ABU DHABI // Friday's sermon will discuss the virtues of the 10 days of Dhu Al Hijja, which started on Tuesday.
These days hold a great importance in Islam and are considered some of the most important days of the year, alongside the last 10 days of Ramadan. These days are the most beloved to Allah because they combine more acts of worship than any other time, the sermon will say.
Ibn Abbas recounted that the Prophet Mohammed said: "There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these 10 days."
The people then asked him: "Not even jihad for the sake of Allah?" He replied: "Not even jihad 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."
The Quran said that Allah even deemed these days worthy by devoting an oath to them - "By the Dawn and by the 10 Nights."
The ninth day of Dhu Al Hijja, known as Day of Arafat, is the day when pilgrims stand on the Plain of Arafat to pray as they are performing their pilgrimage.
Many Muslims will spend the day fasting before the three days of festivity after Eid Al Adha, which is a celebration marking the end of the Haj commemorating Prophet Ibrahim's willingness of sacrifice.
Abu Qatadah narrates that the Prophet Mohammed said regarding fasting during Arafat: "It expiates the sins of the past year and coming year."
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