Insha’Allah, the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah (Allah SWT has preferred over all the rest days of the year) is starting Wednesday July 22nd, 2020. There are many acts of worship that the Muslim should practice during these 10 days, such as:
- Fasting
- Thikr (remembering Allah)
- Takbeer: “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar, la ilaaha ill-Allah; wa Allah Akbar Allaahu Akbar wa Lillaahi’l-Hamd”
- Performing Hajj and ‘Umrah
- Offering sacrifice on the day of Eid
- Sincere repentance
- Doing Charity
- Doing more good deeds in general
Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) 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.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 2/457).
And it was narrated from Hunaydah ibn Khaalid from his wife that one of the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast nine days of Thu’l-Hijjah and the day of ‘Ashoora’ and three days of each month – the first Monday and two Thursdays.” Narrated by Imam Ahmad, 21829; Abu Dawood, 2437; classed as da’eef in Nasab al-Raayah, 2/180, but classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“When you see the new moon of Thul-Hijjah, if any one of you wants to offer a sacrifice, then he should stop cutting his hair and nails until he has offered his sacrifice.” According to another report he said: “He should not remove (literally, touch) anything from his hair or skin.”(reported by Muslim with four isnaads, 13/146)
If a person has cut his hair or nails during the first ten days of Thu’l-Hijjah because he was not planning to offer a sacrifice, then he decides later, during the ten days, to offer a sacrifice, then he must refrain from cutting his hair and nails from the moment he makes this decision.
Some women may delegate their brothers or sons to make the sacrifice on their behalf, then cut their hair during these ten days.. This is not correct, because the ruling applies to the one who is offering the sacrifice, whether or not he (or she) delegates someone else to carry out the actual deed. The prohibition does not apply to the person delegated, only to the person who is making the sacrifice, as is indicated in the hadeeth. The person who is sacrificing on behalf of someone else, for whatever reason, does not have to adhere to this prohibition.
This prohibition appears to apply only to the one who is offering the sacrifice, not to his wife and children, unless any of them is offering a sacrifice in his or her own right, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to sacrifice “on behalf of the family of Muhammad,” but there are no reports that say he forbade them to cut their hair or nails at that time.
Jazakum Allahu Khairan !
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Islamic Center of Peoria