Why Is The First Ten Days Of Dhul Hijjah Important
What is the importance of Dhul Hijjah’s first 10 days? There are different reasons that make the beginning ten days of Dhul Hijjah honourable. Some of them are-
1. Dhu’l Hijjah is a sacred (حَرَام) month in Islam and these days are on this month.
Dhul Hijjah is one of the four sacred months chosen by Allah Subhanu Wa Ta’Ala. Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said:
“The division of time has turned to its original form which was current when Allah created the Heavens and the Earth. The year is of twelve months, out of which four months are sacred: Three are in succession Dhul-Qa’ da, Dhul-Hijjah, and Muharram, and (the fourth is) Rajab of (the tribe of) Mudar which comes between Jumadi-ath-Thaniyah and Sha’ban.”
[Sahih Al-Bukhari: 3197]
2. Allah (SWT) swears an oath by the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah in the Quran
“By the dawn; And by the ten nights.”
[Sura Al-Fajr, 89: 1-2]
According to many Sahaba (R), Tabee (RA), and Mufassir (RA) including Ibn `Abbas (R), Abdullah Ibn Zubair (R), and Mujahid (RA), these verses indicate the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah. Ibn Kathir (R) said, “This is the correct opinion.”
[Tafsir Ibn Kathir]
3. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mentioned these days as the best days of the year
Jabir (R) narrated a hadith from Allah’s Messenger ﷺ, “There is no better day to Allah than the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah.” [Sahih Ibn Hibban]
4. The first Ashra (period) of Dhul Hijjah contains lots of honourable days.
These ten days before Eid ul-Adha include several honourable days and events like the Day of Arafah, Day of Sacrifice, Hajj events, and more that extend the virtues of Dhul Hijjah.
