Note: On The Virtues Of The First Ten Days Of Dhul-Hijjah

💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful 

📜 Question: Which is better, the last ten nights of Ramadan, or the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah? 

📝 Answer: The last ten nights of Ramadan are better in terms of doing good deeds at night, particularly since Laylatul Qadr takes place in one of these nights. The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are better in terms of doing good deeds in the daytime, because Yawm 'Arafah occurs on the ninth day and it is followed by the day of sacrifice (Yawm An-Nahr, a term also referring to Eid Al-Adha), and these two are from the best days of the year. This is what has been deduced according to the majority of trusted scholars and students of knowledge.

So the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are better concerning doing good deeds for Allah's sake during daylight, while the last ten nights of Ramadan are better with regard to doing good deeds for Allah's sake in the evening, as in it is Laylatul Qadr and those nights are the best nights of the year. 

Allah the Almighty knows best.

From the Fataawa of sheikh AbdulAziz Ibn Baz (May Allah have mercy on him. Ameen.) 

~•~

📖 Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "No good deeds can be done at a time better than these first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah." It was said, “Not even striving in the way of Allah?” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Not even striving in the way of Allah."

Source: Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabīr 10307

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani 

📖 Abu Qatadah RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: The Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam was asked about fasting the day of Arafat (Yawm 'Arafah) and he SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "It will expiate the sins of the previous and upcoming year." Then, the Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam was asked about fasting the day of Ashura (10th of Muharram) and he SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "It will expiate the sins of the past year."

Source: Sahih Muslim 1162

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim 

https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/8908/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B6%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B4%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%B1-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%B6%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%B9%D8%B4%D8%B1-%D8%B0%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%AC%D8%A9

Hadith: Regarding The Udhiyah And Fasting On Yawm 'Arafah

💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful 

🗒️ Inn-sha-Allah before Sunday July 11 (first of DhulHijjah) those who have the intention to sacrifice a goat, sheep or cow must avoid trimming their nails and cutting any hair strand (regardless of their length and even on Jumuah Friday) until they've carried out the sacrifice after praying the Eid prayer on Eid Al-Adha (Tuesday July 20). 

Reminder to non-pilgrims to Inn-sha-Allah fast Sunnah fasts from tomorrow until and including Yawm 'Arafah (Monday July 19). 

Good deeds in these special ten days will 

Inn-sha-Allah be rewarded immensely because unlike in Ramadan when the gates of Paradise are opened while the shayateen are chained, only a special few recognize the value of striving to please Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala in these best days of the year. 

Allah the Almighty knows best.

📖 Umm Salamah RadhiAllahu 'anha narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "If the ten days of Dhul Hijjah begin and one of you intends to sacrifice (a goat, sheep, cow, camel) let him not remove anything from his hair or skin (until they sacrificed the sacrificial animal after the Eid prayer on Eid Al-Adha)."

Source: Sahih Muslim 1977

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim 

📖 Abu Qatadah RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: The Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam was asked about fasting the day of Arafat (Yawm 'Arafah) and he SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "It will expiate the sins of the previous and upcoming year." Then, the Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam was asked about fasting the day of Ashura (10th of Muharram) and he SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "It will expiate the sins of the past year."

Source: Sahih Muslim 1162

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim 

📖 Hunaydah Ibn Khalid RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Some of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said that he would fast the first nine days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah, the day of Ashura, and three days of every month, which would be the first Monday and Thursday of the month. 

Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 2437

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani 

Allah the Almighty knows best. 

Al-Nawawi said, "It is part of the Sunnah (for those Muslims not performing Hajj/pilgrimage) to fast the first nine days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah."

Source: Al-Majmū’ Sharh Al-Muhadhab 6/386 

📖 Sahl Ibn Sa’d RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Verily, there is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Rayyaan, through which only those who fasted will enter on the Day of Resurrection. No one else will enter it along with them. It will be said: 'Where are those who fasted, so that they may enter?' When the last of them enter, it will be closed and no one else will go through it."

Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 1797

Sahih Muslim 1152

Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim