Oath of the Ten Nights
The first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah, which begin on the 1st of Dhul-Hijjah and end on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, hold great significance within the twelve months of the year. In Surah Al-Fajr, the initial verses state: “وَالْفَجْرِ وَلَيَالٍ عَشْر” Allah Subhanahoo Wata’ala has taken an oath by these ten nights. It is not necessary for Allah to take an oath to establish certainty about something, but taking an oath on something signifies its honour and greatness. Thus, Allah has taken an oath on these nights in Surah Al-Fajr. A significant group of interpreters has stated that it refers to the first ten nights of Dhul-Hijjah, signifying the reverence, greatness, and sanctity of these ten nights.
The Virtue of These Ten Days
The Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, explicitly emphasized the importance and virtue of these ten days in his guidance. He stated that no other deeds of worship are as beloved to Allah as the actions performed in these ten days. Whether it is offering optional prayers, engaging in remembrance (zikr), or giving charity, Allah holds these acts of worship in high regard during these ten days. Additionally, in a hadith, it is mentioned that if a person observes fasting on any one of these days, it is equivalent to fasting for one year in terms of reward. In other words, the reward for one day of fasting is multiplied to the extent of one year’s worth of fasting. It is also stated that worshipping on one night of these ten nights is equivalent to worshipping on the Night of Decree (Laylat al-Qadr). Hence, Allah has granted immense status to these ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
Two Special Acts of Worship in These Days
The significance of these days lies not only in their virtue but also in the fact that certain acts of worship can only be performed during these days and not on any other days throughout the year. For instance, Hajj is one such act of worship that cannot be performed on any other day except for these ten days. Other acts of worship, besides obligatory duties, can be performed at any other time. For example, offering optional prayers, performing additional fasting, or giving voluntary charity. However, two acts of worship are specifically designated for these times. One is Hajj, and the other is the act of sacrifice (Qurbani). Allah has appointed three days of Dhul-Hijjah, namely the 10th, 11th, and 12th dates, for the act of sacrifice. Apart from these days, one cannot perform the act of sacrifice. However, if someone wishes to give to charity, they can offer the meat of a slaughtered animal as sadaqah (charitable donation). Nevertheless, this does not count as a sacrifice unless it is performed during these three days. Hence, Allah has granted this exclusivity to these specific times. Therefore, based on the light of these narrations, scholars have written that after the blessed month of Ramadan, the most virtuous days are the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. The rewards for acts of worship are multiplied during these days, and Allah bestows His special mercy upon them. Moreover, some particular deeds have been designated specifically for these days.
