The Days the Righteous Used to Wait For
Allah ﷻ says: وَٱلْفَجْرِ وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ “By the dawn, and by the ten nights.”— Surah Al-Fajr (89:1-2) Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه and many of the scholars from the Salaf said these are the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah. The Salaf didn’t enter these days casually. It was narrated about Saʿīd ibn Jubayr رحمه الله — one of the great scholars from the Salaf — that when the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah began, he would strive so hard in worship that he would almost exhaust himself. Not because worship was “easy.” But because they understood the value of moments that Allah loves. They knew: These are not ordinary days. These are days where sins can be forgiven, hearts can change, and a person can become closer to Allah than they have been all year. The scary thing is that many people will witness these days physically… but never truly enter them spiritually. Still distracted. Still delaying tawbah. Still wasting hours. Still saying “later.” The Salaf feared missing these days more than we fear missing opportunities in dunya. Because they understood: A person’s real success is not in what they gain from the world — but in what they gain with Allah before they return to Him. So don’t enter these 10 days casually. Maybe these are the days your relationship with Allah changes forever. Action Steps for the 10 Days - Set non-negotiables for all 10 days - Protect your 5 daily salah at their times - Increase Qur’an recitation + revision daily - Make constant dhikr - Fast as many days as possible, especially Day of Arafah - Remove distractions before the 10 days begin - Give charity daily, even if small - Make sincere tawbah for the sins you keep returning to - Journal and reflect every night: What brought me closer to Allah today? What distanced me from Him? - Enter these days with urgency, not comfort The Salaf treated these days like an opportunity that may never return again.