The virtues and merits of these ten days have been proven by various pieces of evidences, and these evidences can be classed into two types:
1) Those that mention the general virtues and merits
2) Those that demonstrate the virtues of particular days within the first ten
As for the first type, general evidences in regards to the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. From there are the following Ayaat and ahaadith:
“By the ten nights (i.e. the first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hîjjah)”
[Al-Fajr 89:2]
The meaning of this ayah refers to the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, this is the explanation that has been given by Ibn ‘Abbaas [2][2]and Abd Allaah ibn Zubayr[3][3][May Allah be Pleased with them] as well as his students Mujaahid[4][4],‘Ikrimah, Qataadah, Dahhaak, Masrooq[5][5]as well as others from the people of knowledge [May Allah have mercy on them all].
[Tafseer Ibn Jareer at-Tabaree 30/168-9]
Ibn Jareer went on to explain after narrating these quotes:
“…Ibn Zayd said that the ayah referred to the first ten days of the month of Muharram. However the correct opinion is that it is the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, due the consensus of this interpretation existing from the people of knowledge…
It was narrated on the authority of Jaabir [May Allaah be Pleased with him] who said the Prophet [May Allaah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him] said the ayah:
‘By the ten nights’ (Al-Fajr 89:2) meant, ‘the ten forenoons’”.
I say: this narration was narrated by Imaam Ahmad [3/327], Nasaa’i in Sunan al-Kubraa [4086 and 11907], Ibn Abee Haatim in his Tafseer [4/505], Haafidh ibn Katheer in his tafseer [4/505] who said the isnaad is acceptable.
Ibn Katheer [May Allaah have mercy on him] said: “the meaning of the ayah means the tend days of Dhul Hijjah, as it has been narrated by Ibn’Abbaas, Ibn Zubayr, Mujaahid and others from the salaf and those after the salaf….”
Added to this virtue, Allaah, The Exalted and Glorified, swore by these days to shows its magnitude. Ibn al-Qayyim said, “…and He, Glorified is He, swore by various different things in the beginning of this chapter. These oaths that Allaah swore by meant He swore by Himself and attached it to His own Attributes. Swearing by some of His creation exemplifies the magnitude of the thing He is swearing by, it being a great sign”. [Tibyaan fee Aqsaam al-Quraan p.3]
Bukhaari narrated [969] on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas [May Allah be Pleased with him] who said The Prophet [May Allaah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him] said,
“There are no days that are better than these days[6][6]. It was said to him, ‘Not even fighting for the sake of Allaah?’ He said, ‘Not even fighting for the sake of Allah except for a man who leaves his home with his body and his wealth and returns with nothing’”
It was narrated by Abu Dawood [2438] on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas [May Allah be Pleased with him] who said,
The Messenger of Allaah [Peace be upon him] said, “There are no days that righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah, Glorified and Exalted He is, than these days, meaning these ten days”
It was said, “Oh Messenger of Allah, not even fighting for the sake of Allaah?” He replied, “Not even fighting for the sake of Allaah, except for a man who leaves his house with his body and his wealth and he doesn’t return with anything”
Similar was narrated by Ibn Maajah [1727] and Abd Ar-Razaaq in his Musanif [8121]
The variant in wording doesn’t affect the meaning of the narrations. Rather they all are in conformity in their meaning, providing evidence that righteous deeds in the ten days of Dhul Hijjah are virtues and none are comparable in their virtue. Overall, some of these narrations add more detail and meaning than other narrations.
The apparent meaning from the text illustrates that these days are the most virtuous days throughout the whole year, including the last ten days of Ramadan, because the Prophet [Peace be upon him] had not specified any other days in their virtues and merits except these.
To support this, Daarimi narrated [1774] on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas [May Allah be Pleased with him] who said the Messenger of Allaah [Peace be upon him] said,
“There are no actions that are more purifying with Allah, The Exalted and Glorified, and that are greater in wholesome reward except than doing good deeds in the day time of these ten days….”
Also been narrated by at-Tahaawee in Mushkil [2970]
After mentioning this hadeeth, Imaam ad-Daarimi mentioned that Sa’eed ibn Jubayr[7][7]would increase in doing good deeds to a great extent in these ten days.
There is also another hadeeth which explicitly mentions the ten days of Dhul Hijjah, as it was narrated by Jaabir [May Allaah be Pleased with him] that the Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] said,
“The best days, in the days of this world, are these ten days. Meaning the ten days of Dhul Hijjah…”[8][8]
In another hadeeth on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar [May Allaah be Pleased with him] who said The Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] said,
“There are no days that are greater to Allah, nor more beloved to Him that someone does good actions in it, except these ten days. So increase in doing good deeds and increase in Tahleel[9][9], Takbeer[10][10]and Tamheed[11][11]”
Narrated by Ahmad [2/75]; at-Tahaawee in Mushkil [2971] and Bayhaqee in Shu’b [3474] [12][12]
In another hadeeth narrated by Imaam Ahmad [6559] on the authority of Abd Allaah ibn ‘Amr who said, “I was with the Messenger of Allah [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] and he mentioned some beneficial deeds for us to do, he said,
“There are no days that are more virtuous and full of merit except these ten”
It was then asked, ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah, what about fighting for the sake of Allaah?’ He then said takbeer i.e. he said Allaahu Akbar and then continued to say, “And not even fighting for the sake of Allaah, except for a man who leaves his house with himself and his wealth in the path of Allaah, then the soul remains by himself”[13][13]
It has also been narrated by at-Tirmidhi [758] in his Jaami’ that the Messenger of Allaah [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] said,
“There are no days that are more beloved to Allaah in worship to him in sincerity other than these ten days of Dhul Hijjah. He has made equal the fast of one day within these ten like the fasting of a whole year and to stand in prayer during the night an equivalent of standing on Laylat al-Qadr ” [14][14]
Ibn Rajab [May Allaah have mercy on him] said in Lataaif [468] said:
“All these hadeeth illustrate the virtues and merit of the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, they being the best of days throughout the year without any exception. This is regarding the days. This is regarding the days. However some have stated that the last ten days of Ramadaan are the best days because of the presence of Laylat ul-Qadr in the night, but this is incorrect”
Aboo ‘Uthmaan al-Nahdee said, “There are three times when ten days are elevated in their virtue: 1) the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, 2) The first ten days of Muharram and 3) the last ten nights of Ramadaan”.
