I had never heard of this until my father sent me an email on it, but this week's khutbah mentioned it as well. I figured it was worth sharing the email in case others had not heard about it and because the speaker at Jummah said that these days could be more beneficial than the last ten of Ramadan.

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How do the first ten days of the Month of Dhul Hijjah (12th month of the Islamic Calendar)
differ from other days of the year?

Praise be to Allah Who has created Time and has made some times better than others,
when rewards are multiplied many times, as a mercy towards His worshipers.
This encourages them to do more righteous deeds and makes them more eager to worship Him,
so that the Muslim renews his efforts to gain a greater share of reward, prepare himself for death
and supply himself for the Day of Judgement.

Among the special seasons of worship are the first ten days of Dhu'l-Hijjah,
which Allah has preferred over all the other days of the year.

Ibn 'Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

"There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days."
The people asked, "Not even jihaad for the sake of Allah?"
He said, "Not even jihaad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out
to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing."
(Reported by al-Bukhaari, 2/457).

The virtues of these ten days is based on many things:

1- Allah swears an oath by them, and swearing an oath by something is indicative of its importance
and great benefit. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"By the dawn; by the ten nights" .

2- The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) testified that these are the best days of
this world, as we have already quoted above from saheeh ahaadeeth.

3- The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) encouraged people to do righteous deeds
because of the virtue of this season for people throughout the world, and also because of the virtue
of the place - for the Hujjaaj (pilgrims) to the Sacred House of Allah.

4- The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) commanded us to recite a lot of
Tasbeeh ("Subhan-Allaah"), Tahmeed ("Al-hamdu Lillaah") and Takbeer ("Allaahu akbar") during this time.

5- These ten days include Yawm 'Arafaah (the Day of 'Arafaah), on which Allah perfected His Religion.
Fasting on this day will expiate for the sins of two years. These days also include Yawm al-Nah~r
(the Day of Sacrifice), the greatest day of the entire year and the greatest day of Hajj,
which combines acts of worship in a way unlike any other day.

6- These ten days include the days of sacrifice and of Hajj.


Among the good deeds which the Muslim should strive to do during
the first ten days of Dhu'l-Hijjah are:

1- Fasting. It is Sunnah to fast on the ninth day of Dhu'l-Hijjah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
urged us to do good deeds during this time, and fasting is one of the best of deeds. Allah has chosen fasting for Himself,
as is stated in the hadeeth qudsi (Holy): "Allah says: 'All the deeds of the son of Adam are for him,
except for fasting, which is for Me and I am the One Who will reward him for it.'" (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 1805).

2- Takbeer. It is Sunnah to say Takbeer ("Allaahu akbar"), Tahmeed ("Al-hamdu Lillaah"),
Tahleel ("La ilaha ill-Allaah") and Tasbeeh ("Subhaan Allaah") during the first ten days of Dhu'l-Hijjah,
and to say it loudly in the mosque, the home, the street and every place where it is permitted to remember Allah
and mention His name out loud, as an act of worship and as a proclamation of the greatness of Allaah, may He be exalted.

3- Performing Hajj and 'Umrah. One of the best deeds that one can do during these ten days is to perform Hajj
to the Sacred House of Allah. The one whom Allah helps to go on Hajj to His House and to perform all the rituals
properly is included in the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him):
"An accepted Hajj brings no less a reward than Paradise."

4- Doing more good deeds in general, because good deeds are beloved by Allah and will bring a great reward
from Him. Like Prayer (Salat), Charity (Zakat), making supplication (Du'aa' ), honoring his parents, etc...

5- Sacrifice. One of the good deeds that will bring a person closer to Allah during these ten days is offering a sacrifice,
by choosing a high-quality animal and fattening it, spending money for the sake of Allaah.

6- Sincere repentance. One of the most important things to do during these ten days is to repent sincerely
to Allah and to give up all kinds of disobedience and sin.

There is much to be gained, so make the most of the opportunity afforded by these invaluable
and irreplaceable ten days. May Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad and all his Family and Companions.