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The month of Dhul Hijjah is a very sacred month and its first ten days are extremely sacred and honoured days, which hold immense virtue and opportunity for reward. Allah Ta’ala mentions these days in the Holy Qur’an and even takes an oath by these days. Allah Ta’ala states,
وَالْفَجْرِط وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍط
“By the dawn and by the ten nights.” {Surah 89:1-2}
The dawn refers to the dawn of the first of Muharram or the first of Dhul Hijjah, which is connected to the ten sacred nights, or the morning of Eid-ul-Adha. It is narrated by Hazrat Ibn Abbas (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) that the ten nights refer to the first ten nights of Dhul Hijjah. {Tafseer Khazāin-ul-Irfān}
Allah Ta’ala further states in the Holy Qur’an with regard to these sacred ten days,
وَيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللّٰهِ فِىْ اَيَّامٍ مَّعْلُوْمٰتٍ ط
“And mention the name of Allah on the known days.” {Surah 22:28}
The known days in this verse refer to the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah as narrated by Hazrat Ali, Hazrat Ibn Abbas, Hazrat Hasan and Hazrat Qatadah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anhum). {Tafseer Khazāin-ul-Irfān}
We are therefore commanded by Allah Ta’ala to honour these days by remembering Him and mentioning His name therein. Furthermore, Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has stated, “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah Ta’ala than these ten days.” {Bukhari Shareef}
Hazrat Sayyidah Aisha Siddiqah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) has narrated that a young boy, who used to listen to the Ahadith of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), kept the fast when the moon for Dhul Hijjah was sighted. When Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) received this news he called for him and asked, “Who encouraged you to this idea that you kept the fast?” He replied, “Ya Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)! May my mother and my father be sacrificed upon you! These are the days of Hajj and Qurbani, maybe that Allah Ta’ala may also include me in their Duas.” Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied, “The reward for every day that you fast is equivalent to emancipating a hundred slaves, sacrificing a hundred camels and giving a hundred horses in the path of Allah Ta’ala. When it will be the day of the eighth of Dhul Hijjah then for the fast of that day you will attain the reward equivalent to emancipating a thousand slaves, sacrificing a thousand camels and giving a thousand horses in the path of Allah Ta’ala. When it will be the day of the ninth of Dhul Hijjah then for the fast of that day you will attain the reward equivalent to emancipating two thousand slaves, sacrificing two thousand camels and giving two thousand horses in the path of Allah Ta’ala. {Mukāshifat-ul-Quloob}
Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has stated that the fast of the ninth of Dhul Hijjah is equivalent to two years of fasts and the fast of Ashura is equivalent to one year of fasts. Allah Ta’ala states in the Holy Qur’an,
وَوٰعَدْنَا مُوْسٰى ثَلٰثِيْنَ لَيْلَةً وَّاَتْمَمْنَاهَا بِعَشْرٍط
“And We made a promise of thirty nights for Moosa and completed it by adding ten to them.” {Surah 7:142}
The commentators have stated under the commentary of the above-mentioned verse that by the ten nights is meant the first ten nights of Dhul Hijjah. {Ibid}
It is narrated by Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) that Allah Ta’ala has chosen four days from all of the days, four months from all of the months and four women from all of the women; four men will be the first to enter into Jannah and Jannah yearns for four men.
From the days, the first is the day of Jumuah. In it there is such a moment that when a servant asks Allah Ta’ala during that moment for any bounty of this world or the Hereafter, then Allah Ta’ala grants it to him. The second is the ninth of Dhul Hijjah, the day of ‘Arafah. When it is the day of ‘Arafah Allah Ta’ala glories among the angels and states, “O Angels! Look at My servants, who have presented themselves with unkempt hair, dusty faces, spending their wealth and toiling their bodies. Bear witness that I have forgiven them. The third is the day of Sacrifice. When it is the day of Sacrifice and the servant seeks the nearness of Allah Ta’ala through sacrifice, then as the first drop of blood of the sacrifice falls onto the ground, all the sins of that servant become expiated. The fourth is the day of Eid-ul-Fitr. When the servants of Allah Ta’ala keep the fasts of the month of Ramadaan and come out to read the Eid Namaaz then Allah Ta’ala says to the angels, “Every labourer seeks his remuneration. My servants have kept the fasts throughout the month and now they have come for Eid and seek their reward. I make you witness that I have forgiven them.” And a caller then calls out, “O Ummah of Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)! Return (to your homes), Allah Ta’ala has changed your sins into good deeds.”
The four chosen months are Rajab Al-Murajjab, Dhul Qa’dah, Dhul Hijjah and Muharram Al-Harām. The four chosen women are Mariam bint Imran, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, who was the first person to bring Imān upon Allah Ta’ala and His Rasool (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), Āsiyah bint Mazāhim, the wife of Firaun, and the leader of the womenfolk of Jannah, Fātimah bint Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam wa Radiallahu Ta’ala Anhunna).
With regard to the first four men to enter Jannah, one person will take the lead from each nation. From the Arabs our Master Muhammad Mustafa (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) will take the lead, from Persia Hazrat Salman, From Rome Hazrat Suhaib and from Abyssinia Hazrat Bilāl (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anhum Ajma’een). And the four whom Jannah yearns for are Hazrat Ali bin Abi Tālib, Hazrat Salman Fārsi, Hazrat Ammār bin Yāsir and Hazrat Miqdād bin Aswad (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anhum). {Mukāshifat-ul-Quloob}
Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has stated that the one who fasts on the day of Tarwīyyah (eighth of Dhul Hijjah) Allah Ta’ala grants him the reward equivalent to that of Hazrat Ayyub (Alaihis Salaam) remaining patient upon his hardships and the one who fasts on the day of ‘Arafah (ninth of Dhul Hijjah), Allah Ta’ala grants him the reward equivalent to that of Hazrat Isa (Alaihis Salaam). {Ibid}
Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has also stated that when it is the day of ‘Arafah then Allah Ta’ala spreads His Mercy and there is no day in which more people are freed from the fire of Hell than this day; and whoever asks Allah Ta’ala on the day of ‘Arafah for any need of this world or the Hereafter then Allah Ta’ala fulfils his needs. And the fast of the day of ‘Arafah is the expiation for the sins of the past year and the coming year.
The wisdom in this is that this day lies between two Eids. Eid is a day of rejoicing for the believers and there is no greater joy than the fact that their sins have been forgiven. The day of Ashura comes after the two Eids therefore its fast is the expiation of one year of sins. The other wisdom is that the day of Ashura was for Hazrat Moosa (Alaihis Salaam) and the day of ‘Arafah is for Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and his honour and dignity is far superior to all of the other venerable Prophets. {Mukāshifat-ul-Quloob}
SubhanAllah! So we can understand from this that the unique virtues we receive during this month are through the Sadaqah of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and are due to his exalted status.
May Allah Ta’ala grant us the ability to honour these sacred days, to fast therein and to remember Him as much as possible, Allahumma Ameen.