Below is a transcription of a lecture on how to benefit from the blessed days of Dhul-Hijjah by Umm 'Abdur-Rahmân. May Allâh reward the sister who transcribed the lecture, with the best in this world and next, ameen. Insha'Allah the information below will help.
Since we already know the Importance of these 10 days…
Ask yourself these questions [non-rhetorical]:
Did you intend to benefit from these days?
What have you done to prepare for these 10 days?
Did you prepare a program?
What is your plan of action?
Here is a brief guide to help you to prepare for the best days of the year
[inspired by a lecture by Shaykh Muhammad Hassan Yâqûb]:
Read the Qur'ân:
Plan to complete the reading of the Qur'ân within this period.
If you read three juz a day, it can be accomplished. It is not difficult. Ask Allâh to make it easy for you. We know reciting one letter is equal to ten hasanât [rewards]. If you read three juz everyday, it translates to thousands of millions of hasanât.
Subhâna'Allâh! And this calculation is just based on the 1=10 ratio. These are special days of His Grace. Therefore, don't even think about how much Allâh can/will increase & add it for you. You cannot fathom it. He is Kareem. He knows that you have ikhlâs [sincerity]; He will not count it as 1=10. He could raise it to 1=700 or even more. And this is what you can earn every day of these special days. Keep in mind that reciting the Qur'ân is a good deed and Allâh specially loves the good deeds done in these days: "And if He [subhâna wa ta'âlâ] loves the good deeds, He will love the doer of those good deeds." [5]
If Allâh loves someone, He will not punish them. Remember this concept so that the deeds you do come from your heart [don't be like a machine]. Honour the rights of the Qur'ân when reciting it.
Increase in Nawâfil Prayers:
Increase your supererogatory prayers.
Ask yourself these questions and make sure that your heart gives you sincere answers:
Do you have an aim?
Do you really want to be closer to Allâh?
Do you live with this craving?
Do you really love Allâh and seek His closeness?
If, you want this, then know that Allâh teaches you the means to gaining His qurb [closeness].
Allâh says:
"Fall prostrate and draw near to Allâh!" [Al-Alaq 96:19]
This is the way! Prostrate in sujûd to Him [subhâna wa ta'âlâ] and you will be closer to Him. The Prophet [sall-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] said: "The closest that a person is to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so say a great deal of du'â then." [6]
He [sall-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] is commanding us to make a lot of du'â while in sujûd. Are we obeying his order? Yes? We need to do more. For he [sall-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] said to: "…make lots of du'â." Remember, the Prophet [sall-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] loved us and he knew that we have a lot of needs from Allâh. This is why he taught us the way to get those needs fulfilled. Therefore, if you have needs, then you cannot leave sujûd. Any sajdah without khushû' [focus] & without du'â [like your forehead is touching the ground and your mind is in the kitchen or the office] is a big khasâra [regretful loss]. Let us not be losers from now on bi-idhnillâh.
When the Prophet [sall-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] instructed us to do a lot of sujûd, it means to perform a lot of salâh [prayer]. "With each sajdah for Allâh, He will raise you a level with it. And cancel a sin with it." So, the more you increase in your sujûd, the closer you are to being a winner.
Examples for increasing nawâfil salâh [voluntary prayers]:
Salât Dhuha: Also known as al-Awwâbeen, may be offered as 2, 4, 6 or 8 rak'ât, prayed after the sun has risen and before the time for Dhuhr approaches. [7]
Remember that in these special days and nights, Allâh is sending His special mercy. Do you think that this special mercy will reach everybody?
Do you think that it will reach the one who is in front of the TV watching a movie? Or listening to music? Or do you think it will reach the one who is making sujûd, rukû', tilâwah, making istighfâr, etc.?
We have to show Allâh that we want this special mercy. We need to make ourselves eligible for it.
Allâh [subhâna wa ta'âlâ] swears by the night [Sûrah Fajr]. Therefore, take care of the nights. Don't be among the losers. Write this in bold and make it your motivational factor for the special days: "We won't be among the losers!" Remember: "Our Lord, may He be blessed and exalted, comes down to the lowest heaven every night when the last third of the night is left, and He says: 'Who will call upon Me, that I may answer him? Who will ask of Me, that I may give him? Who will ask Me for forgiveness, that I may forgive him?'." [11]
And, now that it is winter, we get really long nights. So it's a good chance to maximise our hasanât. Don't forget while you are praying qiyâm that Allâh [subhâna wa ta'âlâ] Loves this deed. Therefore, He [subhâna wa ta'âlâ] loves the doer of this deed also.
If we were lazy before, we will be active and good from now on bi-idhnillâh. We will not be among the losers. If these days and nights are a king who is distributing gifts of gold while announcing: "Come take these gold nuggets", wAllâhi, you will find people standing in long queues and hordes to collect them. Subhâna'Allâh, Allâh is spreading [special] mercy during these days. He [subhâna wa ta'âlâ] is accepting supplications. He [subhâna wa ta'âlâ] is offering unimaginably wonderful blessings that we don't even know of. So will we not work to get in those lines to gather Allâh's gifts?
