Virtues Of The 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah And Proof Of Fasting On These Days

– From the writings of Sheikh ul-Islaam ibn Taymiyyah, Sheikh Bin Baz, and Sheikh ibn Uthaimeen -

Sheikh-ul-Islaam ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) was asked as is mentioned by Ibnul Qayyim, “Which is more virtuous & beneficial, the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah or the last 10 days of Ramadhan?”

So he answered by saying that “the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are more virtuous than the last 10 days of Ramadhan, and the last 10 nights of Ramadhan are more virtuous than the last 10 nights of Dhul Hijjah.” Then his Illustrious student and great scholar Ibnul Qayyim (رحمه الله) commented on this verdict and said: 

“… And if the intelligent and noble one was to reflect upon this answer, he would find it satisfactory and sufficient. For indeed, there are no days (in the year) more beloved to Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى that righteous actions are done within them than the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah, since within them are the days of Ara’faah (9th day of Dhul Hijjah) and the day of Nahr (10th day) and the day of Tarwiyah (8th day). As for the 10 nights of Ramadhan, they are the nights of revitalization which the Messenger صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم used to be up in awakening within them all, and within it is a night which is better than 1000 months. So whoever answers without such an elaboration, then he is incapable to prove his statement with authentic evidences.”

(Taken from the book bada’ee Al-Fawaaid of ibnul Qayyim – under the chapter ‘the preference between Aa’isha & Fatimah.’)

Index: Day of an-Nahr- means the day of slaughtering

As for the meanings of ‘the Day of Arafaah’ and ‘the day of Tarwiyah’, then they are mentioned by the Faqeeh Ibnu Qudaamah al Maqdisee (رحمه الله) in his monumental book in Fiqh called ‘Al-Mughni’ which is in accordance to the Hanbali Madhab. In the book, he stated, “as for the day of Arafaah, then it is the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah and it’s called this because the standing at (i.e. the place) Arafaah takes place on this day. It is also said that it was called the day of Arafaah due to Prophet Ibraaheem (عليه السلام) seeing in a dream the night of Tarwiyah that he was ordered to slaughter his son. So, the next morning he awoke ‘yatarowee’ (i.e. thinking to himself): was it a revelation from Allaah or was it just a dream? So, this day was called the day of Tarwiyah (deliberation). So when the 2nd night came to pass, he had the same dream. And when he awoke the morning after, he knew it was from Allaah, (and) thus it was called the day of Arafaah (i.e. the day he knew).”

{Taken from ‘Al-Mughni’ Kitaabu Siyaam chapter: that which is recommended from the days to fast}.

Source: Toronto Dawah