Aboo Naasir ad-Deen ad-Damishq said, “The information that has reached us regarding the types of ten days that are the most virtuous, the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are better than any other of the ten days that have been mentioned in their virtue. That is because these ten days of Dhul Hijjah consist of the day of Tarwiyyah[15][15], the Day of Arafah and the day of Nahr[16][16]”
Then after mentioning the hadeeth of Jaabir [May Allah be Pleased with him] which we have previously mentioned, he continued to say,
“This hadeeth, as well as other evidences, give us proof that the ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the best days of the calendar” until he said, “Some of the scholars have said that the ten days of Dhul Hijjah are generally better than the last ten days of Ramadaan. This is because these ten days have been sworn by Allah, The Exalted and Glorified, as it has been mentioned by Daahaak and others from the salaf.
Furthermore Allaah, the Exalted and Glorified, swore by the ten nights of the Dhul Hijjah. This is the view of the majority of scholars based on the interpretation of Ibn‘Abbaas [May Allaah be Pleased with him].
These are the days that Allah, the Exalted and Glorified, extended the stay of Moosa [Peace be upon him] in his saying:
“And We appointed for Musa (Moses) thirty nights and added (to the period) ten (more), and he completed the term, appointed by his Lord, of forty nights…” [Al-‘Araaf 7:142] This was the interpretation given by Mujaahid.
It is also the conclusion of the months of Hajj. Allah says in the Quraan:
“The Hajj (pilgrimage) is in the well-known months…” [al-Baqarah 2:197]
These months are the months of Shawwaal, Dhul Qa’dah and the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, thus these first ten days are the conclusion of the months of Hajj. This explanation came from various companions such as ‘Umar, ‘Alee, Ibn Mas’ood, Ibn ‘Umar, Ibn‘Abbaas, Ibn Zubayr and from a large variety of the Taabi’een.
So these ten days are considered to be the ‘well known’ days. Ibn ‘Umar and Ibn ‘Abbaas and others from the Tabi’een , such as Hasan al-Basri, ‘Ata, Mujaahid, ‘Ikrimah, Qataadah and Sa’eed ibn Jubayr.
He - Aboo Naasir ad-Deen ad-Damishq – then discussed some points from the aforementioned hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas.
He then said“…and in this narration there is clear enough proof for us to act on. Therefore these ten days are the most virtuous; doing good deeds in them is unlike any other. Doing good deeds in these ten days means the reward for these actions will be multiplied.” End quote from ‘Virtues of the Day of Arafah’ [p. 139-144]
This is what has been narrated about the general virtues and merit of the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.
As for the second types, what has been narrated to demonstrate the virtues of particular days within the first ten, then from these include the following:
1) Narrated by Imaam Ahmad [4/350] Aboo Dawood [1765] Nasaa’i in Kubraa [4098] Bukhaari in Taareekh al-Kubraa [5/34] Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah [2866] Ibn Hibbaan [2811] Haakim [4/246], all of them narrated The Messenger of Allaah [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] in saying,
“The best days with Allaah are the day of sacrifice, then the day of Qar[17][17]….”
The isnaad of hadeeth is good and acceptable and all its men are trustworthy. This hadeeth has been narrated under the authority of Abd Allaah ibn Qart who is al-Azdee ath-Thmaalee. Al-Bukhaari explained that he was a companion [Taareekh al-Kubraa 5/34] and then mentioned the hadeeth above.
I say: The fact al-Bukhaari mentioned him and explained this very point, i.e. of him being a companion, this meaning the chain being connected and no reason for any form of weakness. This means that this hadeeth was authentic and accepted with Bukhaari, and Allaah Knows best.
Added to his, a lengthy story of Abd Allaah ibn Qart [May Allah be Pleased with him] and an event that occurred with the Messenger of Allah [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] has been reported by Imaam Ahmad in his Musnad [2/75], reinforcing the fact that he was a companion.
To briefly explain the narration, the Day of Sacrifice in the hadeeth is the day of ‘Eid, which is the tenth day of Dhul Hijjah. As for the Day of Qar, then this is the eleventh day of Dhul Hijjah.
2) The specific virtues of some of the days within these ten days have also been narrated in the texts.
It was reported by Aboo Dawood [2419]; Nasaa’i [3004]; Saheeh at-Tirmidhi [773]; Ibn Khuzaymah [2100]; Ibn Hibbaan [3603] and Haakim [1/600] that the Messenger of Allaah [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] said,
“The days of‘Arafah[18][18]and Sacrifice[19][19]as well as the days of Tashreeq[20][20]are the days that are from the festivals of the people of Islaam”
It is of no secret that the days in which the Muslims celebrate their festivals are from the days which are venerated. From the greatest of these days that are venerated is the day of ‘Arafah, its merit and status are both well known to the Muslims.
There are other evidences that illustrate the merit and virtues of these days, whether they are general statements or specific[21][21]ones from the Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him]
And Allah Knows best.
Taken from a treatise entitled 'Description of the Virtues of the First Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah' by Shaykh 'Abdullah as-Sa'd.
