The Messenger of Allah, , said: “Do goodness throughout your life and pursue the blessings of the Mercy of Allah, for Allah has blessings of mercy that He bestows upon whom He wills of His slaves; and ask Allah to conceal your ‘Awrahs (parts of the body that must be covered) and to secure you from terror. ” [At-Tabaraani]
This Hadeeth (narration) indicates that in addition to continuously doing good deeds, a Muslim should take advantage of the blessed times when there are blessings of Allah The Almighty; when good deeds are multiplied and sins are forgiven. Allah The Almighty preferred some days over others so that a Muslim could have the chance to have as much reward as possible and assume the highest ranks.
Among the days which Allah The Almighty favored over all other days are the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah. They are blessed days by which Allah took an oath in the Quran when He the Almighty Says (what means): {By the dawn*And [by] ten nights} [Quran 89:1-2] This oath clarifies the virtue of the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah and their great benefit. It is even said that these days are the best days of the whole year.
Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet said: “No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Thul-Hijjah).” Then some companions of the Prophet said,“Not even Jihaad?”He replied: “Not even Jihaad, except that of a man who puts himself and his property in danger (for Allah's sake) and does not return with any of those things.” [Al-Bukhari]
Commenting on this Hadeeth, Ibn Hajar said, “This Hadeeth indicates the virtue of Jihaad, its various degrees and that the ultimate goal in Jihaad is to sacrifice oneself for the Sake of Allah. It also points out that some times are favored over others just like places. It clarifies the virtue of the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah over other days of the year.”
‘Abdullaah bin ‘Amr bin Al-‘Aas, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, , said: “No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Thul-Hijjah).” Then some companions of the Prophet, ,said, “Not even Jihaad?”He replied: “Not even Jihaad, except that of a man who sets out for Jihaad with his self and property and does not return until his blood has been shed.” [Ahmad]
Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, , said: “There is no deed that is better before Allah or more greatly rewarded than a good deed done in the (first) ten days of Al-Adh-ha.” It was said, “Not even Jihaad for the Sake of Allah?” He said: “Not even Jihaad for the sake of Allah, except that a man who goes out himself for Jihaad taking his wealth with him and does not come back with anything.” [Ad-Daarimi]
Anas bin Maalik, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “It was said regarding the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah, ‘Every day equals one thousand days and the day of ‘Arafah equals ten thousand days.’” [Al-Bayhaqi]
Al-Awzaa‘i said, “I was informed that a good deed on any day of the ten days of Thul-Hijjah equals setting out for a battle in the Cause of Allah, fasting its days and guarding the army during its nights, unless the person is martyred.” [Al-Bayhaqi]
An intelligent person looks for the blessings of Allah and utilizes them by praying, fasting, giving charity, maintaining kinship ties, pardoning whoever wrongs him, reciting the Quran, glorifying Allah The Almighty, asking Allah for forgiveness, and doing as many good deeds as possible. The negligent and arrogant person spends these days heedlessly wasting time in pursuing the base desires of the worldly life in the company of bad friends and loses a great season of obedience that comes only once a year.
The Messenger of Allah, , specified the worship of Tahleel [saying La ilaaha illa Allah (None is truly worthy of worship but Allah)], Takbeer [saying Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest)] and Tahmeed [saying Al-Hamdulillaah (All praise is due to Allah)]. Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, , said: “There is no deed that is better before Allah or more beloved than a good deed done in the (first) ten days (of Thul-Hijjah). So, do much Tahleel, Takbeer and Tahmeed during them.” [Ahmad]
This Hadeeth indicates the great reward of doing these deeds in these days although it is a light act of worship where there is no great physical effort such as that exerted in prayer and fasting, or great effort in spending such as that exerted in Zakah, charity, expiations, and so on. Rather, these acts of worship need a heart that is attached to Allah The Almighty. Whoever finds the worship of remembering Allah The Almighty to be heavy, should realize that other acts of worship, which involve physical effort or spending, will be even heavier and harder for him. So, this is a warning for those who do not remember Allah The Almighty to correct their shortcomings before it is too late.
Finally, all the narrations about the virtue of the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah stress the great reward of these days. However, no matter how great the reward is for doing good deeds during these days, it does not amount to the reward of doing Jihaad in the way of Allah The Almighty. Nothing equals this reward but going for Jihaad with one's wealth and self and being martyred and having one’s face rubbed in the dust during Jihaad. Jaabir, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, , said: “The best days of the world are the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah.” It was said, “Even similar days in the way of Allah?” He said: “Even similar days in the way of Allah unless it be a man who has his face rubbed in the dust (i.e. killed).” [Al-Bazzaar and Ibn Hibbaan]