By  Harun Rasaq

One of the aspects of the Sunnah that has been virtually forgotten by the contemporary Muslims especially in Nigeria is that of the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. The days are virtuous and are regarded as the best days in Sahih Hadith. The importance of these blessed days is based on the following:

Allah swears by these blessed days, which underlines their importance and the great benefits they contain. Allah says in Suratul Fajr: “By the dawn, by the ten nights”, (Q89:1-2). Ibn Abbas, Ibn al-Zubayr, Mujaahid and others of the earlier and later generations said that this refers to the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah.

Ibn ‘Abbaas (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” The people asked, “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah?” He said, “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing.”
DO’S OF THE DAYS: Among the good deeds that a Muslim is expected to do during these ten days are: Performing Hajj and Umrah; Fast on the day of Arafah; Zikr (remembrance) of Allah, a lot.

And to say it loudly in the mosque, the home, the street and every place that is permitted to remember Allah individually, not in unison, as there is no basis in Shar’ah for doing this according to Shykh Salih Munajid. Men should recite these phrases out loud, and women should recite them quietly; Offering a high quality animal in sacrifice on the day of Eid; Performing salat Eid; To occupy oneself with doing a lot of good deeds in general. For example salat, Qur’an, dhikr, du’a, sadaqah, ta’liim, honouring the parents, enjoining what is good, forbidding evil etc. at its appropriate time are highly encourage during these days.

DON’T’S OF THE DAYS: It is forbidden for a person who wants to offer sacrifice to remove or cut his/her hair or nails from the first of these days till he/she offer his sacrifice on the day of Eid. According to the Hadith in Sahih Muslim, 13/146.

(2) Also forbidden is using ram meant for sacrifice to fight another ram.