The 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah

Most scholars agree that the ten nights mentioned in Surah al-Fajr [89:1-2] refer to the first ten nights of Dhul-Hijjah. The Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) emphasized their importance, stating, "No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these days [meaning the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah]."
 
The highly recommended deeds during these ten days include voluntary fasting, sincere repentance, recitation of the Quran, and observance of the night prayer. 
 
Hafsah reported, “There are five things that the Messenger (saws) never abandoned: fasting the day of Ashura in the month of Muharram, fasting the [first] 10 [days of Dhul-Hijjah], fasting 3 days of every month and praying two rak’aah before the dawn prayer.” [Related by Ahmad and an-Nasa’i]
 
The Prophet (SAWS) commanded us to recite a lot of Tasbeeh (“Subhan-Allah”), Tahmeed (“Al-hamdu Lillaah”) and Takbeer (“Allaahu akbar”) during this time. ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (SAWS) said: “There are no days greater in the sight of Allah and in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Him than these ten days, so during this time recite a great deal of Tahleel (“La ilaaha ill-Allah”), Takbeer and Tahmeed.” (Reported by Ahmad, 7/224; Ahmad Shaakir stated that it is saheeh).
 

Origin of Seremban

Initially, Seremban was better known as Sungai Ujong because it is the largest and oldest district compared to other districts in Negeri Sembilan.  Based on sources from Malay History, Sungai Ujong is said to have existed since the end of the 14th century AD. This is proven by Sejarah Malay which mentions that when the King of Singapore was defeated by Majapahit, he fled to Muar and then to Sungai Ujong and left a minister to rule there.  With this statement, Sungai Ujong existed before the state of Melaka was opened again. In addition, Sungai Ujong is known by other names such as Sang Hyang Ujong' in Javanese Kertagama.  In Malay History it is referred to as 'Sening Ujong' and the elders refer to it as 'Semujong'.  Although there are various names referred to as Sungai Ujong, but the original form of the name is Sang Hyang Ujong, where this name appeared in Javanese poems at the end of the 14th century AD.

Meanwhile, for the Chinese, they call it 'fuyong'.  The story about the origin of the name Sungai Ujong has various stories.  Among them, the story that is said to be quite reasonable states that the word 'Ujong River' comes from the 'end of the river' which is the source or upstream of several rivers such as Sungai Beranang, Sungai Pajam, Sungai Batang Benar and Sungai Linggi.  All the ends of this river are said to originate from one area that can be considered as the original area of   Sungai Ujong.

From the origin of Sungai Ujong, Seremban is a new name to replace the name of Sungai Ujong.  The word Seremban was never mentioned in its early days or before 1874. Although the origin of the name Seremban cannot be ascertained, there are two stories about the word Seremban.  'Seremban' was born when the Chinese came to Sungai Ujong.  These people work as tin miners.  The Malays were hired by the Chinese to build and repair water dams from the river, but these 'beremban' always collapsed due to heavy rains leading to major floods.  Over time this place was named Seremban which comes from the word 'beremban'. Gullick stated that the origin of the Chinese word for the word 'beremban' was called 'selemban' and later became Seremban.

The second story tells that the origin of the name Seremban is from a type of traditional game 'sarimban'.  This game is very popular among Chinese people to play in their free time near the Seremban train station.  Due to its fame, this place has been named 'Seremban'. Therefore, although there are various stories about how the word Seremban came about, historians have not yet been able to decide which story is more true and reasonable about it.