Assalam alaykum,

Beautiful rituals in Islam,
dhul hijjah is fast approaching(likely starting 17th October 2012).

another opportunity for us to inshAllahu

-increase our account of good deeds.

-seek forgiveness for our deliberate and unintentional wrong deeds.

-make up for lapses that we may have had in the past months e.g Ramadan.

-build our self discipline.

-supplicate to Allah: the Everlasting Refuge etc.

may Allah make our paths easy for us.

below is an article on the first 10 days of Dhul hijjah, hope we find it beneficial; taken from:
http://sunnahonline.com/library/hajj-umrah-and-the-islamic-calendar/182-superiority-of-the-first-ten-days-of-dhul-hijjah-the

Superiority of the First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah, The

Muhammad ibn Salih ibn Al-'Uthaymin
14
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. May peace and blessings be upon the Chief of the Messengers, Muhammad.

Indeed it is a great favour and blessing from Allah that He has made for His righteous servants periods of time within which they can increase in good deeds to attain great rewards and one of these opportunistic periods is the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah (the final month of the Islamic Calendar, in which the Hajj is performed).

SUPERIORITY OF THE FIRST TEN DAYS OF DHUL-HIJJAH

The excellence of these ten days have been mentioned in the Qur'an and the Sunnah.

1. Allah says in the Qur'an:

"By the dawn and by the ten nights … " [Al-Qur'an 89:1-2]

Ibn Kathir said that "the ten nights" referred to here are the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, and this opinion was also held by Ibn Abbas, Ibn az-Zubair, Mujahid and others.

2. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:

"There are no deeds as excellent as those done in these ten days." They (the companions listening) said, "Not even Jihad?" He, peace be upon him, said, "No, not even Jihad except a man who goes forth endangering his life and wealth and does not return with anything." [Recorded by Imam al-Bukhari]

3. Allah says:

" … and remember the name of Allah in the appointed days." [Al-Qur'an 2:203]

Ibn Abbas and Ibn Kathir said this means in the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.

4. The Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, said:

"There are no other days that are as great as these in the sight of Allah, the Most Sublime. Nor are there any deeds more beloved to Allah then those that are done in these ten days. So increase in tahlil (to say la illaha illallah), takbir (to say allahu akbar) and tahmid (to say alhumdulillah)." [Reported by at-Tabarani in al-Mu'jum al-Kabir]

5. With regards to the noble companion Sa'id bin Jubair, when the days of Dhul-Hijjah began he would strive to increase in good actions with great intensity until he was unable to increase anymore. [Reported by ad-Darimi]

6. Ibn Hajar says in Fath al-Bari:

"The most apparent reason for the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah being distinguished in excellence is due to the assembly of the greatest acts of worship in this period, i.e. salawat (prayers), siyam (fasting), sadaqah (charity) and the Hajj (pilgrimage). In no other periods do these great deeds combine."

WHAT ARE THE RECOMMENDED ACTS IN THESE DAYS?

1. Prayer - It is highly recommended to perform the obligatory acts at their prescribed times (as early as possible) and to increase oneself in the superogatory acts, for indeed, this is what brings a person closer to their Lord. The Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, said:

"Upon you is to increase in your prostration to Allah, for verily you do not prostrate to Allah with even one prostration, except that He raises you in degrees and decreases your sins because of it." [Reported by Muslim]

2. Fasting - This has been mentioned as one of the acts of righteousness where Hanbada ibn Khalid reports on the authority of his wife who reports that some of the wives of the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, "The Prophet, upon whom be peace, would fast on the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah, the day of Ashura and three days in every month." [Recorded by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, an-Nisa'i and others]

Imam an-Nawawi said that fasting in these ten days is extremely recommended.

3. Saying allahu akbar, la illaha illallah and alhamdulillah - It is found in the aforementioned narration of Ibn 'Umar:

"So increase yourselves in saying la illaha illallah, allahu akbar and alhamdulillah."

Imam al-Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

"Ibn 'Umar and Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with them both, used to go out to the markets in the ten days saying the takbir causing the people to follow them in this action."

He also said:

"'Umar ibn al-Khattab used to say the takbir in his mimbar in Mina, whereupon the people of the mosque hearing 'Umar, would start to say the takbir as would the people in the markets until the whole of Mina was locked in glorifying Allah."

Ibn 'Umar used to say the takbir in Mina during these ten days and after prayers, whilst on his bed, in his tent, in his gathering and whilst walking. What is recommended is to say the takbir aloud due to the fact that 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, his son and Abu Hurayrah used to do likewise, may Allah be pleased with them all.

Strive with us O Muslims in reviving this sunnah that has become lost in these times and it was almost forgotten, even amongst the people of righteousness and goodness all of which is unfortunately in opposition to what the best of generations were upon (preserving and maintaining the superogatory acts).

