If you are not amongst those, who by Allah’s grace have been able to attend this great act of worship, then do not despair!!

The first ten days of the sacred month of Dhul-Hijjah represents a great opportunity to invest in the way of good deeds.

Narrated Ibn Abbas: The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:  “No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on the first ten days of Dhul-Hijja”.  Then some of the companions of the Prophet, pbuh, asked:  “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 to any of these things. (Al-Bukhari)

Even, by just abstaining from cutting one’s hair or clipping one’s nails during these days is an act of Sunnah and, Insha-Allah, will be rewarded accordingly.  May Allah help us to be amongst those who make the most of those blessed days?  Being a pilgrim or otherwise.  Ameen

SUPERIORITY OF DOING GOOD DEEDS ON THE FIRST TEN DAYS OF DHUL-HIJJA

          Every Muslim is recommended to exploit the superiority of these days by increasing his practice of all sort of good deeds, such as Nafl prayers, donations, reciting Qur’an, Dhikr (remembrance of Allah), fasting, etc., Islam emphasizes particularly these days, on the following actions.

1.   Performing Hajj and Umra and this is the best deed that can be done on those days. The prophet (SAS) said: ”Al Hajj Al-Mabrour has no reward but Jannah” ( Bukhari and Muslim)

2.   Fasting the day of Arafah for those who are not in Hajj, as it expiates the sins of two years, the year that passed and the year that follows. As for the day of Arafah, where all the pilgrims gather in that very special place, “the Mount of Arafat”, hoping that they might be amongst those who will be saved from the grueling punishment of Hellfire, The mother of the Faithful “Aisha (ra) reported that she heard the Messenger of Allah (sws) saying: “There is no day when Allah sets free more servants from hell than the day of “Arafah”.Those who are not performing Hajj, can also share the blessings of this day through fasting; the Prophet, (pbuh), said:  “Observing the fast on the day of ‘Arafah amends the sins (committed during the past year and the subsequent one”.  (Muslim)  

3.  The Takbeer (saying Allahu-Akbar).  Ibn Omar and Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with them, used to go to the market saying Takbeer during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijja and the people would say after them.  It is recommended to say Takbeer after daily Jamaa’s prayers starting from Fajr prayer of the day of Arafah (the 9^th) to ‘Aser prayer on the last day of Al Tashreeq (the 13^th).

4.   Attending the Eid prayer on the 10^th day and listening to the khutba afterwards.