By Shaykh Abdul-Malik al-Qasim
All Praises belong to Allaah; the One Who
has given His Slaves seasons for them to increase in worship of Him and
increase in doing good deeds. May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon our
Prophet Muhammad, His Family and all of His Companions.
To Begin:
It is known that the lifespan of the
members of this Ummah is the shortest in comparison the Ummam (pl. of Ummah)
that came before us, as the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him]
said, “The lifespan of my Ummah will be between sixty and seventy years old.”
[Narrated by at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Maajah] however Allaah, the Most High, from
his Favours upon us, He has given us a chance to have the deeds we do in our
short lifespan to be multiplied. Therefore, our lives become blessed and
increased in its virtue, as though we have lived for many thousands of years.
From these is the example of Laylat al-Qadr, about Allaah, the Most High, says:
The night of Al-Qadr (Decree)
is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allah in that night is
better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months).
[Al-Qadr 97:3]
Ar-Raazee [May Allaah have Mercy on him]
said about this:
Know! The one who worships on this night is
like he has worshipped Allaah, the Most High, for eighty years and the one who
stands in prayer during Laylat al-Qadr every year of his life, is like the one
who has lived thousands of years. End quote.
Also from the times when have a chance to
be blessed and increase in your good deeds are the first ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah,
about which many Aayat and Ahadeeth have been mentioned.
Allaah, the Most High, says:
[Al-Fajr : 1-3]
Ibn Katheer [May Allaah have Mercy on him]
said about these Aayaat, “These Aayaat refer to the first ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah.”
And He, the Glorified and the Exalted,
said:
…and mention the Name of Allah on
appointed days…
[Al-Hajj 22:28]
Ibn ‘Abbaas [May Allaah be Pleased with
him] said, “These are the ten days of Hajj.”
It is also narrated in the Hadeeth that has
been narrated by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas [May
Allaah be Pleased with him] that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be
Upon him] said, “There are no deeds done on any other day which are better than
doing deeds during these ten.” They said, “Not even Jihaad?” He replied, “Not
even Jihaad, except if a man leaves his house with himself and his wealth and
he doesn’t return with anything that he left with.”
And it has been narrated on the authority
of ‘Umar bin al-Khattaab [May Allaah be Pleased with him] that the Prophet
[Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “There are no days which are
greater with Allaah, the Glorified, and there are no days in which deeds are
more beloved to him except during these ten days. So increase in doing the Tahleel
[i.e. saying Laa ilaaha ila Allaah], Takbeer [i.e. saying Allaahu Akbar] and
Tamheed [i.e. saying Alhumdulillah].” [Narrated by at-Tabaraanee in Mu’jam
al-Kabeer]
It is also narrated that Sa’eed bin Jubayr
[May Allaah have Mercy on him], who also narrated that Hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas
above, that when the ten days begin then, he would increase even more in
worship to the extent that no one could match him. [Narrated by ad-Daarimee
with a Hasan Isnaad]
It is also narrated from him that he said,
“Do not put out your lamps during these ten nights.” Meaning, he would stay the night in worship,
standing in prayer and reciting the Qur’aan.
Ibn Hajar [May Allaah have Mercy on him]
said in Fath al-Baaree:
What is apparent to me is that the reason
for these ten days being so virtuous is because these ten days gather all the
best forms of worship one can possibly do. These include as-Salaah, as-Saum,
as-Sadaqah and Hajj, and these acts of worship cannot be combined except in the
first ten days of Hajj. End quote.
Ibn Rajab [May Allaah have Mercy on him]
said in Lataa’if al-Ma’arif:
Allaah, the Glorified, has placed in the acts
of worship that the believers do, sense of enjoyment as they perform the
rituals to the Ancient House. This act of worship of Hajj cannot be carried out
by everybody on an annual basis, therefore it has been made obligatory to do
this ritual of Hajj once a lifetime and thus these ten days have been made
virtuous so that those who are unable to come and are left in their homes are
able to contribute and take part in the blessings of these ten days. End quote.
