First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah: Seize the Moment

The season of Hajj is upon us as the month of Dhul-Hijjah commences. The first ten days of this month are priceless and are a golden opportunity for Muslims to seek the pleasure of Allah Almighty and receive innumerable blessings.

These days are so significant that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said;

No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these days. And when his companions asked, "O Messenger of Allah, not even jihad in the way of Allah?" Prophet Muhammad replied, Not even jihad, except for the man who puts his life and wealth in danger returns with neither of them. (Muslim)

These ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are a chance for Muslims to seek forgiveness from Allah Almighty and become closer to their Creator. And while the extra worship is Sunnah, these precious days should not be squandered or wasted in idleness. These days should be seized like an overripe mango ready to burst from a tree. Allah has bestowed upon mankind so many opportunities to achieve salvation and success in this world as well as the next.

Unfortunately, the hustle and bustle of daily life costs many Muslims dearly as they sometimes put worldly preoccupations above the sincere worship of Allah Almighty.

Claim the prize of Dhul-Hijjah and spend these ten days in devout worship of Allah Almighty.

There are several ways to make every hour, minute and second of the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah count.

1- Fasting – It was not long ago that the month of Ramadan bid farewell. Yet once again Muslims have an excellent opportunity to engage in fasting for their own benefit. Prophet Muhammad fasted during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, especially on the day of Arafat. It was narrated by Hafsah, Prophet Muhammad's wife, that;
The Prophet used to fast on the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah and the day of Ashura, and three days each month, the first Monday of the month and two Thursdays. (Abu Dawud)

Encourage your family members to fast with you and create special meals to share with your Muslim friends and neighbors. Remember that good deeds are multiplied during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah so try to perform as many as you can.

2- Remembrance of Allah – The Muslim's tongue should always be wet with the remembrance of his Cherisher and Sustainer. No matter if you are driving down the highway or standing in line at the grocery store, keep Allah Almighty in your thoughts as much as you can. Recite the takbir (Allahu Akbar), tahmid (Alhamdulillah) and tahil (la illaha illa Allah) as often as possible.

Prophet Muhammad said;

There are no days that are greater before Allah or in which good deeds are more beloved to Him, than these ten days, so recite a great deal of tahlil, takbir and tahmid during them. (Ahmad)

When remembering Allah at the mosque, home or even the office men should speak aloud in a strong voice while women should do the opposite, thus reciting in a quiet voice. Engage the tiniest Muslims in your home in the remembrance of Allah Almighty and encourage them to recite alongside you.

3-Performing the Umra or Hajj – What better place to worship Allah Almighty than at His very own house of worship in the City of Makkah? If you can afford it, why not book a flight while there is still time or help someone in need to attend Umrah or Hajj by paying for his or her journey. Remember that the reward for a perfect hajj is no less than Paradise.

4- Udhiyah or (Sacrifice) – The sacrifice of an animal on the Day of Arafat, in remembrance of Prophet Abraham's willingness to slaughter his beloved son Ishmael simply because Allah Almighty ordered him to do so, is one of the most righteous deeds in the sight of Allah.

Spend your money on a quality animal and share the meat with the less fortunate in your community. It's preferable that whoever chooses to fulfill the Sunnah act of sacrificing an animal should not cut his hair or trim his nails during the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah so that he is similar to the Muslims who have donned the Ihram (state of consecration) and are attending hajj.

The ten days of Dhul-Hijjah will be over in a flash. Reach out and seize the moment by increasing your good deeds and acts of worship as much as you can. Forsake your bed and stand in awe of Allah Almighty so that you may reap the countless benefits and immeasurable blessings.

The next ritual is Sa`i, which is walking back and forth seven times between the hillocks named Safa and Marwah. This commemorates the search for water made by Hajar (Hagar) when Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) left her and her infant son Isma`il (peace be upon him) in the desert.

On Dhul-Hijjah 8, pilgrims head to Mina, where they spend the day supplicating Allah. Early the next morning they go to `Arafah (or `Arafat). They spend the day supplicating Allah and begging for His forgiveness. Many stand on the Mount of Mercy to supplicate, though this is not necessary. When the sun sets on the Day of `Arafah, the pilgrims’ sins are forgiven.
After sunset the pilgrims move on to Muzdalifah, where they spend the night and collect pebbles to be used in the next ritual.

The next morning, Dhul-Hijjah 10, is the Day of Sacrifice. Most pilgrims slaughter a sheep or goat, and the meat is distributed to the poor. (Muslims who are not on Hajj also slaughter that day, which is known as `Eid Al-Adha.) The ritual commemorates Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Isma`il (peace be upon them both) and Allah’s provision of a ram as a substitute sacrifice.

But before slaughtering, the pilgrims go to throw pebbles at the stone pillars known as Al-Jamarat. This ritual commemorates Ibrahim’s stoning of Satan when the latter tried to tempt him to disobey Allah. After this, the pilgrims cut or shave their hair (women cut off only a small amount) and return to Makkah to repeat Tawaf and Sa`i. They sleep at Mina and repeat the stoning of the pillars on the next two days. A final Tawaf before leaving Makkah completes the Hajj.

Many pilgrims also go to Madinah before or after Hajj in order to pray in the Prophet’s Mosque and visit his grave, although this visit to Madinah is not necessary.

The above is only a summary. There is some variation in the performance of Hajj, depending on whether the individual pilgrim chooses to also perform `Umrah (often known as the lesser pilgrimage) beforehand and whether this will be while in one prolonged state of ihram or two separate ones for `Umrah and Hajj.

By AElfwine Mischler