I pray you all had a blessed and joyous Eid.

At this moment, we are in a set of days known as the Days of al-Tashrīq (Ayyām al-Tashrīq), which Allah Almighty refers to in the Qur’an as:

“Ayyāman Maʿdūdāt”—“Appointed Days”

(Qur’an 2:203)

Allah (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) commands:

“And remember Allah during the appointed days.”

These days are the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul-Ḥijjah. They follow immediately after Yawm al-Naḥr (the Day of Sacrifice, 10th Dhul-Ḥijjah).

Imām Aḥmad (raḥimahu Allāh) narrated that the 11th of Dhul-Ḥijjah is the best of the three, due to it being the first of these appointed days and directly connected to the greatest day of Ḥajj (Yawm al-Naḥr).

The Virtue of the Days of Tashrīq

The Prophet ﷺ described these days in a profound way. Nubayshah al-Hudhalī (raḍiyallāhu ʿanhu) reported:

“The days of Tashrīq are days of eating, drinking, and remembering Allah.”

(Aḥmad, Muslim, Abū Dāwūd)

This highlights three virtues:

1. Joy in Allah’s provision—feasting and celebrating Eid while thanking Allah.
2. Spiritual nourishment—filling the tongue with remembrance (dhikr) of Allah.
3. Balance of body and soul—rejoicing outwardly while worshipping inwardly.

Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī (raḥimahu Allāh) explained that these days combine both worldly and spiritual blessings: enjoying food and drink while remaining engaged in obedience to Allah through remembrance.

Acts of Worship in These Days

1. Takbīr al-Muqayyad (Restricted Takbīr)

One of the most important sunnahs of these days is to continue reciting the Takbīr after every obligatory prayer, starting from Fajr on the 9th of Dhul-Ḥijjah (Yawm ʿArafah) until ʿAṣr on the 13th of Dhul-Ḥijjah.

This was practiced by the Companions, including ʿAlī, Ibn Masʿūd, and Ibn ʿAbbās (raḍiyallāhu ʿanhum).

The wording of the Takbīr is:

Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, Lā ilāha illa Allāh; wa-Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, wa li-llāhi al-ḥamd.

2. Constant Dhikr (Unrestricted Remembrance)

Allah explicitly commanded remembrance in these days. The scholars explained that this includes:

1. Takbīr (Allāhu Akbar)
2. Tahmīd (al-ḥamdu li-llāh)
3. Tahlīl (lā ilāha illa Allāh)
4. Tasbīḥ (subḥānAllāh)
5. 
   

Ibn Rajab al-Ḥanbalī (raḥimahu Allāh) said:

“The remembrance of Allah during these days is from the greatest acts of worship. Whoever cannot offer sacrifice or perform Ḥajj should increase in remembrance, for dhikr is greater than sacrifice and beyond measure.”

3. Supplication

These days remain a continuation of the best days of the year (the 10 of Dhul-Ḥijjah). Hence, they are times to raise hands in duʿāʾ, seek forgiveness, and ask Allah for steadfastness.

Fasting During the Days of Tashrīq

A very important point: fasting during Ayyām al-Tashrīq is not allowed.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The days of Tashrīq are days of eating, drinking, and remembering Allah.”

(Muslim)

ʿĀ’ishah (raḍiyallāhu ʿanhā) and Ibn ʿUmar (raḍiyallāhu ʿanhumā) both said:

“No permission was given to fast on the days of Tashrīq, except for the one who cannot find a sacrifice (for Hajj).”

(Bukhārī, Muslim)

Thus, the only exception is for a mutamattiʿ or qārin pilgrim performing Ḥajj who cannot afford to offer an animal sacrifice. In this case, he or she must fast three days during Ḥajj and seven after returning home, and the three may include the days of Tashrīq.

For everyone else not performing Hajj, fasting is forbidden on these three days.

Final Reflection

The Days of Tashrīq are a precious extension of the days of Eid. They are an opportunity to rejoice, to eat and drink with gratitude, but more importantly, to fill our hearts and tongues with remembrance of Allah.

They remind us that the believer’s life is not one of denial and dryness but of balanced joy and worship—celebrating Allah’s blessings outwardly while nurturing the soul inwardly.

May Allah grant us the ability to remember Him abundantly in these blessed days, to be grateful for His provision, and to be written among His sincere servants. Āmīn.

And Allah knows best.

Your brother

Sajid Umar

Location: 'somewhere en route to the hereafter'

09/12/1441 (AH) - 30/07/2020