Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {By the dawn, And [by] ten nights, And [by] the even [number] and the odd, And [by] the night when it passes, Is there [not] in [all] that an oath [sufficient] for one of perception?}[Quran 89: 1-5]

It is narrated that the Messenger of Allah, , said: “There are no days during which doing righteous deeds is more beloved to Allah than during these days [meaning the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah].” They (the companions) asked, “O Messenger of Allah, not even Jihaad for the sake of Allah?” He said: “Not even Jihaad for the sake of Allah, except for a man who sets out with himself and his wealth [for the sake of Allah] and returns with neither of them.”

Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, , said: “There are no other days greater in the sight of Allah nor during which the good deeds are more beloved to Him than during these ten days. So, intensify saying Laa Ilaaha illa Allah, Allahu Akbar and Alhamdulillaah.” [At-Tabaraani]

In Al-Fat-h, Al-Haafith said, “It seems that the reason behind the excellence of the ten days of Thul-Hijjah is that they include the fundamental acts of worship: prayer, fasting, charity and Hajj. This, however, is not available in other seasons.”

Peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you, sisters!

The blessed ten days of Thul-Hijjah came by the bounty of Allah, the most High, the most Powerful, who endows His servants with seasons in terms of time and place for goodness and acts of obedience. So, praise be to Allah The Almighty for this.

Only a wise woman is the one who utilizes these seasons, as they may never come again. Actually, the passing of days and nights diminishes one’s age and therefore one has to work hard, so you have to work on them.

Do not waste these days by shopping and preparing for the ‘Eed. ‘Eed is not for one who wears new clothes; rather, it is for the winner who repented and returned to Allah The Almighty.

The Messenger of Allah, , said: “There are no days during which doing righteous deeds is more beloved to Allah than during these days [meaning the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah].”

You can reflect deeply on this Hadeeth (narration). The Messenger of Allah, , mentioned the good deeds in general. He did not say “prayer”, and he did not say “fasting”, but rather, he said “the good deeds”.

This means that the opportunity is not restricted to a certain righteous deed. One who is unable to perform the voluntary night prayer can give in charity. One who is unable to give in charity can engage in remembering Allah The Almighty, maintain kinship ties, feed a needy person, smile at other Muslim sisters, or at least take care of her children and obey her husband.

This is not restricted by Sharee’ah (Islamic legislation), so you should not distress yourself. Moreover, you should not belittle any good deed, for what you [might] see as a small deed, Allah The Almighty indeed gives increase to it; and a small stone may support a dam. It is quite probable that a great dam could stand on a rock.

Do not belittle any good deed, and similarly, do not overlook any evil deed! Beware of small sins for they could gather and destroy you.

O sister, the deeds are many, the sustenance is little and the journey is long. So, you should gain your sustenance of good deeds during these days and take into consideration the Hadeeth in which the Prophet, , says: “Whoever fears pillage of the enemy sets out in the early part of night and whoever sets out early will reach his destination). Indeed the commodity of Allah is expensive. Indeed the commodity of Allah is Paradise.”

Do you know how to make easy for yourself any goal that you want to achieve? Put the goal before your eyes always and keep it in mind. A woman who looks forward to Paradise must always put this goal before her eyes and never let it out of her sight.

So, you should start these days considering it a project and means for attaining Paradise and seeing the Most Generous, the Most Giving.

Do you not yearn to see Allah The Almighty? Are your eyes not tired of looking at the television sets, serials and shops? Do you not want to see Paradise, the Prophet, , and Allah the Most Merciful, the Most Kind. So start now. Bring a pen and paper and write a concentrated purposeful short-term plan.

So, you should do all kinds of good deeds and you should not neglect any of them.

Sister, Shaykhul-Islam, Ibn Taymiyyah was asked which is better, the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah or the last ten days of Ramadan? He replied, “The first ten days of Thul-Hijjah are better than the last ten days of Ramadan, and the last ten nights of Ramadan are better than the first ten nights of Thul Hijjah.”

So, hasten to utilize hours and preserve time, for you do not know what remains of your lifespan. Repent to Allah The Almighty for wasting time, and know that keenness to do righteous deeds during these blessed days is a form of hastening to goodness and a sign of piety. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):