Zill-Hijjah

Virtues of Fasting and doing other Good Deeds in the First Ten Days of Zil Hijjah


Narrated Ibn Abbas

The Prophet said, “No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Zil Hijjah).” Then some companions of the Prophet said, “Not even Jihad?” He replied, “Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah’s sake) and does not return with any of those things.”


1. Allah (swt) swears an oath by them, and swearing an oath by something is indicative of its importance and great benefit.


2. The Prophet (Pbuh) testified that these are the best days of this world, and encouraged people to do righteous deeds on these days.

Among the good deeds which the Muslim should strive to do during the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah are:


Fasting

It is Sunnah to fast on the ninth day of Zill-Hijjah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) urged us to do good deeds during this time, and fasting is one of the best of deeds.


Takbeer

It is Sunnah to say Takbeer (“Allahu akbar”), Tahmeed (“Al-hamdu Lillaah”), Tahleel (“La ilaha ill-Allah”) and Tasbeeh (“Subhaan Allah”) during the first ten days of Zil-Hijjah, and to say it loudly in the mosque, the home, the street and every place where it is permitted to remember Allah and mention His name out loud, as an act of worship and as a proclamation of the greatness of Allah, may He be exalted. Men should recite these phrases out loud, and women should recite them quietly.


Doing more good deeds in general

Because good deeds are loved by Allah and will bring a great reward from Him. Whoever is not able to go to Hajj should occupy himself at this blessed time by worshipping Allah, praying (salaat), reading Qur’an, remembering Allah, making supplication (du’aa’), giving charity, honouring his parents, upholding the ties of kinship, enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil, and other good deeds and acts of worship.


Sacrifice

One of the good deeds that will bring a person closer to Allah during these ten days is offering a sacrifice, by choosing a high-quality animal and fattening it, spending money for the sake of Allah.


Sincere repentance

One of the most important things to do during these ten days is to repent sincerely to Allah and to give up all kinds of disobedience and sin.


Repentance

Repentance means coming back to Allah and foregoing all the deeds, open and secret, that He dislikes, out of regret for what has passed, giving it up immediately and being determined never to return to it, but to adhere firmly to the Truth by doing what Allah loves.


There is much to be gained, so make the most of the opportunity afforded by these invaluable and irreplaceable ten days. Hasten to do good works, before death strikes, before one can regret one’s negligence and failure to act, before one is asked to return to a place where no prayers will be answered, before death intervenes between the hopeful one and the things he hopes for, before you are trapped with your deeds in the grave.

• To rise early in the morning.
• To bathe.
• To wear one’s best garments.
• To pronounce takbir loudly while going towards the Eidgah.


Allah-u Akbar, Allah-u Akbar
Allah is greatest Allah is greatest
La-Ilaha ill-Allah
There is no God but Allah
wa-Allah-u Akbar, Allah-u Akbar
and Allah is greatest Allah is greatest
wa-lillah-il-hamd
and all praise is for Allah.

• To perform two rakahs Eid ul Adha, waajib prayer in the Eidgah.

• After prayers to listen to the sermon is sunnah.

• To return after prayers and do the sacrifice (Qurbani).

• To distribute the meat of the sacrifice among the poor, friends, relatives and neighbours and also to cook and eat the meat of sacrifice.


Takbeer-e-Tashreek

The Takbeer… Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. Laa ilaaha illallaahu wallaahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar walillaahil hamd “Allah is most great. Allah is most great. There is no Deity besides Allah and Allah is most Great. Allah is most Great and Verily all praises are for Allah.”


It is waajib to recite this Takbeer audibly once after every Fard salaat from the morning of the ninth of Dhul Hijjah (Day of Arafah) till the Asr salaat of the thirteenth of Dhul Hijjah. One who performs salaat with the congregation and the one who performs it alone too, should recite the Takbeer. It is waajib on both men and women. Women should not say the Takbeer loudly, but softly. It is necessary for men to recite the Takbeer in a moderately loud voice. Many people are not mindful of this: either they read it softly or do not read it at all.

Abu Huraira reported, “The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alaihi wa salam (may Allah’s blessings be upon him), said ‘The nearest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating himself, so make supplication (in this state).” (Muslim)


In every unit of salaah that we perform, we come as close as we can to Allah (through prostration), and it is at this time we glorify Him with the words “Subhana Rabbiy al-A’la” (Glory to my Lord, the Most High). The prophet sallallahu alaihi wa salam said, ‘I have prohibited you from reciting (Qur’an) while bowing or prostrating. During the bowing, glorify the Lord. During your prostrations, strive your hardest in making supplications. Most likely, you will be listened to.’ (Muslim and Ahmed)


The prophet sallallahu alaihi wa salam, is known to have made various supplications while performing sujud (prostrations), including the following:


“O Allah, to you have I prostrated, in You I have believed, and to You I have submitted. I have placed my face to the One who created me and formed me in the best of forms. He is one who gave it hearing and sight. Blessed be Allah, the Best of the Creators.” (Muslim and Ahmed)


“O Allah, forgive all of my sins, the small and large, the first and last, the public and private.” (Muslim and Abu Dawud)


“O Lord, give my soul God-consciousness and purify it, for you are the best of those who purify. You are its Guardian and Protector.” (Ahmed)


During these intense moments of worship, it is both incorrect and self-defeating to perform them too quickly. Abu Hurairah narrated, ‘The prophet sallallahi alaihi wa salam, prohibited us from…. pecking like a rooster,’ referring to the act of prostrating very fast (Ahmed). Rather it is obligatory that one attain ‘calmness’ in his sujud, allowing his bones to settle into place each time he prostrates.