Source: onislam.net

It is indeed God’s benevolence upon His slaves that, not long after the holy month of Ramadan bids them adieu for a whole year, a similar ten-day period full of blessings, mercy and opportunities for earning great rewards arrives.

This period occurs at the start of the month of Dhul Hijjah, which means, in Arabic, “the one of the hajj”.

Any good deed that is done during these ten days carries immense rewards, especially that which is proven from the Prophet Muhammad’s sunnah.

God has indicated the greatness of these ten days (and nights) by taking an oath by them in the Quran:

{By the dawn; by the ten nights.} (Al-Fajr 89:1–2)

Ibn ‘Abbas, Ibn al-Zubayr, Mujahid and others of the earlier and later generations said that this verse refers to the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” (Al-Bukhari, 1727)

Joining the Pilgrims in Good Deeds

There are special times in the lunar Islamic calendar in which Muslims the world over unite in worship. Dhul Hijjah is the last month of the lunar calendar year. It is the month in which all those Muslims who intend to perform the annual pilgrimage begin to arrive in Makkah.

The rites of hajj include certain restrictions in the state of ihram as well as other rituals of worship which even those Muslims around the world, who are not performing it, can join their pilgrim brothers and sisters in doing, …continue reading at onislam.net