The First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah vs The Last Ten Nights of Ramadān || The Best Day of the Year (Yawm An-Nahr – 10th Dhul-Hijjah) – Shaykhul-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728)
[The First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah or the Last Ten Nights of Ramadan – Which is Better?]
Shaykhul-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728H) was asked about the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah and the last ten nights of Ramadan, which of them is better?
He (رحمه الله) replied:
The days (daytimes) of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are better than the days of Ramadhān, and the nights of the last ten nights of Ramadhān are better than the nights of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) commented:
When the virtuous and intelligent person reflects on this answer, they will find it comprehensive and sufficient. For indeed, there are no days in which deeds are more beloved to Allah than the days of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, and from these (ten days) are: the Day of ‘Arafah, the Day of Sacrifice (‘Eid al-Adhā), and the Day of Tarwiyah (the 8th Day of Dhul-Hijjah).
As for the (last) ten nights of Ramadhān, they are the nights of staying awake, exerting effort in worship, in which the Prophet used to stay awake the entire night, spending them in worship. Also, from these (the last ten nights) is a night (Laylatul Qadr) that is better than a thousand months.
So, whosoever answers (this question) without these details, he will not be able to substantiate it with authentic proof.
[The Day of ‘Arafah, Friday, the Day of ‘Eid al-Fitr, or the Day of ‘Eid al-Adhā – Which is Best?]
Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) was also asked: Which is best; the Day of ‘Arafah, Friday, the Day of ‘Eid al-Fitr, or the Day of ‘Eid al-Adhā?
He responded:
All praises are to Allah. The best day of the week is Friday (Yawm Al-Jumu’ah) by the consensus of ‘Ulamā (Scholars), and the best day of the year is the Day of Sacrifice (Yawm An-Nahr – 10th day of Dhul-Hijjah).
Some (of the Scholars) said that the Day of ‘Arafah is the best day of the year, but the first opinion (that the Day of Sacrifice is the best day) is the correct one.
This is because it is narrated in the Sunan that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The best of days with Allah is the Day of Sacrifice (Yawm Al-Nahr), and then the Day of Settling in Minā (Yawm Al-Qarr – 11th day of Dhul-Hijjah).”
This is because it (the Day of Sacrifice) is the greatest day of Hajj according to the Madhhāb of Mālik, Shāfi’ī, and Ahmad, as it is authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said: “The Day of Sacrifice is the greatest day of Hajj (Yawm Al-Hajj Al-Akbar).”
Also, there are specific acts of worship that are performed on this day (10th of Dhul-Hijjah), which are not performed on other days, such as:
– Staying at Muzdalifah
– Stoning only the Jamarat al-‘Aqabah
– Slaughtering the sacrificial animal
– Shaving the head
– Performing the Tawāf al-Ifādah (Tawāf of Hajj)
Performing these acts on this day is better, according to the Sunnah and the consensus of the Scholars, and Allah knows best.
Source: Majmu’ Fatāwā of Shaykhul Islām Ibn Taymiyyah, (vol. 25 p. 287 – 288)
Translated by Abu ‘Umar ‘Abdul-Hakeem & Abu Tayyibah Sādiq
وسئل عن ذي الحجة، والعشر الأواخر من رمضان. أيهما أفضل؟
فَأَجَابَ:
أيام عشر ذي الحجة أفضل من أيام من رمضان، والليلي العشر الأواخر أفضل من ليالي عشر ذي الحجة.
قال ابن القيم:ـ
وإذا تأمل الفاضل اللبيب هذا الجواب، وجده شافيا كافيا، فإنه ليس من أيام العمل فيها أحب إلى الله من أيام عشر ذي الحجة، وفيها: يوم عرفة، ويوم النحر، ويوم التروية.
وأما ليالي عشر رمضان فهي ليالي الإحياء، التي كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يحييها كلها. وفيها ليلة خير من ألف شهر.
فمن أجاب بغير هذا التفصيل، لم يمكنه أن يدلى بحجة صحيحة.
سئل شيخ الإسلام أيما أفضل: يوم عرفة أو يوم الجمعة، أو الفطر، أو النحر؟
فَأَجَابَ:
الحمد لله، أفضل أيام الأسبوع يوم الجمعة باتفاق العلماء. وأفضل أيام العام هو يوم النحر. وقد قال بعضهم يوم عرفة، والأول هو الصحيح، لأن في السنن عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال: 《أفضل الأيام عند الله يوم النحر ثم يوم القر》لأنه يوم الحج الأكبر في مذهب مالك والشافعي، وأحمد كما ثبت في الصحيح عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال 《يوم النحر هو يوم الحج الأكبر》
وفيه من الأعمال مالا يعمل في غيره: كالوقوف بمزدلفة، ورمي جمرة العقبة وحدها، والنحر، والحلق، وطواف الإفاضة، فإن فعل هذه فيه أفضل بالسنة واتفاق العلماء، والله أعلم.
المصدر:ـ
مجموع فتاوى شيخ الإسلام أحمد بن تيمية رحمه الله، ط. خادم الحرمين الشريفين الملك فهد رحمه الله (٢٥ / ٢٨٧ – ٢٨٨)