We are at the door of the first 10 Days of Dhil-Hijjah, the most virtuous days of all days of the year – days that Allaah swore by when He said:
“By the dawn, & [by the] ten nights…”
And Allaah only
swears by something from His creation to show it’s importance & nobility,
& to direct His ‘Ibaad to it.
And He said
about these days:
“& (so they may) mention the Name of Allaah on appointed days over what He has provided for them of animals (for sacrifice)...” [Al-Hajj: 28]
It
has been related from a number of the Salaf – ‘Ataa’, Qataadah, Sa’eed bin Jubayr
& others, & it was the saying of Ash-Shaafi’ee & Ahmad –
that the “appointed days" means “the (first) ten days” (of Dhil-Hijjah). And others have said that it refers
to the Days of Tahreeq (11th, 12th, & 13th).
The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said in the hadeeth collected by Al-Bazzaar: "The best days of the dunyaa are the ten days." [See Saheehul-Jaami' (#1133)]
So these
10 days & the 3 days that follow them (the days of Tashreeq) are the
best & most virtuous days of the year – days that Allaah has honored over all other
days - for those making the Hajj as well as those who stay
behind.
Ibn ‘Abbaas رضى الله عنهما reported that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "There are no days during which good righteous deeds are more
beloved to Allaah than the (first) ten days (of
Dhil-Hijjah)."
So the
people said: "O Messenger of Allaah! Not even jihaad in the Path of Allaah?!"
So he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Not even jihaad in the path of Allaah, except when a man goes
out with his person & his property & none of that returns.”
* meaning: he is martyred in battle & all of his wealth was spent in the Path of Allaah.
[Al-Bukhaaree & Muslim
from Ibn 'Umar & others, Al-Bukhaaree from Ibn 'Abbaas, Muslim from
Abee Sa'eed, At-Tahaawiyyah (#734), Saheeh
Sunan Abee Daawood (#2438), & As-Saheehah
(#1471). Declared Saheeh by Al-Bukhaaree.]