There are a number of ways of making takbir that have been narrated by the companions and their followers and from these ways is the following:

Allahu akbar, allahu akbar, allahu akbar kabirun.
Allahu akbar, allahu akbar, la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar, wallahu akbar, wa lillahil hamd.
Allahu akbar, allahu akbar, allahu akbar, la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar, allahu akbar wa lillahil hamd.
4. Fasting on the day of 'Arafah - Fasting has been affirmed on the day of 'Arafah, where it has been confirmed from the Prophet, peace be upon him, that he said regarding fasting on the day of 'Arafah:

"Be content with the fact that Allah will expiate for you your sins for the year before (the day of 'Arafah) and the year after (the day of 'Arafah)." [Reported by Muslim]

However, whoever is at 'Arafah as a pilgrim then fasting is not expected of him, as the Prophet, peace be upon him, stopped at 'Arafah to eat.

May the peace of Allah be upon his Prophet, the family of the Prophet and all of his companions.

Thanks for the reminder, when is the first of the ten days?

^ 1st dhul hijjah 1433 A.H should most likely be Wednesday 17th October 2012.
ma salam.

Jazakalahu khairan broda

Thank u..may peace nd mercy of Allah be wt us..

May Allah Grant us grace to do good deed.

Jazakhalahu khairan,may Allah make the way easy for us all.ameen

The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the best days on earth. Good deeds are richly rewarded. Apart from what the OP mentioned(fasting, Dhikr, Hajj), it might be useful to remember the following:

The Prophet ordered us to do seven (things) and forbade us from seven (other things): He ordered
us to
1. visit the sick,
2. follow funeral possessions,
3. say: May Allah be merciful to you to a sneezer, - if he (the sneezer) says: Praise be to Allah,
4. accept invitation (invitation to a wedding banquet),
5. return greetings,
6. help the oppressed, and
7. help others to fulfill their oaths (provided it was not sinful).

I left out the seven prohibitions here

(Bukhari)

Also from Bukhari

Seven (people) will be shaded by Allah by His Shade on the Day of Resurrection
when there will be no shade except His Shade. (They will be),
1. a just ruler,
2. a young man who has been brought up in the worship of Allah,
3. a man who remembers Allah in seclusion and his eyes are then flooded with tears,
4. a man whose heart is attached to mosques (offers his compulsory congregational prayers in the mosque),
5. two men who love each other for Allah's Sake,
6. a man who is called by a charming lady of noble birth to commit illegal sexual intercourse with her, and he says, 'I am afraid of Allah,' and (finally),
7. a man who gives in charity so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given."


Not all would be able to qualify for 1,2 and 6
But the others (3,4,5&7) are worth targetting

More of this piece.God bless u

Jazakhallahu khayran.alhamduliiah,I am 1 of d mst blessed

MAY ALLAH BLESS YOU FOR THIS!

jazakallahu khairan..may Allah reward you

I thank Allah that i am a muslim this another opportunity 2 move closer 2 him may he make it easy 4 me & all muslim.

Jazakalahu khairan

Jazakumullah bi khair!
Aa a REMINDER
For those of us intending to perform "lehya" (sacrificing an animal on the eid day), we should remember not to shave or cut our nails from 1st until the 10th day of the new month, as is the sunnah of our noble prophet (SAW). Thanks

May ALLAH accept our worship and make islam easy for us

Jazakkallah Khairan

Allahu Akbar

May Allah make these easy for us.

how did i find my self here #pull my shoes and dashes out#

Jazakallahu hairan broda,,,may peace and blessing of Allah be with us ameen

May Allah make it easy for us.

Jazakallah khairan. Are we to fast for the . Days or fast on the 9th day(day bg eid)

May Allah swt be pleased wit us n 4giv us our sin,May He turn our sorrow 2 joy as He did Ibrahim (A.S) n please don't let us 4get 2 rememba our dear country in praya,so dat Allah cn bestow His mercies on us n pray 4 dose dat av lost deir live during dis present tym.

Hope the best 10 days will stop all these killings all over the world in the name of religion

Jazakallah hairan

@tohira, every form of worship is encouraged during these days. however, the known sunnah of the prophet(peace be on him) was fasting on the 9th(the day of Arafat).

May Alla bless you for this post. Jazakllah hairan.

The first ten days of dhul Hijjah has more reward and benevolent than last ten days of Ramadan

It was narrated from Anas (may
Allaah be pleased with him) that the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said: “There is no deed
that is better befo
re Allaah or more
greatly rewarded than a good deed
done in the (first) ten days of al-Adha.”

It was said: “Not even jihad for the sake
of Allaah ?”
He said: “Not even jihad for
the sake of Allaah, unless a man goes
out himself for jihad taking his wealth
with him and does not come back with
anything.”

Narrated by al-Daarimi,
1/357; its isnaad is hasan as stated in
al-Irwa’ , 3/398.

Fasting has an immense reward to fast on it will be considered another colossal reward

Thank you for the piece,very inspiring.