đź“–Sahih al-Bukhari 969
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijja).” Then some companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Not even Jihad?” He replied, “Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah’s sake) and does not return with any of those things.”
- This hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari 969 narrates that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated that no good deeds are superior to those performed during the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, which is the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. Some companions then asked if this included even Jihad, to which the Prophet (peace be upon him) replied that not even Jihad is superior to the good deeds performed during these ten days, except for the Jihad of a person who puts their life and property in danger for the sake of Allah and does not return with any of those things. It’s important to note that the term “Jihad” in this context refers to the act of striving and struggling in the way of Allah, which can include various forms of striving such as spreading knowledge, defending oneself and others from harm, and supporting just causes. It is not necessarily limited to armed struggle or violence. Additionally, in some interpretation of the hadith clarifies that the exception mentioned by the Prophet (peace be upon him) refers specifically to the form of Jihad where a person puts themselves in harm’s way and does not return with any spoils of war or other material gains. This form of Jihad is known as Jihad al-nafs, or the struggle against one’s own ego and desires.
