The month of Zul Hijjah is the last month of the Islamic Calendar. The name itself indicates that this month is the month of great annual worship of hajj.

First ten days of Zul Hijjah
The first ten days of Zul Hijjah are amongst the most magnificent days in the Islamic Calendar. The Holy
Prophet has narrated, "One fast during these days is equal to the fasting of one complete year and the worship of one night during this period is equal to the worship in 'Lailatul-Qadar'(Mishkat). In another Hadith the Prophet said 'Deeds performed in the first ten days of Zul Hijjah are the most superior ones, not even Jihad except for that person who goes out putting himself and his wealth in danger and does not return with anything'. (Bukhari)

The fast of 9th Zul Hijjah
For those not performing Hajj, it is mustahab (desirable) to fast on the 9th of Zul Hijjah. The Prophet has narrated that 'fasting on the 9th of Zul Hijjah becomes a cause of forgiveness for sins committed in the past one year and also a year in the future.

When is fasting forbidden
Fasting is forbidden on five days
1. First of Shawwal
2. Tenth of Zul Hijjah
3. Eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth of Zul Hijjah.
On these five days Allah is our host and we are His guests so it is strictly forbidden to fast on these days.

Takbir ut Tashriq
When Prophet Sayyidina Ibrahim (AS) obeying the command of Allah, which was conveyed to him in a dream, prepared himself to slaughter His beloved son, Hazrat Jibraeel (AS) was sent by Allah with a fidya (compensation). Hazrat Jibraeel (AS) had a fear that Prophet Sayyidina Ibrahim (AS) might slaughter His son, so He started reciting loudly 'Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar'. Hearing Jibraeels' voice and considering it as a good news Prophet Sayyidina Ibrahim (AS) replied 'La Ilaha Illallahu Wallahu Akbar' and Hazrat Ismail (AS) thanked Allah by reciting 'Allahu Akbar Wa Lillahilhamd'.These sentences 'Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar La Ilaha Illallahu Wallahu Akbar Allahu Akbar Wa Lillahilhamd' are defined as Takbir-ut-Tashriq.

It is necessary (wajib) on each Muslim to recite Takbir ut Tashriq after every fardh salah from the Fajr of the 9th Zul- Hijjah upto the Asr prayers of the 13th (total 23 namazes), whether the namaz is performed with congregation or individually. Male Muslims should recite it in a loud voice while females in a low voice.

Qurbani
Zaid Ibne Arqam relates that the companions of our Prophet asked 'O RasoolulahT what is Qurbani?'. He replied 'It is a Sunnah of your father Ibrahim (AS)'. They asked again 'What benefit do we get from it?'. He answered 'A reward for every hair (of the sacrificed animal) and what reward is there for animals with wool?' he said 'for every fibre of the wool'.

Mustahab Act
It is Mustahab for the person doing Qurbani to abstain from cutting hair and nails from the 1st of Zul Hijjah till the day of Qurbani as Allah's blessing is showered at the time of Qurbani and therefore, no part of his body should miss Allah's blessing.

Just Think
The night of both Eids are great and sacred nights. To remain awake on nights of Eid and perform Ibadaah is a source of great virtue and Ibadah.The Holy Prophet has reported to have said 'that whosoever worships Allah in the night preceding the two Eids expecting rewards from His Lord, their hearts will never die when the other hearts will die'.
(Ibne Maajah)
It is in another Hadith that 'Jannat is incumbent for those who stay awake with the intention of making Ibadah on these two nights, when Allah Taala is offering so much reward (sawaab) for Ibadah on Eid nights we must try to gain as much as possible and the Eid day is the day of remembering the qurbani of the Prophet Ibrahim (AS)'. However, instead of remembering the qurbani and demonstrating total submission to Allah, we tend to live a life according to our desires, we adopt an immodest way of leading our lives.We keep aside our usual Islamic clothing and adopt the weird fashions and dress up in an immodest way. May Allah save us from the wrong path and may Allah give us the proper understanding of Islam.

Ameen.