How great Allah’s blessings upon us are! Such is His mercy that He listens to your supplications and forgives you even at deathbed. But do we have to wait till then for his favor? Do we have to keep our souls unfed till then and run after ephemeral events of lives that can potentially ruin our lives hereafter?
How long do we have to take His favors for granted, without feeling indebted? Despite knowing that “If you are grateful, I will certainly give you increase.” (Soorat Ibraaheem, 14:7), the promise of ALLAH TA’ALLAH, how long are we gonna keep ourselves at loss?
His benevolence has no bounds. Allah had made certain months and certain days better than others. He has also made even certain days and nights better than others. During those times the reward of doing good deeds is increased.
He raised the reward of good deeds and virtuous faith in certain times of the year so that we can earn his mercy with minimal strive. One of those times where His blessings are in search of Muslims is the first 10 days of Dul Hajj.
Although this fact is not very commonly known by believers today, the authenticity of can be proved by Bukhari Shareef: Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
[su_quote]There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.[/su_quote]The people asked, [su_quote]Not even jihad for the sake of Allah?[/su_quote] He said, [su_quote]Not even jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause and came back with nothing.[/su_quote] (Reported by al-Bukhari, 2/457).
This opportunity to gain Allah’s benefactions is equally available for rich or poor. While riches can afford Hajj and become as pure as a newborn, Allah didn’t want the poor to remain deprived of His grace. So here’s how to do it.
Fast especially on the ‘Day of Arafah’
The Prophet Muhammad S.A.W said:
[su_quote]Anyone who fasts for one day for Allah’s pleasure, Allah will keep his face away from the (Hell) fire for (a distance covered by a journey of) seventy years.[/su_quote] (Bukhari, Muslim)
The Prophet Mohammad S.A.W used to fast on the ninth day of Dhul-Hijja and he said:
[su_quote]“Fasting the Day of ‘Arafah (ninth Dhul-Hijja) is an expiation for (all the sins of) the previous year and expiation for (all the sins of) the coming year.”[/su_quote]
Takbeer and Dhikr
The significance of Tasbeeh and Allah’s Dhikr is more pronounced in the first ten days of this month. Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah used to go out in the marketplace during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijja, reciting Takbeer, and the people would recite Takbeer when they heard them. (Bukhari)
Companions of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W have clearly learned this virtuous deed from the messenger of Allah TA’Allah, so then it can be said that Dhikr gains a paramount position in these days.
Prayers at night
We should seize this opportunity and beg Him for His Divine Generosity and Mercy, for the reward of bigger than ever. Almighty calls out to His servants in the latter part of the night:
[su_quote]“Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to his invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?” (Bukhaari, Muslim)[/su_quote]
Recite Quran Shareef
Quran will open for you the doors of wisdom and happiness in your life. This will ultimately lead to guidance and success in this life and the Hereafter. Establish a beautiful new relationship with the book of Allah starting in these ten days of Dhul-Hijja.
Sunnah of these ten days has mostly been forgotten, especially during the first few days. So say it in the masjid, in your home, on the street and every place where it is permitted to remember Allah. Revive the Sunnah that has been virtually forgotten and earn great rewards for doing so. The Prophet S.A.W said:
[su_quote]“Whoever revives an aspect of my Sunnah that is forgotten after my death, he will have a reward equivalent to that of the people who follow him, without it detracting in the least from their reward.” (Tirmidhi- Hasan)[/su_quote]