It was asked to Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn
Taymiyyah [May Allaah have Mercy on him] which are the most virtuous, the first
ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah or the last ten nights of Ramadhaan. He replied by
saying:
The
first ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah are the best days throughout the year, even
then the last ten days of Ramadhaan. However, the last ten nights of Ramadhaan
are the best nights in the year including the first ten nights in Dhu
al-Hijjah. End quote.
So take note of this, my Muslim brother,
and use your hours and minutes wisely because there is no telling how long you
have left in your life. Repent and return to Allaah and don’t waste your time.
Know that striving to do good deeds during these days is blessed and it is a
sign that you are upon goodness and that you are of those who are pious,
Allaah, the Most High, says:
And whosoever honours the Symbols of
Allah, then it is truly from the piety of the heart.
[Al-Hajj 22:32]
What is recommended for us to do during
these days?
The Muslim is one who rushes to good deeds
especially in the season of goodness such as this one. He welcomes this season
with at-Tawbah and as-Sadaqah because there is not one of us that wants the
good of the Dunya and the Aakhira except that he will gain it via at-Tawbah.
This is because we are prevented from attaining goodness because of our sins,
Allaah, the Most High, says:
And whatever of misfortune befalls
you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much. (See
the Qur'an Verse 35:45).
[Ash-Shoora 42:30]
Therefore, sins have a dangerous effect on
the heart of an individual just like poison effects the blood of a person. The
cure for such illnesses is to purify, to take the cause of the problem, in this
example the poison, out of the blood and the body. Likewise, sins need to be
removed as well as its effects from the heart in order for our hearts to have a
positive development. From the things that prevent our hearts from being
rectified is its love and connection to sins. Sinning and its sisters cause problems
for the slave until he is destroyed by them.
So, my Muslim brother, hasten to repenting
to Allaah, a sincere repentance. Begin these days with regret and a freeing
yourself from sins and the effects of disobedience upon yourself, so increase
in Istaghfaar. Be constant in remembering Allaah, the Exalted and Glorified,
because you never know how long you have left before death surprises you and
you will then be taken away from such opportunities.
From the good deeds and acts of worship
that the Muslim can do during these blessed first ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah
include the following:
Increasing in doing all forms of good
deeds and acts of worship
This is based on the statement of the
Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] who said, “There are no
days that are greater with Allaah, the Glorified, and more Beloved to Him in
good deeds except these ten days…”
The good deeds that we are being encouraged
to do in this narration is general; especially the deeds that people are
normally negligent of. so increase in recitation of the Qur’aan, giving in
as-Sadaqah, feeding and spending on the poor and enjoining good and forbidding
evil and the likes.
As-Salaah
It is highly encouraged for us to hasten to
the Masjid in order for us to arrive early for prayer, meeting the Takbeerat
al-Ihraam and the first row. Furthermore, we are encouraged in optional prayer
during these days, as as-Salaah is from the best deeds one can do during these
days.
It has been narrated on the authority of
Thawbaan [May Allaah be Pleased with him] that he heard the Prophet [May the
Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] say, “It is upon you to increase in
Sujood to Alaah, because you do not prostrate to Allaah except that He Raises
your rank by it and removes from it sins from you.” [Narrated by Muslim]
As-Siyaam
Fasting is encouraged as it is part of
doing good deeds and worship to Allaah, the Most High. It has been narrated on
the authority of Haneedah bin Khaalid [May Allaah be Pleased with her] that his
wife heard some of the wives of the Prophet [May Allaah be Pleased with them
all] say, “The Messenger of Allaah [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be
Upon him] would fast the first nine days of Dhu al-Hijjah, the day of
‘Aashoora, any three days of the month and he would always pray two Rak’aat
before Midday.” [Narrated by Ahmad and
Aboo Dawood]
Imaam an-Nawawee [May Allaah have Mercy on
him] said about fasting these ten days, “It is extremely highly recommended to
fast them.”
The Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of
Allaah be Upon him] also made the day of ‘Arafah a day when we all should give
special attention to as he said, “Fasting the day of ‘Arafah, I hope by it
Allaah Forgives the sins of the previous and forthcoming years.”
