9 Tips to Get the Most Out of Dhul Hijjah
The blessed first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are a great time to gain closeness with Almighty Allah (swt). Ibn Abbas (ra) narrated that the Prophet (saw) said, “There are no days during which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these days. Not even Jihad in the cause of Allah, unless a man goes out with himself and his wealth and does not bring anything back” [Sahih].
There are many ways in which we can reap the rewards and virtues of these blessed days. Here are just 9 easy ways you can maximise your Ibadah during these Best Ten Days.
1. Fast:
Fasting on the day of Arafat (9 Dhul Hijjah) is extremely virtuous as it is said to wipe away the sins of the previous year as well as the coming year.
2. Engage in Dhikr / Athkaar:
Recite Tahlil, Takbir and Tahmeed abundantly during the blessed ten days. You can recite the takbir: ‘Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, la Ilaha illa Allah; Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, walillah al-hamd’ at any time from the beginning of Dhul Hijjah until the day of Eid (unrestricted) or only after the obligatory prayers (restricted).
You can also recite Subhan Allah, (33 times), Alhamdulillah (33 times) and Allahu Akbar (34 times), at regular intervals, during the day or after each of the five daily prayers.
3. Make Dua:
The Prophet (saw) said, “There is nothing more dear to Allah than a servant making Dua to him” [Tirmidhi].
One of the best forms of Ibadah you can make during the best ten days and especially on the day of Arafah is Dua.
4. Recite Quran abundantly:
The Prophet (saw) said, "Read the Quran for it will come as an intercessor for those who recite it on the Day of Judgement" [Muslim].
Allocate a certain part of the day to recite Quran or set a timetable to read a few pages daily. Choose a hassle-free time when your brain is free from other priorities. A good timeis either before or after the Fajr prayer.
5. Pray voluntary prayers:
Engage in as much additional Ibadah as possible, especially Tahajjud salah.
Perform Sunnah and Nafl rakats of Salah, such as Ishraq, Chaast and Awwabeen during these days for extra rewards. The Prophet (saw) used to spend his nights engaged in Salah and as such, we must practice upon this Sunnah teaching to maximise our rewards during the Best Ten Days.
6. Make Thikr Daily:
There are certain Adhkar that the Prophet (saw) has recommended us to read in the mornings and evenings and we have included some of these Duas for you below. The best time to read the morning and evening Adhkar is between Fajr and sunrise and Asr and sunset.
Morning Adhkar:
Laa ilaaha ill-Allah wahdahu laa shareeka lah, lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa ’ala kulli shay’in Qadeer
(There is no god except Allah alone, with no partner or associate; to Him belongs sovereignty, to Him be praise, and He has power over all things).
llahumma faatir al-samawaati wa’l-ard, ’aalim al-ghaybi wa’l-shahaadah, laa ilaaha illa anta, Rabba kulli shay’in wa maleekahu, a‘oodhu bika min sharri nafsi wa min sharri’sh-shaytaan wa shirkihi, wa an aqtarifa ’ala nafsi soo’an aw ajurrahu ila muslim
(O Allah, Creator of the heavens and the earth, knower of the unseen and the seen, Lord and sovereign of all things, I seek refuge in You from the evil of my own self and from the evil of the Shaytaan and his encouragement of shirk, and from causing any harm to myself or any Muslim).
Allahumma bika asbahna wa bika amsayna, wa bika nahya wa bika namoot wa ilayka’an-nushoor
(O Allah, by Your grace we reach the morning, by Your grace we reach the evening, by Your grace we live and by Your grace we die, and to You is the resurrection).
Evening Adhkar:
A‘oodhu bi kalimaat-Illaah it-taammaati min sharri ma khalaq
(I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of that which He has created)
Subhaan Allah wa bi hamdihi
(Glory and praise be to Allah)
Allahumma bika amsayna wa bika asbahna, wa bika nahya wa bika namoot wa ilayka’al-maseer
(O Allah, by Your grace we reach the evening, by Your grace we reach the morning, by Your grace we live, by Your grace we die and to You is our ultimate return).
7. Give charity:
Giving charity is one of the most virtuous acts that earn the pleasure of Allah (saw) in Islam. Ibn Abaas (ra) reported that the Prophet (saw) said, “There is no deed more precious in the sight of Allah, nor greater in reward, than a good deed done during the ten days of Sacrifice” [Bukhari].
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity of giving charity in the Best Ten Days to help the poor and needy across the globe. You can donate towards building a water well for poor families, or sponsor education for orphans or help the Rohingya living in refugee camps in Bangladesh.
8. Offer a Prophetic Qurbani:
One of the most virtuous acts of worship in this month is giving Qurbani. This act of sacrificing an animal honors the willingness of Ibrahim (as) who was asked by Allah SWT to slaughter his son Ismail to prove his faith and loyalty.
It was the Sunnah of our Prophet (saw) to sacrifice an extra animal on behalf of the poor and needy who could not sacrifice for themselves, and this was known as the Prophetic Qurbani. This year, donate your Qurbani with Muslim Hands and be confident that it will reach those most in need. Prices start from as little as R950.
9. Share knowledge:
Encourage your loved ones to perform good deeds, speak more about the Deen and the virtues of the Best Ten Days. Spread beneficial knowledge. One way of doing so is by sharing this article with your family and friends.
From everyone at Muslim Hands, we wish you all a blessed Dhul Hijjah. May Allah (SWT) accept our Qurbani, acts of good deed and forgiveness, and bring us closer to Him, Ameen.
