First ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are one of the great seasons of worship which Allah (swt) has favored on us over other days. So, let us hasten to make the most of these great days, before the time is too late.
Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "There are no days during which the righteous action is so pleasing to Allah than these days (i.e., the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah)." He was asked: "O Messenger of Allah, not even Jihad in the Cause of Allah?" He (ﷺ) replied, "Not even Jihad in the Cause of Allah, except in case one goes forth with his life and his property and does not return with either of it." [Al- Bukhari].
وعن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: " ما من أيام العمل الصالح فيها أحب إلى الله من هذه الأيام" يعني أيام العشر، قالوا: يا رسول الله ولا الجهاد في سبيل الله؟ قال: "ولا الجهاد في سبيل الله، إلا رجل خرج بنفسه، وماله فلم يرجع من ذلك بشيء" ((رواه البخاري)).
Reference : Book 8, Hadith 259; Book 8, Hadith 1249 (Riyad as-Salihin)
It was also narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“There are no days in this world during which worship is more beloved to Allah, Glorious is He, than the (first) ten days (of Dhul- Hijjah). Fasting one of these days is equivalent to fasting for one year, and one night of them is equal to Lailatul-Qadr.” (Grade: Da’if)
حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ شَبَّةَ بْنِ عَبِيدَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مَسْعُودُ بْنُ وَاصِلٍ، عَنِ النَّهَّاسِ بْنِ قَهْمٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " مَا مِنْ أَيَّامِ الدُّنْيَا أَيَّامٌ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَهُ أَنْ يُتَعَبَّدَ لَهُ فِيهَا مِنْ أَيَّامِ الْعَشْرِ وَإِنَّ صِيَامَ يَوْمٍ فِيهَا لَيَعْدِلُ صِيَامَ سَنَةٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ فِيهَا بِلَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ " .
Reference : Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 1728; Book 7, Hadith 1800
The previous hadith, along with others indicates that these ten days are better than all other days of the year, with no exception. They are even better than the last ten days of Ramadhan, but the last ten nights of Ramadhan are better than the first ten nights of Dhul-Hijjah, because they include Laylat ul-Qadr, which is better than a thousand months. Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged his ummah to make the most of these blessed ten days by engaging in righteous deeds. It is one of the greatest favors of Allah (SWT) to grant His servants multiple opportunities to increase their rewards in this world and the Hereafter, which include the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
Dhul-Hijjah is a month of Sacredness and Piety :
Allah (SWT) has made four months in the year sacred: three consecutive ones which are Dhu’l-Qa'dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah and al-Muĥarram and a single one occurring later, which is the month of Rajab. Allah (SWT) states in the Holy Quran:
إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِندَ اللَّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَقَاتِلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ كَافَّةً كَمَا يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ كَافَّةً وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ
“Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred.” (Quran 9:36)
A distinguishing factor of Dhul-Hijjah, amongst the other Islamic months, is essentially the combination of the primary pillars of Islam- all in one month. During the month of Dhul-Hijjah, the annual pilgrimage, Hajj, takes place where Muslims gather from across the globe to worship Allah (SWT). Moreover, Muslims also engage in the other pillars of Islam including Salah (prayer), Sadaqah (charity) and Siyam (fasting) during the month. Hence, it is an auspicious month where all these great deeds of worship come together with the sole purpose of pleasing Allah (SWT).
Allah (swt) also mentions in the Quran:
رِّمَتۡ عَلَیۡکُمُ الۡمَیۡتَۃُ وَ الدَّمُ وَ لَحۡمُ الۡخِنۡزِیۡرِ وَ مَاۤ اُہِلَّ لِغَیۡرِ اللّٰہِ بِہٖ وَ الۡمُنۡخَنِقَۃُ وَ الۡمَوۡقُوۡذَۃُ وَ الۡمُتَرَدِّیَۃُ وَ النَّطِیۡحَۃُ وَ مَاۤ اَکَلَ السَّبُعُ اِلَّا مَا ذَکَّیۡتُمۡ ۟ وَ مَا ذُبِحَ عَلَی النُّصُبِ وَ اَنۡ تَسۡتَقۡسِمُوۡا بِالۡاَزۡلَامِ ؕ ذٰلِکُمۡ فِسۡقٌ ؕ اَلۡیَوۡمَ یَئِسَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا مِنۡ دِیۡنِکُمۡ فَلَا تَخۡشَوۡہُمۡ وَ اخۡشَوۡنِ ؕ اَلۡیَوۡمَ اَکۡمَلۡتُ لَکُمۡ دِیۡنَکُمۡ وَ اَتۡمَمۡتُ عَلَیۡکُمۡ نِعۡمَتِیۡ وَ رَضِیۡتُ لَکُمُ الۡاِسۡلَامَ دِیۡنًا ؕ فَمَنِ اضۡطُرَّ فِیۡ مَخۡمَصَۃٍ غَیۡرَ مُتَجَانِفٍ لِّاِثۡمٍ ۙ فَاِنَّ اللّٰہَ غَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ
“Today, the unbelievers have lost all hope of your religion. Have no fear of them, then, but fear Me (i.e., Allah) alone. This day I have perfected your religion for you and have bestowed on you the full measure of My blessings and have chosen Islam as a religion for you.” (Surah 5:3)
The day on which Allah revealed this ayat during the Prophet’s pilgrimage of farewell was the day when this religion attained its perfection and no room was left for any further improvement. It was on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, that Allah (SWT) sent down the last of the revelations, completing the religion of Islam. The greatest Divine blessings were bestowed on the believers in full measure by giving them this all-embracing and comprehensive code. Islam as a faith and religion was chosen for them by Allah (swt). It is also known as the day of Arafat, on which Allah (SWT) fulfilled His favor upon His people. Therefore, anyone who finds it unacceptable as a way of life actually rejects what Allah (swt) has determined to be the proper faith.
According to the Prophetic tradition, fasting on the day of Arafat expiates sins for two years – the preceding year and the year to come. It is a day of forgiveness and mercy.
Abu Qatadah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked about the observance of Saum (fasting) on the day of 'Arafah. He said, "It is an expiation for the sins of the preceding year and the current year." [Muslim].
وعن أبي قتادة رضي الله عنه قال: سئل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: عن صوم يوم عرفة؟ قال: "يكفر السنة الماضية والباقية" ((رواه مسلم)).
Reference : Book 8, Hadith 260; Book 8, Hadith 125 (Riyad as-Salihin)
According to the another hadith, fasting on any one of the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah is equivalent to fasting for one whole year in the sight of Allah (SWT) and saying your Tahajjud prayers on any one of these ten nights is equivalent to performing those prayers on the blessed night of “Layla-tul Qadar” (which is better than a thousand months).
And lastly, on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, Muslims across the globe celebrate the auspicious event of Eid ul-Adha. For those of us who are not able to perform Hajj, can still reap the immense rewards and blessings offered in the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah by engaging in -
devoted supplication
worship
voluntary fasting
giving charity
doing dhikr
As Muslims, we should not let this tremendous opportunity slip through our fingers and we should make the most of it.
Rest Allah knows best.
Source: Quran; Sunnah; In the shade of Quran; Tafsir Ibn Katheer; https://hadithcommentary.com/articles/dhulhijjah/; https://www.islamicfinder.org/news/virtues-of-the-first-10-days-of-dhul-hijjah/