Makes lots of Dhikr:
Do a lot of dhikr, especially in these days.
"There are no days greater in the sight of Allâh…" [12]
So what did the Prophet [sall-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] tell us to do in these days? That, we need to make the dhikr of tahlîl, tahmîd & takbîr. [13] As soon as the announcement of Dhul-Hijjah is made, start your dhikr:
"Allâhu Akbâr, Allâhu Akbâr, lâ ilâha ill-Allâh, Wallâhu Akbâr. Walilâhilhamd."
Many people mistakenly believe that you chant this only on the day of 'Îd. But, it is meant to be recited from the beginning of Dhul-Hijjah. Bukhârî related that Ibn 'Umar & Abu Hurayrah said that they used to go out in the streets making loud takbîr. They did not think that this was riyâ [showing off]. They were busy with declaring the [signs of Allâh. This practice has now become a forgotten Sunnah. Why do people feel shy to follow this Sunnah? These are the days of takbîr, tahlîl & tahmîd with raised voices.
Therefore revive this Sunnah by doing audible tasbîh during all of the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
For women, when you are in your homes, raise your voices. You will remind your children, husbands, brothers, etc. Make it like a habit so that you will find yourself doing dhikr automatically. While walking, reclining, working, eating, just keep doing dhikr.
Send a lot of blessings and salâm upon the Prophet [sall-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] consistently. Just one hadîth should be enough for the believer who loves Prophet [sall-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam]. It is enough honour that when you send your salâm to Prophet [sall-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam], Allâh returns his soul to him in order to answer you: "There is no one who sends salâm upon me but Allâh will restore to me my soul so that I may return his salâm." [14] Therefore, send your darûd & salâm from your heart. Feel that special honour in doing that deed.
Istighfâr:
All kinds of dhikr will make your relation with Allâh stronger and stronger. How many Muslim's are there today? 1.5 billion? In one minute it is possible to gain 1.5 billion hasanât. Allâhu Akbâr! How generous is Allâh [subhâna wa ta'âlâ]. No one will give you like Allâh [subhâna wa ta'âlâ] gives. So how can you gain 1.5 million hasanât? By making istighfâr [seeking forgiveness] for all Muslim's. The Prophet [sall-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] is reported to have said that when a person seeks forgiveness for all believers, Allâh will write for him a hasanât for every one of those believers. [15]
Just say 'Astaghfirullâh' for yourself and for all the believers, from your heart. Allâh [subhâna wa ta'âlâ] is forgiving & generous.
On the Day of Judgement, when you will see your book, you will find the record of your sins in it & you will feel regret. But, Subhâna'Allâh, you will find between these sins, Astaghfirullâh, Astaghfirullâh, Astaghfirullâh. Bi-idhnillâh, Allâh, the Karîm will cancel those sins that have istighfâr beside them, around them, after them.
Luqmân taught his sons to make istighfâr. He said: "Oh my sons, istighfirullâha qâidun, istighfirullâh qâimum, istghfirullâha râqibun [make istighfâr when you are standing, sitting, reclining]. For the mercy of Allâh is descending."
Indeed, rahamât are falling down like rain. So try to be under those rahamât. Look at it this way – there are seasons of mercy during which Allâh sends down abundant mercy [like during Ramadân, like the days of Dhul-Hijjah, etc.]. Allâh is always generous because that is one of His [subhâna wa ta'âlâ] Attributes, but He says that He gives more during certain periods. Allâh is Rahîm always, but He says He has more mercy during a certain period. These days are like those special-rate promotions or sale season. Therefore, don't leave or ignore this sale. Go and ask for more. Keep saying 'astaghfirullâh', 'astaghfirullâh', astaghfirullâh', keep insisting on it till Allâh forgives you. Start from the beginning of Dhul-Hijjah.
"…nor will He punish them while they seek (Allâh's) forgiveness." [Al-Anfâl 8:33]
We are informed that there is no punishment from Allâh [subhâna wa ta'âlâ a] on the yastaghfirûn [i.e. those who seek forgiveness]. Allâh relieves all problems with istighfâr. Those who are persistent in istighfâr in their lives, disasters and calamities will be repelled from them. Mercy is like a cloud on the head of the mustaghfirîn [those who consistently seek forgiveness]. How do we know this?
"Why seek you not the forgiveness of Allâh, that you may receive mercy?" [An-Naml 27:46]
Allâh is telling us to make istighfâr to gain His mercy. Let your istighfâr ascend to Him and His mercy will descend upon you.
Fasting:
Fast as much as you can during these blessed days. If you can fast all of these days, then do so. Even in any regular day, Allâh has promised a great reward for the one who fasts: "Whoever fasts one day for the sake of Allâh, Allâh will keep his face seventy years distance away from the Fire because of it." [16]
So what about these special days for which it is said: "There is no deed more precious in the sight of Allâh, or greater in reward, than a good deed done during the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah." Allâh loves the good deeds in these days. Allâh loves siyâm. Put these two beloved things together. You are the doer of the things Allâh loves. He [subhâna wa ta'âlâ] will Love you, bi-idhnillâh.
