By Shaykhul-Hadith, Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Saleem Dhorat Sahib حفظه الله
1. Allah Ta‘ala has taken an oath of ten nights in Suratul-Fajr. According to the majority of the commentators of the Qur’ān, the nights are those of the (first) ten days of Zul-Hijjah.
2. Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه related that Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said,
‘On no days is the worship of Allah more beloved to Him than in the (first) ten days of Zul-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-Tirmidhī, Ibn Mājah)
3. The mother of the believers, Sayyidah Hafsah رضي الله عنها, reports that Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم used to fast the (first) nine days of Zul-Hijjah. (Abū Dāwūd, An-Nasa’ī, Ahmad)
4. Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما related that Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, ‘No days are as weighty with Allah and so liked by Him for good deeds than the first ten days of Zul-Hijjah. So on these days increasingly read:
سُبْحٰنَ اللّٰهِ، وَلَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ، وَاللّٰهُ أَ كْبَرُ، وَالْـحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ
Subhanallah, wa la ilaha illallah, wallahu Akbar, wal-hamdulillāh.
Pure is Allah (from all imperfections); there is no deity but Allah; Allah is the Greatest and all praise is for Allah. (Musnad ‘Abd ibn Humayd, Shu‘abul-Īmān)
Note: Although it is better to recite the above-mentioned Azkar in the order mentioned in the Hadith, reciting the third Kalimah will also suffice.
Virtues of the Day of Arafah (9th Zul-Hijjah)
1. Sayyiduna Anas Ibn Malik رضي الله عنه said, ‘It would be said regarding the first ten days of Zul-Hijjah that every day is equivalent to a thousand days, and the day of Arafah is equivalent to ten thousand days i.e. in virtue.’ (At-Targhīb Wat-Tarhīb)
2. Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه reports that Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, ‘Indeed, this (i.e. the day of Arafah) is such a (special) day that one who controls his ears, eyes and tongue on this day will be forgiven.’ (Musnad Ahmad)
3. Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah Al-Ansari رضي الله عنه narrated that Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم was asked about the fast on the day of Arafah. He said, ‘It compensates for the (minor) sins of the past and the coming year.’ (Muslim, At-Tirmidhī, Ibn Mājah)
4. Sayyidah Aaishah رضي الله عنها reports that Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, ‘There is no day in which Allah sets free more souls from the fire of hell than on the day of Arafah. And on that day (the Mercy of) Allah draws near and by way of exhibiting His Pride (for the Hujjaj) He remarks to the angels, “What is the desire of these (servants of mine)?”’ (Muslim)
5. Sayyiduna Talhah رضي الله عنه reports that Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, ‘Apart from the day of the Battle of Badr there is no day on which Shaytan is seen to be more humiliated, more rejected, more depressed and more infuriated, than on the day of Arafah. And this is only due to him observing the (abundant) mercy descending (upon the Hujjaj) and Allah forgiving (their) major sins.’ (Al-Muwatta’ – Imām Mālik)
Night of Eidul-Adha
The nights of both Eids are described in the Hadith as amongst the great and sacred nights in the Islamic calendar. To remain awake on the nights of Eid and perform Ibadah is a source of great virtue and reward.
Sayyiduna Abu Umamah رضي الله عنه reports that Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم, ‘Whosoever stays awake and performs Ibadat (worship) on the nights of the two Eids, with hope for reward (from Allah Ta‘ala), his heart will not die on the day (i.e. at the time of death or on the Day of Qiyamah) when hearts will die (i.e. will be in anguish due to being void of Iman or as a result of sins).’ (Ibn Mājah)
Imam Shafi رحمه الله reports that it would be said, ‘Indeed dua is accepted on five nights: The night of Jumuah (i.e. Thursday night), the night of Eidul Adha, the night of Eidul Fitr, the first night of Rajab and the night of the middle (15th) of Shaban.’ (Al-Umm, Shu‘abul-Īmān)
Virtues of Udhiyah (Qurbani)
Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said,
‘The son of Adam does not carry out on Yawmun Nahr (10th Zul Hijjah) a deed more beloved to Allah Ta’ala than the animal sacrifice. It (i.e. the sacrificed animal) shall come on the Day of Judgement with its horns, hair, and hooves (to be weighed). The sacrifice is accepted by Allah before the blood reaches the ground. Therefore, sacrifice with an open and happy heart.’ (At-Tirmidhī)
Takbirat of Tashriq
The takbirat of tashriq are:
اَللّٰهُ أَ كْبَرُ ، اَللّٰهُ أَ كْبَرُ، لَآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ
وَاللّٰهُ أَ كْبَرُ ، اَللّٰهُ أَ كْبَرُ، وَلِلّٰهِ الْـحَمْدُ
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, laa ilaha illallahu wallahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa lillahil hamd.
Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. There is no deity besides Allah and Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest and All Praise is for Allah alone.
• It is wajib for every adult Muslim to recite these takbirat of tashriq once after every fard salah from the Fajr of 9th Zul-Hijjah till the Asr of 13th Zul-Hijjah (i.e. total of 23 Salah). Men will recite them audibly and women softly.
• The Takbirat of Tashriq should be recited immediately after concluding the fard prayer.
(c)Islamic Da’wah Academy