In norway, there is a day of the year called crazy day, where most stuffs are given off at rock bottom prices. Almost everyone prepare from months ahead for this crazy day, and shop like crazy when the day arrives. That is how our psychology works, we always want to get more for less.Allah being our Creator knows this even better, and that is why He has some days of the year better than others. For us to score a few extra points with our regular daily acts of worship, and bag a lot more rewards with minimal added efforts. One such example are the days of Ramadhan where an obligatory act of worship (fardh) is rewarded 700 times or more.
Just as there different degrees of sale (30%, 50%, or 90%), some of these special days are better than others, with the most blessed of them being the days we are going through now - the first ten days of the month of Hajj. The Prophet (pbuh) said that "There are no deeds as excellent as those done in these ten days.[1]”
So dear brothers and sisters, just as we do all within our means to not miss any big sale or offers, let us try our utmost to make best use of these best of the best of days. According to Hadith, some recommended acts of worship for these days are:
1. Fasting, especially on the 9th day (the day of Arafah - i.e. the day before Eid - which is 7th dec in Norway & Saudi Arabia, and 8th dec in Bangladesh). The Prophet (pbuh) said: "Fasting the day of `Arafah I seek from Allah to make it expiate the sins of the year before and the year after"[2]
(note: this fast can be done with dual intention of making up missed fast of Ramadhan as well)
2. Tahajjud prayers - an easy task now with long winter nights.
3. Remembering Allah alot by Tahlil (saying la ilaha illa Allah, i.e. None has the right to be worshiped except Allah), Takbir (saying Allahu Akbar, i.e Allah is the greatest); and Tahmid (saying al-hamdu lillah, i.e. All praise be to Allah) [3]
Of course, it is not limited to these acts of worship only.
P.S.: For those who are offering sacrifice (Qurbani), it is recommended (not compulsory) that they should not cut their hair, nails or skin [4] (I am not sure about trimming / shaving beard / moustache). It is not compulsory, and thus will not effect the sacrifice in any way.
May Allah help us to make best use of these most blessed of days. Ameen.
Source:
[1] Bukhari
[2] Ibn Majah
[3] Ahmad
[4] Ibn Majah
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[image source: IOL]
