There are specified ibadaat assigned to specific days of the year by which the slave of Allah can come closer to His Lord, earn His reward and His good pleasure. In these special moments of the year, one is able to correct his mistakes, make up for his misdeeds, and align himself back on track. The first ten days of Hajj are not short of these benefits.

Why Are These Days so Great?

1)Allah took an oath by these Days:

“By the dawn. And [by] ten nights. And [by] the even [number] and the odd…”(Al-Fajr 89:01)

The Prophet said “the ten days o Dhul-Hijjah and the odd is the day of Arafah and the even is the Eid.” (Ahmad and Bazzar, Ibn Rajab graded the isnad to be Hasan)

It has been reported from Masruq and Muhammad bin Ka`b that Al-Fajr refers to the day of Sacrifice (An-Nahr) in particular, and it is the last of the ten nights. `The ten nights’ refers to the (first) ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. This was said by Ibn `Abbas, Ibn Zubayr, Mujahid and others among the Salaf and the latter generations. (Tafseer Ibn Kathir, Tafseer of Surah Fajr)

2) The Prophet stated that these were the best days:

Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” The people asked, “Not even jihaad for the sake of Allah?” He said, “Not even jihaad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing.” (Reported by Bukhari, 2/457).

These precious days are better than all other days without exception. They are even better than the days of Ramadaan. Hence to engage in good during these days should be of utmost importance to us, for they are beloved to Allah.

3) The Hajj is done during this time: the Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, an obligation on every muslim who is able to perform it. See: The Obligation of Hajj

4) It contains the Day of Arafah in which Allah completed His favour upon us and perfected His religion: Allah says, “This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.” (Al-Maa’idah 05:03)

5) There is the opportunity to have all previous sins forgiven for those on Hajj: Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: I heard the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: “Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit any obscenity or commit any evil will go back (free of) sin as on the day his mother bore him”  (Bukhari and Muslim)

6) And to have the sins of the previous and coming year forgiven for those who fast the day of Arafah:

Abu Qataadah reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was asked about fasting on the day of ‘Arafah and he said: “It expiates for the past and coming years.” Narrated by Muslim (1162).

Not only are these days themselves great, but so is the place of Hajj, in which the Hujjaj visit the sacred House of Allah. Moreover these days include the Day of Arafah on which Allah perfected His religion, and completed His favour upon us. In addition, Allah gives us an opportunity to have our sins forgiven for the year that has passed, and the one to come, and for those who are performing Hajj, they have an even greater opportunity, which is to have all their previous sins forgiven.

7) it is the only time of year that you can do the Udhiyah. Sure we can offer sacrifices to Allah at other times of the year, but none of them are the Udhiyah.

8) The promise of paradise for those whose Hajj is accepted: Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “…an accepted Hajj brings no reward but Paradise.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

So these days of the year are particularly special, for they carry many virtues and opportunities for reward.

We ask Allah to grant forgive us and admit us to His paradise.