4- Performing Prayer: ‎‎‎‎

‎‎‎‎The Prophet said: “Prayer is the best deed, so whoever could pray more, should do so.” [Saheeh Al-Jaami‘] It was also narrated that the Prophet said: “No deeds that a son of Aadam does are better than praying, reconciling people and having good morals.” [Saheeh Al-Jaami‘]‎‎‎‎

‎Dear brother and sister, do not forget that the reward of praying twelve Rak‎‎‎‘ahs (units) of voluntary prayer daily is to be granted a house in Paradise. Do not forget to pray Adh-Dhuha (Forenoon) prayer (two Rak‘ahs or more) and the night prayer. The Prophet said: “Three are Loved by Allah and Allah will smile at them ...One of them is a man who has a beautiful wife and a soft bed, but he gets up during the night to pray. Allah The Almighty Says: ‎‎‎‎ ‎’He abandons his desire and remembers Me; if he wished, he would sleep.’” [At-Tabaraani: Hasan] ‎

‎Observing voluntary prayers is one of the reasons of gaining the love of Allah The Almighty and whoever gains the love of Allah will be protected by Him, his invocations will be accepted and his rank will be elevated as these voluntary prayers perfect the deeds.‎

‎5- Thikr (Remembrance of Allah):‎

‎Thikr is the best things to say in the sight of Allah The Almighty and it is the reason for being saved in this life and the Hereafter as it results in being remembered by Allah and His angels. Thikr is the strongest weapon, the best deed, the most elevated one and it is better than spending in the Cause of Allah as it multiplies the reward, expiates sins and makes the scale heavy. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {That they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allah on known days over what He Has Provided for them of [sacrificial] animals…..} [Quran 22:28] ‎‎It was narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet said: “No good deeds done on any other days are superior to those done on these days (the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah), so perform Tahleel (i.e., say, ‘Laa Ilaaha illa Allah’ (there is no any other deity except Allah)) Takbeer (‘Allahu Akbar’ (Allah is The Greatest)) and Tahmeed (‘Alhamdulillaah’ (Praise be to Allah)." [Ahmad] When the ten days of Thul-Hijjah would begin, Abu Hurayrah and Ibn ‘Umar would go to the market and perform Takbeer and people would perform Takbeer with them. ‎‎‎ ‎‎‎[Al-Bukhari] ‎‎‎

‎Takbeer might be restricted or unrestricted. Unrestricted Takbeer can be performed at any time during the day or night during the ten days of Thul-Hijjah. Restricted Takbeer is that which is performed after the obligatory and voluntary prayers for both men and women. ‎

‎As for what was reported about ‎‎restricted Takbeer, it was narrated that ‘Ali and Ibn ‘Abbaas said that ‎‎it starts from the morning of the Day of ‘Arafah up till the afternoon of the last day of Tashreeq (Thirteenth of Thul-Hijjah). As for pilgrims, restricted Takbeer starts after Thuhr prayer on the day of Nahr.‎ ‎It was narrated that ‘Umar and Ibn Mas‘ood used to say:‎ ‎"Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar, Laa Ilaaha illa Allah. Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar wa lillaahi-lhamd. (Allah Is The Greatest, Allah Is The Greatest. There is no any other deity except Allah. Allah Is The Greatest, Allah Is The Greatest and praise be to Allah).”

6- Giving Charity:

‎Giving charity, helping the needy, feeding the hungry, relieving believers, making them happy and driving their distress away are all deeds that Allah The Almighty loves. When one gives charity, he gains Birr (righteousness), his reward is multiplied and Allah will shade him on the Day of Judgment. Charity opens the doors of goodness, closes the doors of evil and opens one of the doors of Paradise. One who spends in charity is loved by Allah The Almighty and by the people as they feel that he is merciful and kind towards them. Charity purifies one's money and soul, brings forgiveness of sins, frees one's heart from love for money and brings about the Protection of Allah in one's self, property and children in this life and the Hereafter. ‎

It was narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar that a man asked the Messenger of Allah about the most loved deed and the most loved person by Allah and he replied saying: ‎‎‎"The most beloved person to Allah is he who brings most benefit, and the most beloved of deeds to Allah, is that you bring happiness to a fellow Muslim, or relieve him of distress, or pay off his debt or stave away hunger from him." [At-Tabaraani] [Al-Albaani: Saheeh] ‎‎‎

‎Recommended Actions During the Ten Days of Thul-Hijjah – III