Islamic Article |- What to do if you are not going for Hajj Pilgrimage?

The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the most beloved to Allah (SWT).
Prophet Muhammad (saw) testified to that. He said: "There are no days
in which righteous deedsare more beloved to Allahthan these ten days."
(Bukhari)
What activities in first tendays of Dhul Hijjah will bring the reward of Jannah?
Obviously, Hajj Pilgrimage is one of the best deeds that one can do
during these ten days.However for those of us who were not invited to
House of Allah (SWT) this year, there are still many,good deeds that
one can do and earn the Pleasure of Allah (SWT).
Some of these good deeds areas follow:
1) Fast all nine days and especially fast the Day of Arafah
It is Sunnah for the Muslim to fast on the firstnine days of Dhul
Hijjah, because Prophet Muhammad (saw) used tofast on the first nine
daysof Dhul Hijjah and he said: "Fasting the Day of Arafah (ninth Dhul
Hijjah)is an expiation for (all thesins of) the previous year and an
expiation for (all the sins of) the coming year." (Muslim) Also
Prophet Muhammad (saw) encouraged us to do righteous deeds in thefirst
ten days of Dhul Hijjah and fasting is one of the best of deeds, which
Allah (SWT) has chosen for Himself as it says in the Hadith Qudsi:"All
the deeds of the son of Adam are for him, except fasting, which is for
Me and I shall reward for it."
2) Do a lot of Dhikr and Takbeer
Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: "There are no days on which good deeds
are greater or more beloved to Allah (SWT) than on these ten days", so
recite much Tahleel (saying Laa ilaahaill-Allah), Takbeer (saying
Allahu akbar) and Tahmeed (saying al-hamdu Lillaah)." (Ahmad)
Takbeer at this time is a Sunnah. So recite it in themasjid, in your
home, on the street and every place where it is permitted to remember
Allah (SWT).
Revive the Sunnah that have been virtually forgotten and earn great
rewards for doing so. Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: "Whoever revives an
aspect of my Sunnah that is forgotten after my death, he will have a
reward equivalentto that of the people whofollow him, without it
detracting in the least from their reward." (Tirmidhi)
Men should recite these phrases out loud, and women should recite them quietly.
3) Stand in Night Prayers:(Tahajud, Qiyam al Layl)
Remember the virtues of spending the night in prayer and its sweetness
in the month of Ramadan ?
Why not revive this beautiful act of worship during these nights as well?
Remember, how in the last third of every night, Allah Almighty calls
out tous, His servants: Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may
respond to his invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so thatI may
grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that
I may forgive him? (Bukhari, Muslim)
Why do we miss this golden opportunity? So, seize the chance NOW and
expose yourself to His Divine Generosity andMercy, ask Him to forgive
you and guide you and set things aright. He will surely listen.
4) Make Sincere Repentance
One of the most important action during these ten days is to repent
sincerely to Allah (SWT) and to give up all kinds of disobedience and
sin right away because we do not know when we will die and thus become
unable to repent and also because one evil deed leads to another.
But what does repentance mean? It means that you come back to Allah
(SWT) and give up all the deeds, open and secret, that He dislikes
that you regret whatever you did in the past, giving it up immediately
and be determined never ever, to return to it, and resolve to adhere
firmly to the Truth by doing whatever Allah (SWT) loves.
"But as for him who repented, believed and did righteous deeds, thenhe
will be among those who are successful." [Al-Qasas, 28:67]
5) Come back to Holy Quran
It is time now to dust off your copy of Holy Quran and return to its
refuge. Make it a daily habit, using these 10 days the beginning of a
strong and beautiful relationship with it. Readit with meaning,
reflect on it, understand it, and then implement it in yourdaily life.
Remember that reading one letter of HolyQuran earns you ten rewards.
In this way, reading SuratAl-Fatihah, which doesn't take more than two
minutes, will give you more than one thousand rewards! This is on
ordinary days, so what about these magnificent days! Certainly the
reward will be far greater, Insha Allah.
6) Increase all types of good deeds
If we are unable to go to Hajj Pilgrimage this year, we should occupy
ourselves in the worship of Allah (SWT); pray extra prayers (Nafilah)
recite Holy Quran. Make Dhikr of Allah(SWT), send Salaams on Prophet
Muhammad (saw) and his Ahlul Bayt (as) , make dua, give charity, honor
parents, uphold ties of kinship, enjoin what is good and forbid what
is evil and add other good deeds and acts of worship during these
days.
"So whosoever does good equal to the weightof an atom, shall see it;
And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of anatom, shall see it."
[Al-Zalzalah, 99:7-8]
7) Slaughter an animal (Qurbani/Udhiya) and distribute the meat
One of the righteous deeds that bring a person closer to Allah (SWT)
in these ten days is to slaughter the sacrifice (Qurbani/Udhiya) and
to look for a good, fat animal and to spend money on it for the sake
of Allah (SWT).
Ibn Umar said: Prophet Muhammad (saw) lived inMadinah for 10 years
andevery year he slaughtered an animal." (Ahmad)
8) Attend Eid prayers
But remember that Eid prayer is a form of worship and we should avoid
unislamic behavior (especially) in dress and in etiquette during these
times.
9) Thank Allah (SWT)
One of the best forms of worshipping Allah (SWT) is to thank Him,
deeply, sincerely and continuously.
Al-Hamdulillah, there is much to be gained in these coming days.
Hasten to do good deeds and striving hard in worship.
"And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty
(death)." [Al-Hijr, 15:99]