Importance of First 10 Days of Dhul Hajj Takbeerat/Youme Arafa Fasting

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ. الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ وَعَلَى جَمِيعِ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ.

All Praise is due to Alláh, We praise Him and we seek help from Him. We ask forgiveness from Him. We repent to Him; and we seek refuge in Him from our own evils and our own bad deeds. Anyone who is guided by Alláh, he is indeed guided; and anyone who has been left astray, will find no one to guide him. I bear witness that there is no god but Alláh, the Only One without any partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad, peace and blessings on him, is His servant, and His messenger.

Dear Brothers and Sisters …

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

يَا أَيُّهَا الّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ –

O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam

Alhamdullillah few days left in month of Dhul Haj. Today I will speak about the Importance of first 10 days of Dhul hajj and in shaa Allah then next week I will discuss the way the sacrifice is done the shari masail of qurbani and then the following week continue with the Virtue and trial of Hazrat Ibrahim AS.

The reason to discuss the importance of First 10 days is so that no one misses the virtues and rewards of these days.

Before explaining in detail, I will start with the Sharai Masal regarding cutting hair and nails for those who have the intention to sacrifice an animal. In light of the authentic hadith in Sahih Muslim 1977e this is Crystal Clear.

Umm Salama reported (these words) directly from Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ): If anyone has in his possession a sacrificial animal to offer as a sacrifice (on ‘Id al-Adha), he should not get his hair cut and nails trimmed after he has entered the first days of Dhu’l Hijja. Sahih Muslim 1977e. https://sunnah.com/muslim:1977e

The first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah are respected days. Allaah swore by them in His Book, and swearing by a thing is indicative of its importance and great benefit. Allaah says:

وَٱلْفَجْرِ

“By the dawn;

وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍۢ

By the ten nights (i.e. the first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah)” [al-Fajr 89:1-2]

And in Surah [al-Hajj 22:28]. “That they may witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e. reward of Hajj in the Hereafter, and also some worldly gain from trade), and mention the Name of Allaah on appointed days”

The “appointed days” are the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah. Allaah says in surah [al-Baqarah 2:203]  “And remember Allaah during the appointed Days”

Let’s start with first hadith in Sahih al Bukhari 969. Narrated Ibn `Abbas: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijja).” Then some companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Not even Jihad?” He replied, “Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah’s sake) and does not return with any of those things. “Sahih al-Bukhari 969. https://sunnah.com/bukhari:969

Similarly this is mentioned in the Musnad Ahmad with Addition of Takbeerat.

http://www.quranhadees.com/topic/first-10-days-2/

In regard to Hadith 969, Imam Bukhair wrote 1 hadith in the heading that

Hazar Umar RA and Abu Hurariae used to read loud takbeerat in the Bazar’s and markets.

وَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَعْلُومَاتٍ أَيَّامُ الْعَشْرِ، وَالأَيَّامُ الْمَعْدُودَاتُ أَيَّامُ التَّشْرِيقِ.
وَكَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ وَأَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ يَخْرُجَانِ إِلَى السُّوقِ فِي أَيَّامِ الْعَشْرِ يُكَبِّرَانِ، وَيُكَبِّرُ النَّاسُ بِتَكْبِيرِهِمَا.
وَكَبَّرَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ خَلْفَ النَّافِلَةِ.

Also, in the same hadith and chapter it is mentioned that Muhammad Bin Ali AS used to say takbeerat after Nawafil prayers.

Now When to start Saying Takbeerat

Now hadith Regarding saying takbeerat after Farad Prayer, it is in the book Musanaf Ibne Sheeba hadith Number 5677.

• Narrated from Abu Abdul Rehman that Hazrat Ali RA started saying takbeerat after Fajar Prayer on Day of Arafah (on 9 Dull Hajja) and finished it after asar prayer on the last day of Tashreek (on 13^th Dull Hajja).

• Start from beginning of Month and until the days of al Tashreeq

It is Sunnah to recite takbeer at any time during the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah and all the days of Tashreeq, starting from the beginning of the month of Dhu’l-Hijjah (i.e., from sunset on the last day of Dhu’l-Qa’dah) until the end of the days of al-Tashreeq, which is when the sun sets on the thirteenth day of Dhu’l-Hijjah). The following option is for those who are in the Hajj:

Description of the Takbeer: The scholars differed concerning the form of the Takbeer.

1 – The first view is that it is: 

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إلَهَ إلَّا اللَّهُ. وَاَللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ

Trans. (Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great, there is no god but Allaah, Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great, and to Allaah be praise).

2 – The second view is that it is: 

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إلَهَ إلَّا اللَّهُ. وَاَللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ

3 – The third view is that it is: 

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إلَهَ إلَّا اللَّهُ. وَاَللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ

Similarly, the Imam will pronounce the Takbeerat in the Eid Khutba in the First part 9 time and in the second part 7 times.

Lastly, it it is about Fasting of Yume Arafa (9 Zilhaj), so it is proven from Hadith Sahih muslim 1162: I seek from Allah that fasting on the day of ‘Arafa may atone for the sins of the preceding and the coming years, and I seek from Allah that fasting on the day of Ashura may atone for the sins of the preceding year. Sahih Muslim 1162a

https://sunnah.com/muslim:1162a

Now the concept and confusion about Fasting on Yum e Arafa and, is it about the Youm e Arafa according to Saudi Arabia in the valley of Arafat. So to clear this confusion I will give you reference from Hadith. Sahih al-Bukhari 1988

Narrated Um Al-Fadl bint Al-Harith: “While the people were with me on the day of `Arafat they differed as to whether the Prophet (ﷺ) was fasting or not; some said that he was fasting while others said that he was not fasting. So, I sent to him a bowl full of milk while he was riding over his camel and he drank it.” Sahih al-Bukhari 1988.

https://sunnah.com/bukhari:1988

Now lot of points clear in this hadith.

1. The one who is offering hajj, this is not for him
2. So, this for those who are not able to attend the Hajj and will observe the fasting of Yume Arafa
3. Now most important issue because some countries may be observing the Yume Arafa and will be fasting when it is not Yume arfa in the Saudi Arabia. So there is different opinion of scholars that to follow your own countries lunar calendar and other opinion the wording in the hadith is Yume Arafa not 9 Zilhaja so this fast will only be on Yume Arafa which will be in the Arafat. In any case I will say please do not miss this fasting because still this is in the 10 Important days and Surely Allah will give you the Ajar what you are expecting according to Hadith.

Jazak Allah Khair. Allahumma Sallai Al’a Muahmmad’n wa’aila Muhammad

Remember Allah, the Great – He will remember you. Thank Him for His favours – He will increase you therein.  And seek forgiveness from Him – He will forgive you. And be conscious of Him – He will provide you a way out of difficult matters. And, establish the prayer.

أَقُولُ مَا تَسْمَعُونَ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ  لِي وَلَكُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ  إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