Quote:
On 1/14/2004 at 4:19 PM, Muslimah said:




The Best Days in the World




Based on "Al-A`yaad fil Islaam" [by Muhammad.




al-Jibaly, published by QSS]




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The Blessed Days of Dhul Hijjah




In what follows, we will highlight some of the Sunnah




regarding these days, hoping by this to provide an




incentive to make the best out of them and gain




Allaah's reward, in shaa' Allaah.




The First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah




"The best days in the world are the Ten days." [ibn




Hibbaan, al-Bazzaar, authenticated in Saheeh Jaami`




us-Sagheer #1133]




"There are no days during which good deeds are more




beloved by Allaah than these (ten) days."




[al-Bukhaaree, at-Tirmidhee and others] The Prophet,




sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, was then asked: "Not




even Jihaad in Allaah's way?" He replied: "Not even




Jihaad in Allaah's way; except for a person who went




out (for Jihaad) with his self and wealth and came




back with none (i.e. lost all for Allaah)."




[at-Tirmidhee, authenticated in al-Albaanee's Irwaa'




ul-Ghaleel, #953]




All good deeds can be done during these days and the




early generations of Muslims used to exert themselves




excessively in worshipping Allaah. In particular,




fasting and dhikr (mentioning and remembering Allaah)




are to be done in plenty on these days.




Dhikr




Ibn `Abbaas commented on the verse <<.and to mention




Allaah's name [plentifully] on Known days>> [22:28] by




saying: <.these known days are the ten days [of Dhul




Hijjah].> [Tafseer ibn Katheer]




Fasting




One of the wives of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi




wa sallam, said: "Allaah's Messenger used to fast the




(first) nine days of Dhul Hijjah, the day of




`Ashooraa', and three days of each month. [saheeh




Sunan Abee Daawood #2129]




Fasting on all these days, however, is not a waajib




(compulsory), nor is it a constant sunnah that the




Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, never




dropped. `Aa'ishah said: "I never saw the Messenger,




sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, fast the ten days."




[Muslim]




The Day of `Arafah - The Best Day of the Whole Year




The day of `Arafah is the day when the pilgrims stand




in worship on the Mountain of `Arafah.




"Fasting the day of `Arafah expiates the [minor] sins




of two years: a past one and a coming one. And fasting




the day of `Aashooraa' expiates the sins of the past




year." [Muslim]




"There is no day on which Allaah `azza wa jall frees




people from the Fire as He does no the day of `Arafah.




He comes close (to those standing on `Arafah) and then




revels before His angels, saying: "What are these




people seeking?" [Muslim]




The Day of al-`Ad-haa




The tenth of Dhul-Hijjah is `Eed ul- Ad-haa or the day




of an-Nahr (slaughtering). It marks the conclusion of




the major rites of Hajj, and commemorates Allaah's




bounty on His Messenger Ibraaheem, when He gave him a




ram to sacrifice as ransom for his son Ismaa`eel,




`alayhimassalaam.




"The day of al-Fitr [i.e. `Eed ul-Fitr], the day of




an-Nahr, and the days of Tashreeq are `Eed days for us




Muslims. They are days of eating and drinking."




[Ahmad, an-Nasaa'ee, Saheeh ul-Jaami` #8192]




The Three Days Following `Eed ul-`Ad-haa




On these days, the pilgrims complete their rites,




Muslims continue with their `Eed celebrations, and are




prohibited to fast. "The days of tashreeq are days of




eating, drinking and mentioning Allaah." [Muslim]




The Sacrifice




Allaah `azza wa jall mentioned the sacrifice together




with the first and foremost worship in Islaam: prayer.




This is a clear indication of its great importance.




Thus He ordered His Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa




sallam, to slaughter sacrifices by saying: <<.Pray




unto your Lord and slaughter [your sacrifice]."




[109:2]




Ruling




The general concensus of the Muslim scholars is that




the sacrifice is an important sunnah, and a worship




called for in the Law of Allaah. However, they differ




as to whether it is nafl (voluntary) or waajib




(mandatory) for those who can afford it. Some scholars




have explained the different ahaadeeth on the subject




by stating that the sacrifice is obligatory on those




who can afford it and not obligatory on those who




cannot.




Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger, sallallaahu




`alayhi wa sallam, said: "He who has the capacity, and




does not sacrifice, may not approach our musallaa




(place of prayer - on the `Eed)." [ibn Maajah, Ahmad




and others, authenticated by Al-Albaanee in Saheeh




Sunan Ibn Maajah, #2533]




Regarding this hadeeth, Imaam ash-Shaukaanee said:




"Prohibiting the one who could afford to sacrifice,




but did not do so, from approaching the musallaa




indicates that he must have left off a waajib, as it




becomes useless to offer the salaah without this




waajib [obligation]." [Nayl ul-Awtaar]




Avoid Cutting Hair or Nails




The one who plans to sacrifice (normally, the head of




household) is prohibited to cut his hair or nails from




the first Dhul Hijjah until he offers the sacrifice.




"For the one who has a slaughtering to perform (on




`Eed then, once the hilaal (crescent) of Dhul Hijjah




is observed, let him not cut any of his hair or nails




until he sacrifices." And in another narration: "Once




the ten days start, for those of you who havethe




intention to sacrifice, let them not cut any of their




hair or nails (until they sacrifice)." [Muslim] This




prohibition is the opinion of the majority of the




scholars of the early generations of Muslims.




Allaahu A`lam




Our last call is all praise is to Allaah and may His




salaah and salaam be upon our Prophet Muhammad and his




family.




from: http://www.islaam.com/ilm/bestdays.htm