Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī Ḥadīth [969] – The best ten days (i.e., first ten days of Dhul Ḥijjah)

This ḥadīth proves that the first ten days of Dhul Ḥijjah are the most virtuous days among the first ten days of the months of the year, the significance and the value of good deeds, performed during these days, is more comparing to rest of the days.

• Reference: [757 (2/192-193), Sunan at-Tirmidhī, Dārussalām (Eng)]

a) The best days after the sacred month of Ramaḍān are the first ten days of Dhul Ḥijjah.

b) Fasting for the first nine days of Dhul Ḥijjah is from the best among the voluntary fasting; and fasting on the ninth of Dhul Ḥijjah is the best among these nine days.

c) Jihād is a better form of worship than other good deeds.

• Reference: [1727 (2/517-518), Sunan ibn Mājah, Dārussalām (Eng)]

… The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said: “There are no days during which the righteous action is so pleasing to Allāh than these days”, that is, the first ten days of Dhul Ḥijjah. His saying: “Righteous action” include ṣalāt, charity, fasting, remembrance of Allāh, takbīr, reciting the Qurān, kindness to parents, strengthening the ties of kindship, kindness to the creatures, benevolence towards the neighbors and other forms of righteous actions. There are no days of the year in which righteous deeds are more pleasing to Allāh than these ten days. They asked: ‘Not even jihād in the cause of Allāh?’ He replied: “Not even jihād in the cause of Allāh, except in case one goes forth with his life and his property and does not return with either of it.”

This is evidence showing the merit of fasting and other righteous deeds during the first ten days of the month of Dhul Ḥijjah. It also establishes that jihād is among the best deeds; that was why the companions asked: ‘Not even jihāad in the cause of Allāh?’ And it is evidence of the merit of this rare situation whereby a person goes out striving in the cause of Allāh with his life and property, which is his sword and riding beast, and he is killed and his sword and riding beast were taken by the enemy. He lost his life and property in the cause of Allāh, so he is among the greatest warriors in the cause of Allāh. This is better than righteous deeds during these days. And its merit swells if this action occurs in these ten days.

• Reference: [1249 (2/325-328), Riyāḍuṣ Ṣāliḥīn, Dārussalām (Eng)]

This ḥadīth brings out the following two points:

1) Righteous deeds during the first ten days of the month of Dhul Ḥijjah are far better and more rewarding than righteous deeds done on other days of the year, because they are Ḥajj days in the sacred season of pilgrimage. Because of their excellence and importance, Allāh swore by them, thus: “By the Dawn, by the ten Nights…” [Sūrah al-Fajr 89: 1-2]

2) Jihād has great eminence in Islām.

• Reference: [1249 (2/947-948), Riyāḍuṣ Ṣāliḥīn, Dārussalām (Eng)]

To be updated in shaa Allah.

• Reference: [2865 (4/545-546), Ṣaḥīḥ ibn Khuzaymah, Ansarus Sunnah Publications, Lahore (Ur)]

To be updated in shaa Allah.

• Reference: [1191 (1/696), Al-Mu’jam aṣ-Ṣagḥīr, Ansarus Sunnah Publications, Lahore (Ur)]

• Sunan Abī Dāwūd (2438)
• Sunan at-Tirmidhī (757)
• Sunan ibn Mājah (1727)
• Sunan ad-Dārimī (1773-1774 (2/24))
• Ṣaḥīḥ ibn Khuzaymah (2865 (3/237))
• Al-Mu’jam aṣ-Ṣagḥīr (889 (1/620))
• Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ (1460)
• Riyāḍuṣ Ṣāliḥīn (1249)
• Al-Jāmi’ al-Kāmil (4434 (6/537-538), 7150 (10/76), 10737 (13/726), 12788 (16/58-59) & 13717 (16/735))
• Talkhīṣ al-Jāmi’ al-Kāmil (4434 (2/278), 7150 (3/111), 10737 (4/400), 12788 (5/239) & 13717 (5/594))

Grade: Ṣaḥīḥ (Authentic)