Performing Hajj and ‘Umrah
This is due to the statement of the Prophet
[May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him], “An accepted Hajj brings
no reward except Jannah.” [Narrated by al-Bukhaaree]
And he [May the Peace and Blessings of
Allaah be Upon him] also said, “Whoever performs Hajj to the House and he
doesn’t practice lewdness or sin, he returns like the day his mother gave birth
to him.” [Narrated by al-Bukhaaree]
Takbeer, Tahleel and Tamheed
This is based on the narration which was
narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas [May Allaah be Pleased with him] that
states, “Increase in these days in doing at-Tahleel, at-Takbeer and at-Tamheed.”
Imaam al-Bukhaaree [May Allaah have Mercy
on him] said, “Ibn ‘Umar and Aboo Hurayrah [May Allaah be Pleased with them]
would leave their houses and go to the markets, during these ten days, and they
would raise their voices in Takbeer and the people would be also do the same.”
He also said, “’Umar used to raise his
voice in at-Takbeer in his tent in Minaa so loud that the people in the Masjid
would be able to hear his voice and they would do Takbeer with him.[1]”
He also said, “Ibn ‘Umar would increase in
doing at-Takbeer during these days, after his Salaah, whilst on his bed, whilst he
would sit, wherever he was during these days.”
It is recommended for the men to raise
their voices in doing at-Takbeer as the above mentioned Companions would do and as
for women, then they should lower their voices in Takbeer. This is based on the
Hadeeth of Umm ‘Atiyyah which was narrated by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.
At-Takbeer can be of two types during these
days, the Takbeer which is general and the Takbeer which is specific. It has been
published in Fatwaa Lajnah ad-Daaimah li al-Iftaa;
“During the days of ‘Eed (i.e. from 10th
to 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah) we are recommended do to increase in
Takbeer, this is the specific time. The time for Takbeer begins from the
beginning of the month, this the general time (i.e. from 1st to 13th
of Dhu al-Hijjah) without any limit. As for the even more specific times then
this is to do Takbeer after every Salaat from the Fajr prayer on the Day of
‘Arafah until ‘Asr prayer on the final day of at-Tashreeq (i.e. the 13th
of Dhu al-Hijjah). This is a summary of what is proven from the Ijmaa’ of the
scholars, as the Companions [May Allaah be Pleased with them all] used to do.”
It was also asked to Shaykh Muhammad bin
Saaleh al-‘Uthaymeen [May Allaah have Mercy on him], do we begin with
Istighfaar after the Salaah or with the Takbeer and he answered:
“You should begin with Istighfaar and then
with ‘Allaahuma anta as-Salaam…’ etc. this is because, despite him completing
the prayer, he always falls short, therefore seeking forgiveness comes before
Takbeer to seek forgiveness from our shortcomings.”
The manner of doing the Takbeer
There are three forms that have been
narrated[2];
الله اكبر الله اكبر الله اكبر
Allaah
is the Greatest, Allaah is the Greatest, Allaah is the Greatest the Greatest.
اكبر الله اكبر لا اله الا الله الله اكبر الله اكبر ولله الحمد الله
Allaah is the Greatest, Allaah is the Greatest, there is no God but Allaah, Allaah is
the Greatest, to Allaah is all Praise.
الله اكبر الله اكبر الله اكبر لا اله الا الله الله اكبر الله اكبر ولله الحمد الله
Allaah
is the Greatest, Allaah is the Greatest, there is no God but Allaah, And Allaah is the Greatest, Allaah is the Greatest to Allaah is all Praise.
And Allaah Knows best
May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be
Upon His Messenger, His Family and all those who follow him until the Last Day.
[1] Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez bin Baaz [May Allaah have Mercy on him] and
others from the scholars have stated doing Takbeer in unison is an innovation
and this narration of ‘Umar cannot be used as proof as there is no clear
indication that they were doing Takbeer in unison, rather it suggests that they
were doing it aloud. [See: Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn Baaz (13/20-23)] [TN]
[2] Many of the scholars have stated that the Takbeer during these days
can vary, so any form of Dhikr which includes Takbeer is prescribed and
deviating from the wording that has been narrated is not an innovation. See: Fath al-Baaree (2/462); al-Jaami’ li Ahkaam al-Qur’aan
(2/307); Subul al-Salaam (2/72); Al-Umm (1/241) and others [TN]
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