Al Hamdulillāh was Salātu was Salāmu ‘alā rasūlillah
Ammā Ba’d:
There is no doubt that Allah blesses the believer with periods of khair and barakah throughout the year. These periods are opportunities for the believer to increase in good and take advantage of the bounty and mercy of Allah during them. With the approach of the blessed ten days of Dhul Hijjah, we are drawing near to the best ten days of the year. It is these days that Allah swears by in the beginnings of Suratul Fajr when Allah says:
“(I swear) By the Dawn, and by the ten nights..” (Suratul fajr: 1-2)
Many of the scholars of tafseer from the salaf (from them Ibn Abbās, Abdullah Ibn Zubair, Qatādah, Masrooq, ‘Ikrimah,`Dahāk and many others) held that this is a reference to the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, a period of immense khair.
In fact, many of the scholars of Tafseer from the salaf (from them Abdullah Ibn Zubair, Al Aswad Ibn Yazīd An Nakha’I, Masrūq, Mujāhid, Qatādah and others) held that the ten (i.e. the ten mentioned in the beginning of Suratul Fajr) are the ten of Al Adh’haa (i.e. the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah) and Al Watr (the odd, a reference to the following verse “and by the even and the odd” ) is the day of Arafah, and Ash Shaf’ (the even) is the day of Nahr (i.e. the day of Eid since Arafah is the 9th and the day of Nahr is the 10th of dhul Hijjah).
Therefore, Allah swears by the ten days generally, and further swears by two of its days specifically. There is no doubt then that these oaths of Allah fall upon something tremendous.
Allah Azz awa Jall Also refers to the days of Dhul hijjah as ‘the known appointed days’ in his statement:
“That they may witness things that are of benefit to them, and mention the name of Allah in the known appointed days’ (Suratul Hajj: 28)
Ibn Abbas, Ibn Umar, Abu Moosaa Al Ash’ari, Mujaahid, Ataa’ Sa’eed Ibn Jubair, Al Hasan Al Basri Qatadah and others all held that this is a reference to the days of dhul Hijjah.
Thus, the Prophet – Sallallahu alaihi was Salam – mentioned, establishing the virtue of these days:
“There are no days that a person performs righteous actions within them more beloved to Allah than these days” (i.e. the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah) They said ‘Oh messenger of Allah! not even Jihad in the way of Allah?’ he replied: “Not even Jihad in the way of Allah, except for the one that leaves out with his person and his wealth and returns with none of this (i.e. he is killed in the way of Allah)” (Collected by Al Bukhāri)
One version of the hadeeth mentions:
“There are no days purer with Allah nor greater in reward..” (Collected by Abu Dāwūd and declared ‘Saheeh’ by Shaikh Albāni in ‘Sahīh Abi Dāwūd (2017))
Al Hāfidh Ibn Rajab mentions commenting on this hadeeth: “The hadeeth of Ibn Abbās indicates that actions are multiplied during these ten with no exception for any of them”
Among these ten days, is a day the Messenger – Sallallahu alaihi was salam refered to as “The greatest days with Allah..” in his statement “Indeed the greatest days with Allah – Tabaaraka wa Ta’alaa – are the day of nahr (Eid Al Adh’hā) and then the day of Qarr (the day of taking residence in Minā i.e. the day after Eid)” (Collected by Abu Dāwūd and declared ‘Saheeh’ By Albāni in Sahīh Abu Dāwūd (1549))
Therefore, there are places wherein the reward for certain righteous actions are multiplied (such as salaah in Masjidul Harām) and there are times when actions are multiplied, these coming days are the greatest of them!
Wa Sallallahu alā Nabiyinā Muhammad
