Virtues of Dhul-Hijjah's First 10 Days: Tasbih, Tahleel & Takbeer

Virtues of Tasbih and Tahleel in the First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah
Source: Fatāwā Muhammadiyyah, Volume 1, Page 583

❀ Question:​

What is the ruling on frequently reciting Tasbih, Tahleel, and other adhkār during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah?

❖ Answer:​

الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد

① Narration of ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما and the Statement of the Prophet ﷺ​

It is narrated from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما that the Prophet ﷺ said:


"مَا مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أَعْظَمُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ، وَلَا أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ الْعَمَلُ فِيهِنَّ مِنْ أَيَّامِ الْعَشْرِ، فَأَكْثِرُوا فِيهِنَّ مِنَ التَّسْبِيحِ , وَالتَّحْمِيدِ , وَالتَّكْبِيرِ , وَالتَّهْلِيلِ"

“There are no days more noble in the sight of Allah and in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Him than these ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah), so increase in them the recitation of Subḥānallāh, Alḥamdulillāh, Allāhu Akbar, and Lā ilāha illā Allāh.”

(Reported by al-Ṭabarānī in al-Kabīr with a good chain. See al-Targhīb wa al-Tarhīb, vol. 2, p. 198, Chapter: Encouragement Towards Righteous Deeds)


From this noble ḥadīth, we understand the following:


◈ The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are highly esteemed in the sight of Allah.
◈ Righteous deeds performed in these days are the most beloved to Allah.
◈ Hence, one should frequently recite the following adhkār during these days:


➤ Subḥānallāh (سُبْحَانَ اللّٰه)
➤ Alḥamdulillāh (الْـحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ)
➤ Lā ilāha illā Allāh (لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰه)
➤ Allāhu Akbar (اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر)

✦ Recommended Formula of Takbīr During Dhul-Hijjah​

In these blessed days, the following form of Takbīr is sunnah to recite:


"اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ، وَاللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلّٰهِ الْـحَمْدُ"


“Allāh is the Greatest, Allāh is the Greatest, there is no deity except Allāh, and Allāh is the Greatest, Allāh is the Greatest, and all praise is for Allāh.”

② Another Ḥadīth and Its Meaning​

It is also narrated from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما:


"عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:
«مَا مِنْ أَيَّامٍ الْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ فِيهَا أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأَيَّامِ – يَعْنِي أَيَّامَ الْعَشْرِ -»
قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، وَلا الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ؟
قَالَ: «وَلا الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ، إِلا رَجُلًا خَرَجَ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ، ثُمَّ لَمْ يَرْجِعْ مِنْ ذَلِكَ بِشَيْءٍ"

_The Prophet ﷺ said: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these (first ten) days.”

They asked: “Not even jihād in the path of Allah, O Messenger of Allah?”

He replied: “Not even jihād in the path of Allah — except for a man who went out with his life and wealth and returned with nothing (i.e. was martyred).”_

(Reported by al-Bukhārī, al-Tirmidhī, and mentioned in al-Targhīb wa al-Tarhīb)


From this ḥadīth, we learn:


◈ Righteous deeds in the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are more beloved to Allah than any other days.
◈ The companions asked whether this virtue surpasses even jihād fī sabīlillāh.
◈ The Prophet ﷺ confirmed that yes, even jihād is not more virtuous — except in the case of a martyr who sacrifices his life and wealth entirely.

Conclusion:​

The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah hold tremendous virtue in Islam. Muslims are strongly encouraged to:


✔ Engage abundantly in Tasbīḥ (سُبْحَانَ اللّٰه)
✔ Recite Taḥmīd (الْـحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ)
✔ Proclaim Takbīr (اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر)
✔ Affirm Tahlīl (لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰه)


These actions are among the most beloved to Allah during this sacred time.


وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَاب