Eid ul Adha ka Chand Mubarik!đ The first ten days of Dhuâl Hijjah are blessed days: Allah Most High Himself swore by them in the Qurâan: âBy the Dawn, and the Ten NightsâŠâ [Qurâan, Surat al-Fajr, 89.1-2] The Qurâanic commentators generally agree that the ten nights mentioned above refers to âthe first ten days of Dhuâl Hijjah,â as one may find in Shaykh al-Islam Abu Su`udâs Irshad al-`Aql al-Salim ila Mazaya al-Qurâan al-Karim [famous as Tafsir Abi al-Su`ud, 9.153] or in Tafsir al-Jalalayn. Imam Ahmad and Nasaâi report from Sayyida Hafsa (Allah be pleased with her) that, âThe Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) did not leave four matters: Fasting `Ashura (f: 10th of Muharram), [during] the ten days [of Dhuâl Hijja], and three days of each month.â 1. Fasting the First Nine Days, Especially the Day of `Arafah (9th) The scholars have concured that it is recommended to fast during the first nine days of Dhuâl Hijja. Note, however, that the tenth day is the day of Eid, and is prohibitively disliked and sinful to fast this day. [Buhuti, Kashshaf al-Qina`; Nawawi,Majmu`; Fatawa Hindiyya; Haskafi, Durr al-Mukhtar; Dardir,al-Sharh al-Saghir] Of these, it is particularly recommended to fast the Day of `Arafah (9th of Dhuâl Hijjah), even for the one on Hajj in the Hanafi school, if it does not weaken the pilgrim from spending the day busy in worship. [Haskafi, Durr; Kasani, Badaâi`] As for hadiths in which the Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) commanded against fasting this day for the pilgrim at `Arafah, this was understood by the Hanafi imams to refer to those whom it would weaken or tire. This was explained by Imam Tahawi. [Sharh Ma`ani al-Athar, 2.82-83] This is because of the numerous hadiths that have come in praise of this day in particular and fasting in it. Among these is: Abu Qatada (Allah be pleased with him) related that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions) said, âFasting the Day of `Arafah (f: 9th of Dhuâl Hijjah) expiates for two years, one prior and one forthcoming. And fasting the Day of `Ashura (f: 10th of Muharram) expiates for the past year.â [Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasaâi, and Ibn Majah] 2. Increasing Oneâs Spiritual Works During these Ten Days Similarly, it is recommended to busy oneself these days with acts of worship. Imam Sharaf al-Din al-Hijjawi, the great Hanbali faqih, states in his primary text, al-Iqna`,: âIt is recommend to exert oneself in good works during the first ten days of Dhuâl Hijjah, such as remembrance of Allah (dhikr), fasting, charity, and other righteous actions, because they are the best of days.â [Buhuti, Kashshaf al-Qina`, 2.60] This is confirmed by scholars of all the Sunni madhhabs. [Ibn Nujaym, al-Bahr al-Raâiq; Haskafi/Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar `ala al-Durr al-Mukhtar; Nawawi, al-Majmu` and others] Many scholars even stated that daytimes of these ten days are more virtuous than the ten daytimes of the last ten days of Ramadan, because of the strength of the primary texts related to them. 3. Spending the Nights of These Days In Prayer and Worship It is especially recommended to spend some part of each of the nights of these ten days in prayer and worship. [Nawawi, Majmu`; Ibn Qudama, Mughni; Dardir, al-Sharh al-Saghir; Ibn Nujaym, al-Bahr al-Raâiq;al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya; Ibn Abidin/Haskafi, Radd al-Muhtar `ala al-Durr al-Mukhtar] This was deduced by clear primary texts, such as Prophetâs words (Allah bless him and give him peace) that, âThere are no days in which good works are more beloved to Allah than these days â meaning the first ten days of Dhuâl Hijjah.â The Companions asked, âNot even jihad in the path of Allah, O Messenger of Allah?â He said (Allah bless him & give him peace), âNot even jihad in the path of Allah, except for the one who goes forth with his person and wealth and does not return with any of it.â [Bukhari and others] May Allah give us success in these blessed days and nights, and in every moment of our lives, to follow the path of the Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace), and may He make us of those whom He loves and who love Him.
Posted on: Mon, 07 Oct 2013 10:44:07 +0000
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