Specific Actions to do on these Blessed Days

Performing Hajj and Umrah

It is preferable for anyone who has already performed the obligatory Hajj and Umrah to again perform it as often as it is easy for him to do so, because of what has been mentioned (in the authentic Sunnah) about the reward for frequently performing Haj and Umrah.

Hadhrat Abdullah ibn Masud RA said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

‏ تَابِعُوا بَيْنَ الْحَجِّ وَالْعُمْرَةِ فَإِنَّهُمَا يَنْفِيَانِ الْفَقْرَ وَالذُّنُوبَ كَمَا يَنْفِي الْكِيرُ خَبَثَ الْحَدِيدِ وَالذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَلَيْسَ لِلْحَجَّةِ الْمَبْرُورَةِ ثَوَابٌ إِلاَّ الْجَنَّةُ ‏

“Alternate between Hajj and Umrah; for those two remove poverty and sins just as the bellows removes filth from iron, gold, and silver – and there is no reward for Al-Hajj Al-Mabrur except for Paradise.” [Tirmidhi 810]

So, one of the greatest deeds that you can spend your time doing during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, is to join the ranks of those performing Haj and Umrah, because, contained in them are so many acts of worship, remembrance, submissiveness, and so many open displays of our complete dependence upon Allah, Glorified is He.

Fasting on the Day of Arafat

It is preferable to fast the Day of Arafat for all of those people who are not performing Hajj because the Prophet ﷺ did not fast on the Day of Arafat during the Farewell Hajj. The preferability of fasting on the Day of Arafat for all of those people who are not performing Haj has been mentioned in a hadith in which the Prophet ﷺ was asked about fasting on that day and he replied:

سئل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ عن صوم يوم عرفة‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ ‏ ‏يكفر السنة الماضية والباقية

Abu Qatadah RA reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about the observance of Saum (fasting) on the day of ‘Arafah. He said, “It is an expiation for the sins of the preceding year and the current year.” [Muslim]

So, my beloved brothers and sisters in Islam, if it is difficult for you to fast all nine of the first ten days of Dhul Hijah, then at least do not deny yourself the great and generous reward for fasting the Day of ‘Arafat!

Slaughtering a Sacrificial Animal and Distributing the Meat

The proof for the permissibility of slaughtering a sacrificial animal is contained in the statement of Allah the Most High:

فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَٱنْحَرْ

(Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only).) [Al-Kauthar 108: 2]

Abdullah ibn ‘Umar RA said: “The Prophet ﷺ lived in Madinah for ten years and every year he slaughtered a sacrificial animal.” [Imam Ahmed & Tirmidhi]

It is perhaps for that reason that Ibnul Qayyim R said: “The Prophet ﷺ never missed slaughtering a sacrificial animal. He always slaughtered two rams, always sacrificing them after the Eid prayer, and he said: Whoever slaughters before the Eid prayer then it is not a sacrifice, it is simply considered meat that he has given to his family.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

A sacrificial animal may be offered on Yawm-un-Nahr or on any of the three days that follow it.

وكل أيام التشريق ذبح

The Prophet ﷺ said: “All of the days of Tashreeq are for slaughtering sacrificial animals.”

From the guidance of the Prophet ﷺ is that he used to select his sacrificial animals very carefully making sure that they were free from defects and he used to treat them well (before slaughtering them).

Also from the guidance of the Prophet ﷺ is that he used to slaughter at the place where the Eid prayer was held, likewise, he ordered the people to sacrifice the animals in the best way (i.e. quickly, mercifully, and with a sharp knife).