Any 'ibâdah, be it salâh, dhikr, Qur'ân, that is done during some periods of time and with them, are also periods of non action. Can you do any of them from Fajr till Maghrib continuously? Which 'ibâdah will you be able to do non-stop? Siyâm! From Fajr till Maghrib during the best days, you will be able to be in a continuous state of worship. So please my sisters [& brothers], grab this chance eagerly. Also don't forget you have if Allâh wills, at least one du'â guaranteed with each siyâm – at the time of breaking the fast. So that is nine opportune moments during this period.
Regarding fasting on the day of 'Arâfah, the Prophet [sall-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] said: "Fasting the day of 'Arafâh, I hope, will expiate the sins of the year before it and the year to come…" [17] So how does this happen? Does this mean that we can fast on that day and for the rest of the year we can do whatever we want of bad deeds? No! It implies that Allâh [subhâna wa ta'âlâ] will help us to abstain from sins. And, if you commit a sin by mistake, He [subhâna wa ta'âlâ] will cancel it due to His promise.
Charity: Spending for the sake of Allâh!
Only Allâh knows how many trials & calamities have been pushed away from us, our family and loved ones as a result of our sadaqâh. Allâh knows how many times relief and ease has come to us due to the sadaqâh we gave. Therefore, give in the way of Allâh, as much as you can. Don't leave any raised hands return empty. Show Allâh that you love Him by spending from that which you love. Show Allâh [subhâna wa ta'âlâ] that all these things mean nothing besides gaining His ridha [pleasure].
Don't look and remind yourself of what you have already spent in the past. If Allâh wills, He [subhâna wa ta'âlâ] has accepted and written it for you. Now, think of how you can outdo that sadaqâh during these days. Spend from what you love and Allâh will love you.
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Preserve the Ties of Kinship:
Preserve the ties of kinship for: "No one who severs the ties of kinship will enter Paradise." [18]
If it is difficult for you to call or meet every relative, then send them a message. But write with your heart and with the right intention. There is a man who connects with all of his near and far relatives. It is almost like a mission for him for the sake of Allâh. He [subhâna wa ta'âlâ] loves this 'ibâdah. Even those who are far away, he calls and connects them to the rest of the family and brings them all together. And subhâna'Allaah, Allâh has given him a lot of wealth and with such ease and has made his life easy, and as a result of his deeds. The Prophet [sall-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] promised this reward for the one who connects and maintains kinship: "Whoever would like his rizq [provision] to be increased and his life to be extended, should uphold the ties of kinship." [19]
These were just a few of the wonderful things we can do during the forthcoming best days of Dhul-Hijjah. Therefore, if we want Allâh's help with these deeds and our schedule for them, we need to do a lot of tawbah. The Salaf as-Sâlih used to say that they would feel prevented from qiyâm al-layl due to their sins. They knew that when they want to do 'ibâdah and they are unable to do it, it is due sins. So, what do we need to do? A lot of istighfâr with tawbah, real Tawbah! Ask Allâh for help.
Make the du'â:
"O Allâh, help me to remember You, to give You thanks, and to perform Your worship in the best manner." [20]
Footnotes:
[3] Ahmad, 7/224 – Ahmad Shâkir stated that it is sahîh
[4] The verses [Al-Fajr 89:1-2] and various hadîth indicate that these 10 days are better than all the other days of the year, with no exceptions, not even the last ten days of Ramadân. But the last ten nights of Ramadân are better, because they include Layl al-Qadr ["the Night of Power"], which is better than a thousand months. Thus the various reports may be reconciled. [See: Tafsîr ibn Kathîr, 5/412]
[5] Shaykh Muhammad bin Sâlih al-'Uthaymîn
[6] Muslim, 482
[7] Muslim, 1238
[8] At-Tirmidhî, 428 – classed as sahîh by al-Albânî in Sahîh al-Nasâ'î
[9] At-Tirmidhî, 395 – classed as hasan by al-Albânî in Sahîh al-Jâmi 3493
[10] Al-Bukhârî & Muslim
[11] Al-Bukhârî, 1094 and Muslim, 758
[12] Ahmad, 7/224
[13] Tahlîl ["Lâ ilâha ill-Allâh"], Tahmîd ["Alhamdulillâh"] and Takbîr ["Allâhu Akbâr"]. See: Ahmad, 7/224
[14] Abû Dâwûd, 2041 – classed as hasan by al-Albânî
[15] Classed as hasan by al Albânî
[16] Muslim, 2/808
[17] Muslim, 1976
[18] Sahîh Muslim
[19] Al-Bukhârî, 5986 and Muslim, 2557
[20] Sahîh Abû Dâwûd, 1/284
