*Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim* {In the name of Allah most Gracious Most Merciful} Allah says, in Quran: This day, I have

perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islm as your religion. (Al-Maeda-3) Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuh

The First Ten Days of D

By Imran Ayub[1]

Alhamdulilah. Indeed, all praise is due to Allaah. We praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allaah from our souls evil and our wrong doings. He whom Allaah guides, no one can misguide; and he whom He misguides, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no (true) God except Allaah alone without a partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His Abd (servant) and messenger. Introduction Dr. Muhammad al Jibaaly said, Allaah, the Most High, has set numerous blessed occasions around the year, making it always possible for the believers to increase in good deeds, and for the repenters to wipe away their sins. Among these occasions are the first thirteen days of Thul Hijjah days that are full of blessings for both the hajeej (pilgrims) and the residents.[2] Best Days In The World Jaabir bin Abdullaah (may Allaah be pleased with him) narrated that Allaahs Messenger (peace be upon him) said: The best days in the world are the Ten Days.[3] Ibn Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that Allaahs Messenger (peace be upon him) said, No deed is more sublime and rewardable by Allaah, the Most High, than a good deed done during the Ten Days (ending with the day) of Adhaa.[4] Narrated Ibn Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him): The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Thul Hijjah). Then some companions of the Prophet said, Not even Jihaad? He replied, Not even Jihaad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allaah's sake i.e., with his life and property), and does not return with any of those things (i.e., is martyred).[5] Mujaahid (may Allaah have mercy on him) reported, Once the Ten Days started, Saeed bin Jubayr (may Allaah have mercy on him) would exert (in worshipping Allaah) so much that it was almost beyond his capability.[6] Thikr Dr. Muhammad al Jibaaly said, Thikr is keeping Allaah, the Most High, in our mind and praising Him with our tongue. It is the important link between us and our Lord. It is one of the best deeds that we can do; and the more that we do of it, the better. The believer derives

from Thikr a great amount of gratification and enjoyment feeling close to Allaah, the Most High, and nurtured by Him.[7] Ibn Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: No days are greater to Allaah, the Most High, nor are good deeds more beloved by Him during them, than the Ten Days. So increase tasbeeh, tahmeed, takbeer, and tahleel during these days.[8] Tasbeeh Subhaan Allaah Exalted is Allaah Tahmeed Al hamdu li llaah Praise be to Allaah Takbeer Allaahu akbar Allaah is greater than all else Tahleel Laa ilaaha illallaah There is no (true) god but Allaah Fasting Fasting is recommended in first nine days. However, it is not obligatory. One of the Prophets (peace be upon him) wives reported: Allaahs Messenger (peace be upon him) used to fast the (first) nine days of Thul Hijjah, the day of Aashooraa (the tenth of al Muharram), and three days of each month.[9] Aaishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) narrated: I did not see the Prophet (peace be upon him) fasting at all during the ten (Ashr).[10] Dr. Muhammad al Jibaaly said, The 9th of Thul Hijjah is called the Day of Arafah because the pilgrims (during Hajj) stand in worship on the Mountain of Arafah.[11] It was Narrated from Aboo Qataadah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that a man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: "How do you fast?" The Messenger of Allaah (peace be upon him) got angry at his words. When 'Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) saw that he was angry, he said: "We are well pleased with Allaah as our Lord, with Islaam as our Religion, and with Muhammad as our Prophet; We seek refuge with Allaah from the wrath of Allaah and from the wrath His Messenger. 'Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) started repeating these words until his anger went away, then Umar said: "O Messenger of Allaah, what about one who fasts all the time? He said: "He has neither fasted nor broken the fast." Umar said: "What about the one who fasts for two days and breaks his fast for one day?" He said: "Is anyone able to do that?" He said: "What about one who fasts one day and break his fast one day? He said: "This is the fast of Daawood (peace be upon him)." He ('Umar) said, "What about one who fasts one day and breaks his fast for two days?" He said: "I wish that I were able to do that." Then the Messenger of Allaah (peace be upon him) said, "Three days of each month and one Ramadaan to the next, that is like fasting for an entire lifetime. Fasting on the day of 'Arafah, I ask Allaah that it may expiate for (the sins of) the year that comes before it, and the year that comes after it. And fasting the Day of 'Aashooraa', I ask Allaah that it may expiate for (the sins of) the year that comes before it."[12] Muhammad ibn Ismaaeel as-Sanaanee commented, Just imagine, it expiates sins from the year following and the year preceding. The atonement for what has not yet occurred, in this case - sins of the coming year, could be considered problematic. I answer it by pointing out that the intent of it is that the person will be blessed / guided to not do those sins and it was called atonement in order for it to match the treatment of past sins, or it meant that if he falls into sin he would be guided to do what would atone for it.[13] Therefore, its highly recommended on the Day of Arafah. This is the day before Eed, inshaAllaah.

