First 10, Days of Eid-ul-Adha

How is Eid ul Adha different from festivals of Other People?

Alhumdulillah Eid ul Adha is just few days away.

People welcome Eid ul Adha in their own ways. Some invest lots of their time in the decorations and Parties and get together and for some it is shopping  Today I would like to talk about Welcoming Eid ul Adha from the Spiritual Perspective. This Eid ul Adha will be my first Eid ul adha after my Hajj. Last year in Arafat what I experienced was totally a life changing experience for me. This year I was hoping for a very private time during Eid ul Adha and with Pandemics this has made it quite more easy.

When we think of festivals and holidays,we think of food, Party, decoration and fun. While Islam do not discourage us to rejoice and have fun and it is a sunnah to eat, drink and be happy on these days yet we should not channel all our energy in shopping and decoration of Eid ul Adha because these days are full of virtue and a great time to earn the Pleasure of Allah swt.

Let us read this hadith on the virtue of Eid ul Adha

Ibn ‘Abbas ( ra ) reported that Rasulullah ( SAW) said:”There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” The people asked, “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah?” He said, “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 (i.e. he is martyred).” [Bukhari, Tabraani]

What can we do to make our Dhul Hijja and Eid ul Adha more Productive?

A golden rule on how not to miss on the ibadah and the fun is Do lots of ibadah on the first 9 days and enjoy Eid on 10th Dhul Hijja and in the days of Tashreeq(11,12,13 dhul Hijja )

How to make the best of Dhul Hijja?

Well, before I give you the reminders and the pointers, I would say these are reminders for me first and may Allah give all of us the taufeeq to do worship Allah in an excellent manner, May Allah forgive us and accept us.

1. De-clutter whatever is occupying you :

Yes, We need to pre- plan our days of first 10 days of dhul hijja just as we plan for any important event.

2. Book your Udhiya/ Sacrificial Animal for Qurbani

Zaid ibn Arqam ( ra ) related that the companions of Rasulullah ( SAW) asked, “O Rasulullah, what is sacrifice?” He replied, “it is the Sunnah of your father Ibrahim (AS )”. They asked again, “What benefit do we get from it?” he answered, “A reward for every hair of the sacrificed animal.” And what reward is there for animals with wool?” they asked. “A reward,” he said, ‘for every fibre of the wool.” [Ibn Majah, Musnad Ahmad, Mishkaat]

3. Make a list of Adhkar you intend to recite

4. Remember to recite these 2 Surah on the Days of Eid (A forgotton Sunnah)

Narrated Abu Waqid al-Laithi (RA):The Prophet (ﷺ) used to recite on (‘Eid) al-Adha and (‘Eid) al-Fitr, Surat Qaf (Chapter 50) and Surat Al-Qamar (Chapter 54). [Reported by Muslim].

5. Read more Quran

Make an attempt to increase the recitition of Quran. It can be just One page more.Allah sees your intention and your efforts.

6. Do more Astaghfar

Believe me the day of Arafat is not like any other day. It is the day that should not be wasted. I remember last year we were in tears standing in Arafat.What I felt in Arafat was something that I never experienced before. In sha Allah I will try to bting the same kaifiyat in my heart.May Allah forgive my sins and my shortcomings and accept me.

7. Do not miss the nights of Dhjl Hijja.Its night is like nights of laylatul Qadr.

8. Do the Shopping Before the Days of Dhul Hijja

If you need to buy dresses for your kids,families etc anything try to get them done before the important days so that you do not miss the important days thinking about something else.

9.Fast on the Day of ’Arafah

If you are unable to fast for the whole ten days, try to fast on just the Day of Arafah the 9th of Dhul Hijjah. Just as Laylatul Qadr is the most blessed night of the year, ‘Arafah is the most blessed day of the year. The Prophet (saw) said, ’There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than on the day of ‘Arafah’. (Muslim)

Like Laylatul Qadr, we should spend this day seeking forgiveness and availing ourselves of Allah’s incredible mercy. On this day, non-pilgrims have the opportunity to extinguish the sins of two years by fasting! The Prophet (saw) said, ′It (fasting on the Day of ‘Arafah) expiates the sins of the past year and the coming year’. (Muslim)

10.Takbir and Tashriq

Do lots of Takbir tashriq especially after every salah.

Are You Prepared for the first 10 blessed days of Dhul Hijja.What are your Plans,Do share with us.Let us Pray for each of us that may Allah swt give us hidayah and forgive us.

Ameen.