We are passing through one of the most honorable seasons of Allah The Almighty -- the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah. This blessed period is an opportunity to offer many voluntary acts of worship with which the servant can draw himself nearer to Allah The Almighty hoping to gain an advantage which would entitle him to happiness in this life and in the Hereafter. Such blessings will protect him from the agonies of death and its severity; the grave and its darkness; and the Siraat (Bridge) and its slips.
The first ten days of Thul-Hijjah are a favored season because numerous different acts of worship are performed during it and this is not possible in other seasons. Al-Haafith said, "The reason behind the excellence of the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah is that they include the fundamental acts of worship: prayer, fasting, charity and Hajj. There is not any other time in the year when all four acts of worship are combined." [Fat-h-ul Baari]
Given that, we would like to alert readers against some mistakes that some Muslims make during the Hajj season, so that they know and avoid them. Success is sought only from Allah The Almighty!
Firstly: General mistakes
1- Paying no attention to these days:
Some people spend the ten days of Thul-Hijjah without paying them the least attention. This is a manifest mistake, because such days are greatly favored over other days. In a Hadeeth (narration), the Prophet, , said: "There are no days on which righteous deeds are dearer to Allah than they are on these ten days."
2- Neglecting Tasbeeh, Tahleel and Takbeer therein :
Many Muslims commit this mistake during the ten days of Thul-Hijjah. Rather, a Muslim is required to repeat Takbeer (saying: Allah-u-Akbar) as soon as the ten days come and to continue until the last of the days of Tashreeq. Allah The Exalted says (what means):
{And mention the Name of Allah on known days….} [Quran 22: 28]
{And remember Allah during [specific] numbered days….} [Quran 2: ]
Commenting on these verses, Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with them, said that the known days are the ten days of Thul-Hijjah and the numbered days are the days of Tashreeq. [Saheeh Al-Bukhari]
It is reported that Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with them, used to go to the market during the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah and recite Takbeer and then people would imitate them. [Al-Bukhari]
For Takbeer to be valid and acceptable, it should not be recited in a collective manner and it must not be accompanied by swinging, dancing or music. One is also required to adhere to the Athkaar (remembrance) of the Prophetic Sunnah (tradition) and avoid saying or doing anything that might have a polytheistic connotation.
3- Women saying Takbeer and Tahleel loudly:
It is not reported that the Mothers of the Believers, may Allah be pleased with them, recited Takbeer in loud voices. Women should avoid making such mistakes as well as others.
4- Addition to the Sunnah-approved wording of Takbeer :
It is a mistake to add to the established Sunnah version of Takbeer. The most authentic manner of Takbeer is: "Allah-u-Akbar, Allah-u-Akbar Kabeeran (Allah is Greatest)." [‘Abdur-Raazaaq]
The same manner is also reported on the authority of Sa'eed bin Jubayr, Mujaahid and others. [Ja‘far Al-Firyaabi]
Ash-Shaafi‘i adopted this version and added: "Wa lillaahi-l-hamd (And praise is due to Allah)."
According to another opinion, it is: "Allah-u-Akbar, Allah-u-Akbar, Allah-u-Akbar, Laa illaaha illaallaah wahdahu laa shareeka lah (Allah is Greatest, there is no deity but Allah alone and there are no partners to Him)."
According to a third opinion, it is: "Allah-u-Akbar, Allah-u-Akbar, Laa illaaha illaallaa, Allah-u-Akbar, Allah-u-Akbar, Allah-u-Akbar, Wa lillaahi-l-hamd."
This last version is reported on the authority of ‘Umar and Ibn Mas‘ood, may Allah be pleased with them. This is also the view of Ahmad and Is-haaq . [Fat-hul Baari]
To sum up this point, there are two authentic wordings for Takbeer:
* Allah-u-Akbar, Allah-u-Akbar, Laa illaaha illaallaah, wallaah-u-Akbar, wa lillaahi-l-hamd.
* Allah-u-Akbar, Allah-u-Akbar, Allah-u-Akbar Kabeera.
Some books of the schools of jurisprudence, such as Al-Majmoo’, mention additions to the aforesaid manner which are inauthentic. Perhaps such additions are said in occasions other than the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah.
5- Fasting during the days of Tashreeq:
This is forbidden, because they are days of 'Eed and during which one eats and drinks. In a Hadeeth, the Prophet, , said: "The day of ‘Arafah (the 9th day of Thul-Hijjah)), the day of Nahr ((the 10th day of Thul-Hijjah)) and the days of Tshreeq are 'Eed for us, Muslims. They are days for eating and drinking." [Abu Daawood]
6- Observing voluntary fasting while one is required to observe fasting for days that were missed during Ramadan:
Some people fast one, two, three days or more during the ten days of Thul-Hijjah while they are required to make up for fasts that they missed in Ramadan. This is a mistake that should be avoided, because making up for missed obligatory fasts is an obligation while fasting during these ten days is an act of Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) and it is impermissible to give precedence to acts of Sunnah over obligations.
Consequently, it is obligatory for one who is required to make up for missed Ramadan fasts to observe the obligatory fasting before observing any voluntary fasting.
Some people harbor multiple intentions when observing a single fast in order to get multiple rewards, such as one fasting on a day while harboring the intention of making up for a missed Ramadan fast, fasting a day of Thul-Hijjah as well as fasting on Monday or Thursday, all intentions for only one fasted day. Such practice is ungrounded. None of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, adopted this view. Mixing acts of worship is a serious matter and Muslims must not indulge in that.
Secondly: Mistakes made on the Day of ‘Arafah
1- Abandoning fasting:
It should be taken into consideration that the Day of ‘Arafah is the best day of the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah, and abandoning fasting of that day is a mistake that many of those who are not granted success to do righteous deeds commit. It was narrated on the authority of Abu Qataadah Al-Ansaari, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, , was asked about the reward of fasting the day of ‘Arafah and he said: "It expiates sins of the past year and the coming year."[Muslim]
This is prescribed for those who are not pilgrims of Hajj. As for pilgrims of Hajj, they are forbidden to observe fasting during that day.