Q: What is the opinion of your Eminence regarding the
opinion of the one who says that Sawm in the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah is
Bid`ah (innovation in religion)?
A: This is an ignorant person who should be taught. The
Messenger (peace be upon him) ordered that good deed should be done in them and
fasting is one of the good deeds. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"There are no days during which the righteous action is so pleasing to
Allah than these ten days (i.e. The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah).'' They
asked him: "O Messenger of Allah, not even Jihad in the Cause of Allah?''
He (peace be upon him) replied: "Not even Jihad in the Cause of Allah,
except in case one goes forth with his life and his property and does not
return with either of it.'' Narrated by Al-Bukhari in his Sahih Book of Hadith.1
(Part No. 15; Page No. 419)
Though it is not
certain whether the Prophet (peace be upon him) fasted them or not, yet it
should be relied on what the Prophet said because saying is much more
significant than practice. When saying is accompanied by practice, this will
affirm the Sunnah. The Sunnah of the Prophet are divided into saying, practice,
and approving. Though each of them forms the Sunnah, the saying is the most
significant and strong of them. Then, the practice comes next and then approval
follows. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "There
are no days during which the righteous action is so pleasing to Allah than
these days.''2 By these days the Prophet means the first ten days of
Dhul-Hijjah. Thus, if one fasts or gives to charity during them, one will be
doing a great good. It is ordained during these days also to recite Takbir
(saying: "Allahu Akbar [Allah is the Greatest]"), Tahmid (saying:
"Al-hamdu lillah [All praise is due to Allah]"), and Tahlil (saying:
"La ilaha illa Allah [There is no god except Allah]") because he
(peace be upon him) said: There are no days that are greater before Allah or in
which good deeds are more beloved to Him than these ten days, so recite a great
deal of Tahlil, Takbir, and Tahmid during them.3 May Allah grant us
all success!
(Part No. 15; Page
No. 420)
--------------------------
1. Narrated by Al-Bukhari, Book on Friday, Chapter on the excellence of right action during the days of Tashriq, no. 969; and Al-Tirmidhy, Book on fasting, Chapter on the narrations concerning the right deeds in the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, no. 757, and the wording is his.
2. Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Book on Friday, no. 969; Al-Tirmidhy, Sunan, Book on fasting, no. 757; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on fasting, no. 2438; Ibn Majah, Sunan, Book on fasting, no. 1727; Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 1, p. 224; and Al-Darimy, Sunan, Book on fasting, no. 1773.
3. Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 2, p. 75.
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