Today Sunday June 1, 2025 is the 5th day of Dhul Hijjah, the 12th and last month in the Islamic lunar calendar of 1446AH. The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah have been described by the Prophet (SAW) as virtuous. The 9th day of Dhul Hijjah is Arafat day upon which Muslims (who are not on pilgrimage to Makkah) are encouraged to observe voluntary fast. The 10th day is the Dahiyyah day upon which Muslims (whether as residents in their home countries or pilgrims in Makkah) are required to offer sacrifices by slaughtering animals (ram, goat, cow or camel). All the six authentic compliers of hadith (except Imams Buhari and Tirmidhi) relate on the authority of Abi Qatadah (RA) that fasting on Arafat day expiates for two sinful years.
Besides being the month during which Hajj (pilgrimage) is performed, another virtue of Dhul-Hijjah in Islam is its mention as one of the months during which holy war is prohibited. Allah (SWT) states in Qur’an 2:217 “They ask thee concerning fighting in the prohibited month; Say: Fighting therein is a grave (offence)…” Other months (called ‘Al Ash-hurul Hurum’ in the Qur’an) in which holy war is prohibited include Dhul-Qa’dah (which is the month preceding Dhul-Hijjah); Muharram (which is the month succeeding Dhul-Hijjah); and the month of Rajab.
We have less than a week to the end of this virtuous season of Dhul Hijjah. Let’s use this period to engage in virtuous and rewarding deeds. It is reported on the authority of Ibn Abbas (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) said “No days are as virtuous and beloved to Allah for the observance of righteous deeds as these days (the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah)”. When this was heard, some people asked the Prophet (SAW) whether the worth of these ten days supersedes that of fighting a holy war (Jihad) in the cause of Allah. The Prophet (SAW) replied in the affirmative; explaining that the virtues in the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah exceed those of fighting in Allah’s cause except for a man who left home to fight in the cause of Allah with his life and wealth but returned with nothing (of his wealth).
It is also reported on the authority of Ibn Umar (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) “No day is greater in virtue and more beloved to Allah for a believer to worship Him than the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. For example, it is rewarding to increase the rate of our recitation of the holy Qur’an. We could also engage much in the glorification of Allah’s beautiful names by doing much of Tahlil (saying of: La ilaha illa llah); Takbir (saying of: Allahu Akbar); and Tahmid (saying of: Alhamdu lillah) in this season. Ibn Abbas (RA) explains that Qur’an 22:28 “… And celebrate the name of Allah through the days appointed” refers to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
Imam Bukhari relates that Ibn Umar (RA) and Abu Hurayrah both used to glorify Allah (SWT) saying ‘Allahu Akbar’ even as they went to the market during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. Imam Attirmidhi, Ibn Majah and al-Bayhaqi all relate on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (RA) that the virtues of worshipping Allah in the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are beloved to Allah (SWT) so much that fasting for a day in the period is equivalent to fasting for a year in the same way that standing in worship for a night during this period is equated to standing in worship on the Night of Power (Laylat ul-Qadr).
During these ten days, Muslims are also encouraged to spend in charity; and to share with the poor part of what Allah (SWT) has given to them. The amount spent as alms is not what matters. That which matter most but the spirit behind the offer. Allah (SWT) states in Qur’an 65:7 “Let the man of means spend according to his means, and the man whose resources are limited should spend according to what Allah has given him. Allah puts no burden on any person beyond what He has given him…” Charity in the language of the Qur’an is “a beautiful loan to Allah”. What a beautiful ‘loan’ when Allah returns it to us!
On the cutting of hair or nails during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, Imam Muslim reports that the Prophet (SAW) said, “If one of you intends to sacrifice an animal on the day of Eid ul-Ad-ha, then he/she should not cut the hair and the nails (until after offering the sacrifice on the Eid day)”. However, scholars opine that it is not haram (forbidden) to cut the hair or nails if necessities arise. Cutting one’s hair or nails does not affect the reward due to the individual who offered animal(s) in sacrifice and in total submission to Allah (SWT). The observance of this Sunnah helps believers to achieve greater reward as the hair and the nails would be counted as good deeds along with the hair of the sacrificial animal.
Let us take good advantage of the remaining few days of this sacred season with the same enthusiasm and commitment we usually demonstrate in the last ten days of Ramadan. Dhul-Hijjah is a season for repentance; a season for getting closer to Allah (SWT) with acts of worship; a season for making sacrifices and showing kindness to others; and a period for seeking Allah’s intervention in our common and individual challenges. While we pray to Allah to accept all our Ibadah, we seek His support us to enable us make sacrifices including the Dahiyyah on the occasion of this year’s Eidul Kabir, amin.
