Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Brother Burhan,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barkatuh

What is the importance and significance of starting 10 days and 10 night of Dhul hijjah,?

Those who are not doing hajj, what extra effort they should do in this 10 days to get closer and to please Allah (swt)

Jazak Allah Khair to you and your team for sharing such valuable knowledge.

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Answer:

Significance of the ten days of dhul hijja

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: What is the importance and significance of starting 10 days and 10 night of Dhul hijjah,?

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 2.154

Topic: The excellence of good deeds in the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah

Abdullah Ibn Abbas (r.a.) reported that the Prophet (saws) said: "No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these days [meaning the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah]." The companions asked: "O Messenger of Allah (saws), not even jihad in the way of Allah?" He said: "Not even jihad, save for the man who puts his life and wealth in danger [for Allah's sake] and returns with neither of them (ie. he attains martyrdom)."

Related by Bukhari.

Al-Auza'i says that a man from the tribe of Bani Makhzum related from the Prophet (saws) that a (good) deed on one of the ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah) is similar to fighting in the way of Allah, fasting during its days and guarding during its nights, except for him who becomes a martyr."

Abdullah Ibn Umar (r.a.) reported that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "There is no day more honorable in Allah's Sight and no acts more beloved therein to Allah than those in these ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah). So say ‘Tahleel’ ["There is no God but Allah"], ‘Takbir’ [Allah is The Greatest] and ‘Tahmid’ ["All praise is due to Allah"] a lot [in these days]."

Related by Ahmad and Tabarani.

Abu Hurairah (r.a.) reported that the Prophet (saws) said: "There are no days more loved to Allah for you to worship Him therein than the (first) ten days of DhulHijja. Fasting any day during it is equivalent to fasting one year and to offer salatul tahajjud (late-night prayer) during one of its nights is like performing the late night prayer on the night of Qadr.”

Related by Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and al-Baihaqi.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 2419 Narrated by Abu Qatadah

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘I seek from Allah that fasting on the day of Arafah may atone for the sins of the preceding and the coming year.’

Your Question: ….Those who are not doing hajj, what extra effort they should do in this 10 days to get closer and to please Allah (swt)

For those not performing the Hajj pilgrimage, one may observe fasts on the first nine days, engage themselves in the Remembrance of their Lord, substantially increase the declarations of the ‘Tahleel’, ‘Takbeer’ and the ‘Tahmeed’ of their Lord, spend in charity, and miss no opportunity to do any good deed for the Sake of their Lord Most Gracious. Whatever good they do in these blessed then days, they will find a multiple reward for their good deeds in the Presence of their Lord Most Gracious Most Merciful.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan