allaah has a sense of Ghayrah (honor, prestige; anger over its
violation), and Allaah's sense of Ghayrah is provoked when a person does
that which Allaah has made prohibited." [Bukhaaree and Muslim).
Fifth: Doing
plenty of voluntary (Nafl) righteous deeds of worship like prayer,
charity, Jihaad, reading the Qur'aan, commanding what is good and
forbidding what is evil, and other deeds like this.. Verily they are of
those deeds which are multiplied in these days. Because, even those
deeds which are less preferred, in these days are superior and more
beloved to Allaah than superior deeds done at other times - even the
Jihaad which is one of the most superior of all deeds, except in the
case of one whose horse is killed and his blood is spilled.
Sixth: It
is legislated in these days to make at-Takbeer al-Mutlaq (saying Allahu
Akbar unrestricted to specific times or form) at all times of night and
day until the time of the `Eed Prayer. Also, at-Takbeer al-Muqayyid
(restricted to specific times and done in a particular manner) is
legislated, and it is done after the (five) obligatory prayers which are
performed in congregation. This begins from Dawn (Fajr) on the Day of
'Arafah (the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah) for those not performing Hajj, and from
Noon (Dhur) on the Day of Sacrifice (10th of Dhul-Hijjah) for those
performing Hajj (pilgrims); and it continues until 'Asr prayer on the
last day of the days of Tashreeq (13th of Dhul-Hijjah).
Seventh: The
slaughtering of a sacrificial animal (Adhiyyah) is also legislated for
the Day of Sacrifice (10th day) and the Days of Tashreeq (11th, 12th and
13th). This is the Sunnah of our father Ibraheem (alayhis-salaam) -
from when Allaah, the Most High, redeemed his son by the great sacrifice
of an animal in his place. It is authenticated that the Prophet (ﷺ)
slaughtered two horned rams, black and white in color, and that he
slaughtered them with his own hands, mentioning the name of Allaah Most
High (saying Bismillaah), said Takbeer (Allaahu-Akbar), and placed his
foot on their sides (while slaughtering them).. [Reported in Bukhaaree
and Muslim]
Eighth: Sahih Muslim and others narrate from Umm Salamah (radhiyallaahu anhaa) that the Prophet Muhammad ( ﷺ) said: "If
you see the Hilaal (new moon) of Dhul-Hijjah, and any one of you wants
to make a sacrifice, then he should not cut (anything) from his hair and
his nails." and in one narration he said: "....then he should not cut anything from his hair, nor from his nails, until he performs the sacrifice."
Perhaps
this is because of the similarity with the one who is bringing a
sacrificial animal for slaughter (in Hajj). As Allaah Most High said: "...and do not shave your heads until the Hadee (sacrifice) reaches the place of sacrifice..." [Soorah al-Baqarah 2:196]
The
apparent meaning of this prohibition is that it is particularly for the
one whom the sacrifice is for, and does not include the wife or
children, unless there is an individual sacrifice for one of them. There
is no harm in washing the head, or scratching it, even if some hairs
may fall out.
Ninth: It is incumbent for the Muslim
(who is not making Hajj) to make every effort to perform the `Eed Prayer
wherever it is performed, and to be present for the Khutbah and
benefit. He must know the wisdom behind the legislation of this `Eed
celebration. It is a day of thankfulness and performing deeds of
righteousness. So, he must not make it a day of wildness, pride and
vanity.
He should not make it a season of disobedience and
increase in the forbidden things like music and singing, uncontrolled
amusement, intoxicants and the like - those things which could cause the
cancellation of the good deeds done in these ten days of the month of
Dhul-Hijjah.
Tenth: After what has been mentioned,
it is fitting that every Muslim, male and female, take advantage of
these days by obeying Allaah, Most High, remembering Him, thanking Him,
fulfilling all the obligatory duties, and staying far away from the
prohibited things. He must take full advantage of this season, and the
open display of Allaah's gifts to attain the pleasure of his Lord.
Surely,
Allaah, the Most High, is the One who grants success, and He is the
Guide to the Straight Path. And may the Blessings and Peace of Allaah,
the Most High, be upon Muhammad, his family and all his companions.
