Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi t3ala wa barakatuhu,
Verily these 10 days are very blessed and full of virtues, so one should take the full advantage of these days and make them bloom with loads of ibaadat! Even if you are not doing hajj, do not waste this sacred time, and use it as a chance to reflect yourself, increase your iman, ask for forgiveness and build a strong relationship with ALLAH t3ala, and become very near to him. Here are some virtues:
ALLAH subhanahu wa t3ala takes an oath by the nights of the first 10 days of Dhul Hajjah:
(وَٱلۡفَجۡرِ (١) وَلَيَالٍ عَشۡرٍ۬ (٢
"By the dawn; by the ten nights" [al-Fajr 89:1-2].
Swearing an oath by something indicates its importance and sacredness.
Also:
حدثنا هناد حدثنا أبو معاوية عن الأعمش عن مسلم هو البطين وهو ابن أبي عمران عن سعيد بن جبير عن ابن عباس قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ما من أيام العمل الصالح فيهن أحب إلى الله من هذه الأيام العشر فقالوا يا رسول الله ولا الجهاد في سبيل الله فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ولا الجهاد في سبيل الله إلا رجل خرج بنفسه وماله فلم يرجع من ذلك بشيء
وفي الباب عن ابن عمر وأبي هريرة وعبد الله بن عمرو وجابر قال أبو عيسى حديث ابن عباس حديث حسن صحيح غريب
Narrated Ibn Abbas (RA): The Prophet said, "No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijja)." Then some companions of the Prophet said, "Not even Jihad?" He replied, "Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah's sake) and does not return with any of those things." (Reported by Tirmidhi)
Abu Hurayrah radiyallahu anhu related that Rasoolullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam said, "On no days is the worship of Allah desired more than in the (first) ten days of Zul Hijjah. The fast of each of these days is equal to the fast of a whole year, and the worship of each of these nights is equal to the worship of Laylatul Qadr." (Tirmizi, Ibne Mãjah)
The mother of the believers, Hafsah radiyallahu anhaa reports that Rasoolullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam used to fast the (first) nine days of Zul Hijjah. (Nasã'ee, Ahmad, Aboo Dãwood)
Abdullah Ibne 'Umar radiyallahu anhu related that Rasoolullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam said, "No days are as weighty with Allah and so liked by Him for good deeds than the first ten days of Zul Hijjah. So on these days increasingly read Subhãnallah, Lã ilãha illallãh, Alhamdulillah and Allahu Akbar." (Musnad Ahmad)
Virtues of the Day of Arafah (9th Zul Hijjah)
1. 'Ã'ishah radiyallahu anhaa reports that Rasoolullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam said, " There is no day in which Allah sets free more souls from the fire of hell than on the day of Arafah. And on that day Allah draws near to the earth and by way of exhibiting His Pride remarks to the angels, 'What is the desire of these (servants of mine)?" (Muslim)
2. Talhah radiyallahu anhu reports that Rasoolullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam said, "Apart from the day of the Battle of Badr there is no day on which the Shaytãn is seen to be more humiliated, more rejected, more depressed and more infuriated, than on the day of Arafah, and indeed all this is only because of beholding the abundance of descending mercy (on the day) and Allah's forgiveness of the great sins of the servants." (Mishkãt)
3. Aboo Qatãdah Al-Ansãri radiyallahu anhu narrated that Rasoolullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam was asked about the fast on the day of Arafah. He said, "It compensates for the (minor) sins of the past and the coming year." (Muslim, Tirmizi, Ibne Mãjah)
Night of 'Eedul Adh'hã
The nights of both 'Eed are described in the Hadeeth as amongst the great and sacred nights in the Muslim calendar. To remain awake on the nights of 'Eed and perform 'ibãdah is a source of great virtue and reward.
1. Aboo Umarah radiyallahu anhu related that 'Ã'ishah radiyallahu anhaa reports that Rasoolullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam said, "Whosoever stays awake and performs 'ibãdah (worship) on the nights of the two 'Eed, with hope for abundant reward (from Allah), his heart will not die on the day (i.e. Qiyãmah) when all hearts will be dead." (Targheeb)
2. Mu'ãz Ibne Jabal radiyallahu anhu relates that Rasoolullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam said, "Jannat is wãjib (incumbent) for those who stay awake with the intention of making 'ibãdah on the following nights: 8th, 9th and 10th of Zul Hijjah, the night of 'Eedul Fitr and the night of the 15th of Sha'bãn." (Targheeb)
Virtues of Qurbãni
Rasoolullah sallalahu alayhi wasallam said, "There is nothing dearer to Allah during the days of Qurbãni than the sacrificing of animals. The sacrificed animal shall come on the Day of Judgement with its horns, hair, and hooves (to be weighed). The sacrifice is accepted by Allah before the blood reaches the ground. Therefore sacrifice with an open and happy heart." (Tirmizi, Ibne Mãjah)
Takbirãt of Tashreeq
The Takbirãt of Tashreeq are:
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,
Lã ilãha illallãhu wallahu Akbar,
Allahu Akbar, Walil lahil hamd.
"Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. There is no deity besides Allah and Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest and all praises are for Allah only."
It is wãjib for every adult Muslim to recite these Takbirãt of Tashreeq audibly once after every fardh salaah which is performed with jamã'at (congregation) from the Fajr of 9th Zul Hijjah to the 'Asr of 13th Zul Hijjah (i.e. total of 23 salãh).
Mas'alah: It is not wãjib for women and shar'ee travellers. But, if they are performing salãh behind an imãm upon whom it is wãjib, then it will become wãjib upon them too. However it is mustahab for them to recite in any case.
Mas'alah: Women should not say it loudly but softly.
Mas'alah: Takbeer should be recited immediately after concluding the fardh prayer.
As you can see these days are very special in Islam, and there are abundant blessings for any religious act and worship that is done in these days.
Different types of worship that can be done:
- Fasting these 10 days or as much as possible or atleast the day of arafah
- Verbal Zikr such as ALLAHU akbar, la ilaha illallah,
- Recitation of The Quran Karim
- Nawafil salah
- Qadha of missed prayers
- Qayamul layl (praying in the night)
- Asking for forgiveness, making dua, asking for needs
Come on, charge your batteries, and liven these days and nights with loads of worship for the sake of ALLAH t3ala only!
and keep me in your prayers please!
(half written by myself and half from internet sources)