The Days Of Tashreeq

What are the days of Tashreeq? What is special about them and distinguishes them from other days?

The days of Tashreeq are the 11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah. There are several verses and ahadith which speak of their virtue: 

Allah (SWT) says: 

وَاذْكُرُواْ اللَّهَ فِى أَيَّامٍ مَّعْدُودَتٍ

“And remember Allah during the appointed Days”

[Al-Baqarah 2:203] 

These are the days of Tashreeq. This was the view of Ibn ‘Umar (RA) and most of the scholars. 

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said concerning the days of Tashreeq:

“They are days of eating, drinking and remembering Allaah.”

Dhikr (remembering Allah) is enjoined during the days of tashreeq in several ways: 

~ Remembering Allah immediately after the prescribed prayers by reciting Takbeer. This is prescribed until the end of the days of Tashreeq according to the majority of scholars.

~ Remembering Him by saying 'Bismillaah' and 'Allahu Akbar' when slaughtering the sacrificial animal. The time for slaughtering the hadiy and udhiyah lasts until the end of days of Tashreeq.

~ Remembering Allah when eating and drinking. It is prescribed when eating and drinking to say Bismillaah at the beginning, and to praise Him (say AlhamduLillah) at the end. 

According to the hadith narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): 

“Allah likes His slave when he eats something to praise Him for it, and when he drinks something to praise Him for it.”

Narrated by Muslim, 2734.

~ Remembering Him by saying Takbeer when stoning the Jamaraat on the days of Tashreeq. This applies only to the pilgrims on Hajj.

 

~ Remembering Allah in general. It is 'mustahabb' to make a lot of dhikr during the days of Tashreeq. ‘Umar (RA) used to recite Takbeer in Mina in his tent, and when the people heard him they recited Takbeer too and Mina echoed with the sound of their Takbeer. 

Allah says:

فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُم مَّنَـسِكَكُمْ فَاذْكُرُواْ اللَّهَ كَذِكْرِكُمْ ءَابَآءَكُمْ أَوْ أَشَدَّ ذِكْرًا فَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى الدُّنْيَا وَمَا لَهُ فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَـقٍ - وِمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الاٌّخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

“So when you have accomplished your Manaasik [rituals of Hajj], remember Allah as you remember your forefathers or with a far more remembrance. But of mankind there are some who say: “Our Lord! Give us (Your Bounties) in this world!” and for such there will be no portion in the Hereafter.

And of them there are some who say: “Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire!””

[Al-Baqarah 2:200-201] 

Many of the salaf regarded it as 'mustahabb' to make a lot of du’aa’ during the days of tashreeq. 

The words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), “These are days of eating, drinking and remembering Allaah” indicate that eating and drinking during the days of Eid are means that help one to remember Allaah and obey Him; perfect gratitude for the blessing means using it to help one obey and worship Allaah, 

In His Book Allah commands us to eat of good things and thank Him for them. So whoever uses Allah’s blessings to commit sin is showing ingratitude for the blessing of Allah, so he deserves to have it taken away from him. 

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade fasting on these days: 

“Do not fast on these days, for they are the days of eating, drinking and remembering Allaah.” 

Narrated by Ahmad, 10286; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 3573.

O Allaah, help us to do righteous deeds and make us steadfast until death; have mercy on us, O Most Generous Giver. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World!