Hajj & Umrah, - Common Mistakes inthe First Ten Days of Thul-Hijjah - I

We are passing through one of the most honorable seasons of Allaah The
Almighty -- the first ten days ofThul-Hijjah. This blessed period is
an opportunity to offer many voluntary acts of worship with which the
servant can draw himself nearer to Allaah The Almighty hoping to gain
an advantage which would entitle him to happiness in this life and in
the Hereafter. Such blessings will protect him from the agonies of
death and its severity; the grave and its darkness; and
theSiraat)Bridge( and its slips.
The first ten days ofThul-Hijjahare a favored season because numerous
different acts of worship are performed during it and this is not
possible in other seasons. Al-Haafithsaid,"The reason behind the
excellence of the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah is that they include
the fundamental acts of worship: prayer, fasting, charity and Hajj.
There is not any other time in the year when all four acts of worship
are combined."]Fat-h-ul Baari[
Given that, we would like to alert readers against some mistakes that
some Muslims make during theHajjseason, so that they know and avoid
them. Success is sought only from Allaah The Almighty!
Firstly: General mistakes
1- Paying no attention to these days:
Some people spend the ten days ofThul-Hijjahwithout paying them the
least attention. This is a manifest mistake, because such days are
greatly favored over other days. In aHadeeth)narration(, the Prophet,,
said:"There are no days on which righteous deeds are dearer to Allaah
than they are on these ten days."
2- NeglectingTasbeeh,TahleelandTakbeertherein :
Many Muslims commit this mistake during the ten days ofThul-Hijjah.
Rather, a Muslim is required to repeatTakbeer)saying:Allaah-u-Akbar(
as soon as the ten days come and to continue until the last of the
days ofTashreeq. Allaah The Exalted says )what means(:
*.}And mention the Name of Allaah on known days....{]Quran 22: 28[
*.}And remember Allaah during ]specific[ numbered days....{]Quran 2: [
Commenting on these verses, Ibn 'Abbaassaid that the known days are
the ten days ofThul-Hijjahand the numbered days are the days
ofTashreeq. ]Saheeh Al-Bukhaari[
It is reported that Ibn 'Umar and Abu Hurayrahused to go to the market
during the first ten days ofThul-Hijjahand reciteTakbeerand then
people would imitate them. ]Al-Bukhaari[
ForTakbeerto be valid and acceptable, it should not be recited in a
collective manner and it must not be accompanied by swinging, dancing
or music. One is also required to adhere to theAthkaar)remembrance( of
the PropheticSunnah)tradition( and avoid saying or doing anything that
might have a polytheistic connotation.
3- Women sayingTakbeerandTahleelloudly:
It is not reported that the Mothers of the BelieversrecitedTakbeerin
loud voices. Women should avoid making such mistakes as well as
others.
4- Addition to theSunnah-approved wording ofTakbeer:
It is a mistake to add to the establishedSunnahversion ofTakbeer. The
most authentic manner ofTakbeeris:"Allaah-u-Akbar, Allaah-u-Akbar
Kabeeran )Allaah is Greatest(."]'Abdur-Raazaaq[
The same manner is also reported on the authority of Sa'eed bin
Jubayr, Mujaahid and others. ]Ja'far Al-Firyaabi[
Ash-Shaafi'iadopted this version and added:"Wa lillaahi-l-hamd )And
praise is due to Allaah(."
According to another opinion, it is:"Allaah-u-Akbar, Allaah-u-Akbar,
Allaah-u-Akbar, Laa illaaha illaallaah wahdahu laa shareeka lah
)Allaah is Greatest, there is no deity but Allaah alone and there are
no partners to Him(."
According to a third opinion, it is:"Allaah-u-Akbar, Allaah-u-Akbar,
Laa illaaha illaallaa, Allaah-u-Akbar, Allaah-u-Akbar, Allaah-u-Akbar,
Wa lillaahi-l-hamd."
This last version is reported on the authority of 'Umar and Ibn
Mas'ood. This is also the view of Ahmad and Is-haaq. ]Fat-hul Baari[
To sum up this point, there are two authentic wordings forTakbeer:
* Allaah-u-Akbar, Allaah-u-Akbar, Laa illaaha illaallaah,
wallaah-u-Akbar, wa lillaahi-l-hamd.
* Allaah-u-Akbar, Allaah-u-Akbar, Allaah-u-Akbar Kabeera.
Some books of the schools of jurisprudence, such asAl-Majmoo', mention
additions to the aforesaid manner which are inauthentic. Perhaps such
additions are said in occasions other than the first ten days
ofThul-Hijjah.
5- Fasting during the days ofTashreeq:
This is forbidden, because they are days of'Eedand during which one
eats and drinks. In aHadeeth, the Prophet,, said:"The day of 'Arafah
)the 9thday of Thul-Hijjah((, the day of Nahr ))the 10thday of
Thul-Hijjah(( and the days of Tshreeq are 'Eed for us, Muslims. They
are days for eating and drinking."]Abu Daawood[
6- Observing voluntary fasting while one is required to observe
fasting for days that were missed during Ramadan:
Some people fast one, two, three days or more during the ten days
ofThul-Hijjahwhile they are required to make up for fasts that they
missed inRamadan. This is a mistake that should be avoided, because
making up for missed obligatory fasts is an obligation while fasting
during these ten days is an act ofSunnah)Prophetic tradition( and it
is impermissible to give precedence to acts ofSunnahover obligations.
Consequently, it is obligatory for one who is required to make up for
missedRamadanfasts to observe the obligatory fasting before observing
any voluntary fasting.
Some people harbor multiple intentions when observing a single fast
in order to get multiple rewards, such as one fasting on a day while
harboring the intention of making up for a missedRamadanfast, fasting
a day ofThul-Hijjahas well as fasting on Monday or Thursday, all
intentions for only one fasted day. Such practice is ungrounded. None
of the Companionsadopted this view. Mixing acts of worship is a
serious matter and Muslims must not indulge in that.
Secondly: Mistakes made on the Day of 'Arafah
1- Abandoning fasting:
It should be taken into consideration that the Day of 'Arafah is the
best day of the first ten days ofThul-Hijjah, and abandoning fasting
of that day is a mistake that many of those who are not granted
success to do righteous deeds commit. It was narrated on the authority
of Abu Qataadah Al-Ansaarithat the Messenger of Allaah,, was asked
about the reward of fasting the day of 'Arafah and he said:"It
expiates sins of the past year and the coming year."]Muslim[
This is prescribed for those who are not pilgrims ofHajj. As for
pilgrims ofHajj, they are forbidden to observe fasting during that
day.