By Sultaan ibn Fahd At-Tubayshi

All Praise be to Allah, and I bear witness that no one is worthy to be worshipped but Allah alone, Who has no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The month of Thul-Hijjah is a noble month and a great season. It is the month of Hajj, the month of forgiveness and standing in ‘Arafah, the month in which Muslims seek closeness to Allah through various acts of worship: Hajj, ‘Umrah, prayer, fasting, charity, sacrifice, remembrance of Allah, supplication and seeking forgiveness. Moreover, the first ten days are blessed ones, which are the known days; Allah Almighty Says (what means): {and mention the name of Allah on known days} ,[Quran 22:28] Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be Pleased with him, interpreted this verse, saying, ”They are the ten days (meaning the first ten of Thul-Hijjah).” [Al-Bayhaqi]

Allah swore by them in the clear verses of the Quran, in His Saying (what means): {By the dawn And [by] ten nights} [Quran 89 :1-2] They are better than any other ten days, and doing righteous deeds in them is far better than doing righteous deeds in any other days.

The Muslim is required to fill those days with as many good deeds as he can do, so that he may attain the forgiveness of Allah Almighty and deliverance from Hellfire.

Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah Be Pleased with them, narrated that the Prophet said: “No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Thul-Hijjah)." The Companions asked, "Not even Jihaad?" He replied, "Not even Jihaad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah's sake) and does not return with any of those things.” [Al-Bukhari]

The Prophet stated in this Hadeeth that the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah are among the greatest days of the year, and he urged us to do good deeds in them.

Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet said: ”There are no days greater in the sight of Allah and in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Him than these ten days, so recite in them a great deal of Tahleel, Takbeer and Tahmeed.” [Ahmad] This Hadeeth urges adherence to worship and to the remembrance of Allah in these ten days.

What, then, was the state of the righteous predecessors in these ten days? And what are the deeds they were keen on doing in them?

The righteous predecessors used to glorify these ten days; Muhammad ibn Nasr narrated in the Book of Prayer that Abu ‘Uthmaan An-Nahdi said: “The righteous predecessors used to glorify three sets of ten days: the first ten days of Muharram, the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah and the last ten days of Ramadan.” [Ad-Durr Al-Manthoor]

First, narrations about their virtue:

1- Anas ibn Maalik,may Allah Be Pleased with him, said: "It was said regarding the ten days: each day equals a thousand days, whereas the day of ‘Arafah equals ten thousand days (meaning equal in merit)." [Al-Bayhaqi]

2- Al-Awzaa‘i said: "I was informed that deeds in any of the ten days is equal to participating in a Ghazwah for the sake of Allah, in which one fasts during the day and guards during the night, unless he is martyred." [Al-Bayhaqi]

Second, exerting effort in them:

They were extremely diligent in these ten days, for example:

1. Sa‘eed ibn Jubayr: "When the ten days started, he would strive in worship until almost no one could surpass him.” [Ad-Daarimi]
2. He also said: "Do not put out your lights in the nights of the ten days – meaning: stay up for worship – wake your servants up to have Suhoor to fast on the day of ‘Arafah.” [Siyar A‘laam An-Nubalaa’]

Third, fasting in them:

It was narrated from Hunaydah ibn Khaalid from his wife that one of the wives of the Prophet said that he used to fast the nine days of Thul-Hijjah and the day of ‘Aashoora’ and three days of each month – the first Monday and two Thursdays.” [Ahmad, Abu Daawood and An-Nasaa’I; this is the wording of Abu Daawood]

As for the Salaf fasting these days and encouraging observing them, here are some of their statements:

1. Al-Hasan Al-Basri said: "Fasting one day of the ten days is equal to fasting two months." [Ad-Durr Al-Manthoor]

2. Al-Awzaa‘i said: "I was informed that doing righteous deeds in any of the ten days is equal to participating in a Ghazwah for the sake of Allah, in which one fasts during the day and guards during the night, except someone who is favored with martyrdom." [Al-Bayhaqi]
3. ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Awn said: "Muhammad ibn Seereen used to fast the ten days of Thul-Hijjah (meaning the nine days) – and when they had passed and the days of Tashreeq had passed, he would not fast for nine days, equal to the days he had fasted." [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah]
4. Layth ibn Abi Sulaym said: “Mujaahid used to fast the ten days, and ‘Ataa’ was keen on fasting them.” [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah]
5. ‘Eesa ibn ‘Ali ibn ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Abbaas used to fast these ten days. [Al-Muntatham for Ibn Al-Jawzy]