A Commonly Quoted Weak Hadeeth Aboo Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: There are no days more beloved to Allaah that He be worshipped in them than the ten of Thul Hijjah, fasting every day of them is the equivalent of fasting a year, and standing every night of them (in prayer) is the equivalent of standing on the Night of Qadr.[14] And It is Only Allaah Who grants success. May Allaah Exalt the mention of His slave and Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him), and render him, his household and companion safe from Evil. References Festivals and Celebrations, p. 155, by Dr. Muhammad al Jibaaly, al Kitaab and as Sunnah Publishing, 2nd Edition, 2005 Jaami at Tirmithee, with commentary by Haafiz Aboo Taahir Zubayr Alee Zai, Darussalam Publishers, [English Translation], 2007 Saheeh Bukhaari, Darussalam Publishers, [English Translation], 1997 Saheeh Muslim, Darussalam Publishers, [English Translation], 2007 [1] Based primarily on Chapter 8 of Dr. Muhammad al Jibaalys excellent book: Festivals and Celebrations [2] Festivals and Celebrations, p. 155 [3] Recorded by Ibn Hibaan and al Bazzaar. Verified to be Saheeh (authentic) by Sheikh al Albaanee in Saheeh ul Jaami Number 1,113 and Saheeh ut Targheeb wat Tarheeb, Number 1,150; as quoted in Festivals and Celebrations, p. 155 [4] Recorded by ad -Daarimee and al Bayhaqee. Verified to be Hasan (good) by Sheikh al Albaanee in Saheeh ut Targheeb wat Tarheeb, Number 1,148; as quoted in Festivals and Celebrations, p. 157 [5] Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 2, Book 13, Hadeeth Number 969, p. 65; Jaami at Tirmithee, Volume 2, Book 6, Hadeeth Number 757, p. 192 193; Haafiz Aboo Taahir Zubayr Alee Zai classed the Hadeeth as Saheeh [6] Recorded by al Bayhaqee. Verified to be Hasan by Sheikh al Albaanee in Irwaa ul Ghaleel, Number 890; as quoted in Festivals and Celebrations, p. 157 [7] Festivals and Celebrations, p. 158 [8] Recorded by Ahmad and at Tahaawee. Verified to be Hasan by Sheikh al Albaanee in Irwaa ul - Ghaleel, Number 890; as quoted in Festivals and Celebrations, p. 159 [9] Sunan Aboo Daawood, Sunan an Nasaaee, and others. Verified to be Saheeh by Sheikh al Albaanee in Saheeh Sunan Abee Daawood, Number 2,106; as quoted in Festivals and Celebrations, p. 159 160 [10] Jaami at Tirmithee, Volume 2, Book 6, Hadeeth Number 756, p. 191; Haafiz Aboo Taahir Zubayr Alee Zai classed the Hadeeth as Saheeh [11] Festivals And Celebrations, p. 160 [12] Saheeh Muslim, Volume 2, Book 13, Number 2,746, p. 242 - 243 [13] Subulus-Salaam, Commentary of Haafiz Ibn Hajar al- Asqalaanees Buloogh alMaraam, as quoted in Fiqh of Fasting 101, Module 5, p. 3 4, by Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips, www.islamiconlineuniversity.com [14] Jaami at Tirmithee, Volume 2, Book 6, Hadeeth Number 758, p. 193. Imaam Tirmithee said, This Hadeeth is Ghareeb (unfamiliar). It contains a narrator called Nahhaas bin Qahm, who has been criticised, by Yahya bin Saeed, due to his weak memory. It was classed as Daeef (weak) by Haafiz Aboo Taahir Zubayr Alee Zai. Sheikh al Albaanee also classed it as Daeef in al Mishkaat, Number 1,416; as quoted in Festivals and Celebrations, p. 156