The First Ten Days of Zilhijjah

بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم

In the Name of Allah,

the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

 
Assalamu alaikum dear readers,

As we are about to entire the month of Zilhijjah,
I wanted to  post some of the Virtues of this month,
as a reminder for all of us.

The month of Zilhijjah is the last month of the Islamic calender.
Literally it means '' the month of Hajj.'' Obviously this name of
the month indicates that the great annual worship of ''hajj'' is
performed in this month. For this reason it has a peculiar signi-
ficance as compared to other months of the year. Some specific
merits relevant to this month are mentioned below :

First ten days

The first ten days of the month of Zulhijjah are among the most
magnificent days in Islamic calendar. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
has said, ''One fast during  these days is equal to the fasting of one
complete year, and the worship of one night during this period is
equal to the worship in the ''Lailatul-Qadr''.

Every Muslim should avail of this wonderful opportunity by offering
during this period as much 'Ibadah (acts of worship) to Allah as he
or she can.

The 9th day of Zulhijjah

The 9th day of the month of Zulhijjah is called 'Youmul - Arafah'
(The Day of 'Arafah). This is the date when the Hujjaj ( Hajj pilgrims,
plural of Haajj) assemble on the plain of 'Arafat, six miles away from
Makkah al- Mukarramah, where they perform the most essential part
of the prescribed duties of Hajj, namely, the Wuqoof of 'Arafat (the
stay in 'Arafat).

The fast of Youmul 'Arafah

For those not performing Hajj, it is mustahabb (desirable) to fast
on this day according to their own Calendar. It sometimes occurs
that the date of 9th Zulhijjah falls on different days in different
countries according to the sighting of the moon. In such cases,
Muslims of each country should observe 'Youmul 'Arafah accord-
ing to the lunar dates of their own country.


The fast of 'Youmul 'Arafah' has been emphasized by the
Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم as a mustahabb act. According to a
hadith, the fast of this day becomes a cause, hopefully so, of
forgiveness for sins committed in one year.

Takbir-ut-tashriq

As from the Fajr of the 9th Zulhijjah upto the 'Asr prayer of the
13th, it is obligatory (hanafi)  on each Muslim to recite the Takbir
of Tashriq in the following words.

الله اكبر الله اكبر لااِلهَ اِلا اللهُ واللهُ اكبرُ اللهُ اكبرُ وَلِلهِ الحَمد

There is no god but Allah and Allah is great, 

Allah is great and to Allah belongs all praise.

According to authentic Islamic sources, it is obligatory (hanafi) on each

Muslim, to recite this Takbir after every obligatory (fard) salah.


Islamic Months Merits and Percepts 
by Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani

click here 

click this to read more on thakbir ( shafi )