وَيَذۡكُرُوا اسۡمَ اللّٰهِ فِىۡۤ اَ يَّامٍ مَّعۡلُوۡمٰتٍ

“And mention the name of Allah on known days.” [Al-Hajj, v.28]

1. Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas رضى الله عنه reports, “The Known Days are the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.” During these ten days, Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar رضى الله عنه and Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رضى الله عنه would go to the marketplace and recite the Takbir. The people would also repeat the Takbir. [Saheeh Bukhari: The Book of Eidain].
2. Sayyidah Hafsah رضى الله عنها reports that Nabi ﷺ would never leave out four things.
   • Fasting on Aashura [10th of Muharram].
   • Fasting ten days [ie. the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah].
   • Fasting three days every month.
   • Two rak’ahs [Sunnah] before Fajr.
     [Sunan Nasai #2416; Musnad Ahmad #26459].
3. Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas رضى الله عنه related that the Prophet of Allah ﷺ said, “No good deeds done on ten days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul- Hijjah).” Part of a lengthier hadith [Bukhari #969].
4. Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رضى الله عنه related that the Prophet of Allah ﷺ said, “On no days is the worship of Allah desired more than in the (first) ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. The fast of each of these days is equal to the fast of a whole year, and the worship of each of these nights is equal to the worship of Laylatul-Qadr.” [At-Tirmidhi #758, Imam Tirmidhi has declared this Hadith as weak. However, this Hadith is suitable to practice upon as is the rule of Hadiths of this nature.]
5. Some of the wives of Nabi ﷺ have reported, “Nabi ﷺ would fast the (first) nine days of Dhul-Hijjah. [Abu Dawud #2437, An-Nasa’i #2417]
6. Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn Umar رضى الله عنه related that the Prophet of Allah ﷺ said, “No days are as weighty with Allah and so liked by Him for good deeds than the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. So on these days increase your Tahleel (to say لا إله إلا الله), Takbeer (to say الله اكبر), Tahmeed (to say(الحمد لله .” [Ahmad #5446]
7. Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik رضى الله عنه reports, “It used to be said (by the Sahabah) that every day of the ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah) is equal to a thousand days, and the day of Arafah is equal to (in virtue) ten thousand days.” [Al-Targhib wa al-Tarheeb, vol. 2 pg. 128].
8. Sayyidah Umm Salamah رضى الله عنها that the Prophet ﷺ said: “When you see the hilal of Dul-Hijjah (month begins) and anyone of you intends to perform the sacrifice, he should not get his hair cut or nails trimmed (until he has sacrificed the animal).” [Muslim #1977].

Note: According to Hanafi fiqh, It is mustahabb (recommended) to practice upon this hadith. If someone decides to cut his hair or trim the nails before Qurbani, there will be no sin, and Qurbani will be valid.

Mustahabb – means preferable. If a person does it he will be rewarded. If it is left out, there will be no sin or reproach.

Virtues of the Day of ‘Arafah (9th Dhul-Hijjah)

1. Sayyiduna Talhah رضى الله عنه reports that the Prophet of Allah ﷺ said, “Apart from the day of the Battle of Badr there is no day on which the Shaytan is seen to be more humiliated, more rejected, more depressed and more infuriated, than on the day of Arafah, and indeed all this is only because of beholding the abundance of descending mercy (on the day) and Allah’s forgiveness of the great sins of the servants.” [Muwatta Imam Malik #1269].
2. Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah Al-Ansari رضى الله عنه narrated that the Prophet of Allah ﷺ said, “Fasting on the Day of Arafah, I hope from Allah, it expiates for the sins of the year before and the year after.” [Muslim #1162, At-Tirmidhi #749, Ibn Majah #1730]

Night of Eid-al-Adha

The nights of both Eids are described in a weak Hadith as amongst the virtuous and sacred nights in the Islamic calendar. To remain awake on the nights of Eid and to perform ‘ibadah, is a source of great blessings and reward. Spending the whole night in worship is not necessary.

Sayyiduna Abu ‘Umamah رضى الله عنه related that the Prophet ﷺ said, “Whosoever stands (for worship) on the nights of the two Eids, with hope for reward, his heart will not die on the day (i.e. Qiyamah) when all hearts will die.” [Al-Targhib wa al-Tarheeb, vol. 2 pg. 98].

Apart from the compulsory acts of worship and refraining from sin, the recommended actions during the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah are:

• To increase the remembrance of Allah through Dhikr.
• To fast the nine days, especially the Day of Arafah.
• To spend extra time in optional worship.
• To engage in various good deeds, e.g. repentance, sadaqah, Qur’an recitation, etc.