Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar, is one of the most sacred periods of the entire year. It is the month of Hajj, the month of Eid al-Adha, and — most notably — the month containing what the Prophet ﷺ described as the best days of the year.
For those performing Hajj, these are the days of the greatest journey of their lives. But the virtues of Dhul Hijjah are not reserved for the pilgrims alone. Every Muslim, wherever they are in the world, has the opportunity to draw immense reward in these blessed days.
The Best Days of the Year
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days." The companions asked: "Not even jihad in the path of Allah?" He replied: "Not even jihad in the path of Allah, except for a man who goes out with his life and his wealth and comes back with nothing." [Bukhari]
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) also reported the Prophet ﷺ saying: "No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijjah)."
These are extraordinary statements. The scholars explain that the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the best days of the year, while the last ten nights of Ramadan are the best nights. Together, they form the peak seasons of worship in the Islamic calendar.
Why Are These Days So Special?
Allah swears an oath by these days in the Quran: "By the dawn. And by the ten nights." [Surah al-Fajr 89:1-2]. The scholars of tafsir — including Ibn Abbas, Ibn al-Zubayr, Mujahid, and many others — held that these "ten nights" refer to the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. When Allah swears by something in the Quran, it is to draw our attention to its immense importance.
These days bring together multiple great acts of worship simultaneously: Hajj, fasting, dhikr, charity, and the sacrifice of Udhiyah. No other period combines so many major forms of worship at once, which is why the scholars say these days have a unique status.
The Day of Arafah — The Crown of These Days
The 9th of Dhul Hijjah — the Day of Arafah — is the pinnacle of this blessed month. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Fasting on the Day of Arafah expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year." [Muslim]
For the pilgrims, Arafah is the very heart of Hajj. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Hajj is Arafah." [Tirmidhi] Millions of Muslims stand together on the vast plain beneath the golden light of the afternoon sun, supplicating, weeping, and turning entirely to their Lord — a sight described as a glimpse of the Day of Judgement itself.
For those not performing Hajj, fasting on this day is among the most recommended acts of the year. The expiation of two years' worth of minor sins is a mercy that cannot be taken lightly.
Allah boasts to the angels about the pilgrims and those engaged in worship on this day: "Look at My servants — they have come to Me dishevelled and dusty, from every distant mountain pass." The scholars note that Allah's forgiveness on the Day of Arafah is so vast that it overflows to those not even at Hajj.
Acts of Worship in the First Ten Days
1. Abundant Dhikr
Allah commands in the Quran: "And mention the name of Allah on appointed days." [Surah al-Hajj 22:28]. The scholars explain these are the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. The Prophet ﷺ specifically encouraged takbir (Allahu Akbar), tahlil (La ilaha illallah), and tahmid (Alhamdulillah) during these days. Fill your tongue with the remembrance of Allah throughout the day — walking, working, and going about your affairs.
2. Fasting
It is narrated that the Prophet ﷺ used to fast the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah. [Abu Dawud] At minimum, fasting the Day of Arafah (9th Dhul Hijjah) is a Sunnah of immense reward for those not performing Hajj.
3. Recitation of the Quran
Righteous deeds are beloved to Allah in these days in a manner greater than any other time. Increasing your recitation of the Quran — even if only a few extra pages each day — is a means of drawing closer to Allah during this blessed window.
4. Giving in Charity
Sadaqah is among the most virtuous of deeds. These ten days are an opportunity to give generously — to the poor, to Islamic causes, and to those in need. The multiplication of reward in these days applies to charity as it does to all good deeds.
5. Udhiyah (Qurbani)
The sacrifice of Udhiyah on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah — Eid al-Adha — is a Sunnah mu'akkadah (confirmed Sunnah). The Prophet ﷺ said: "There is nothing dearer to Allah during the days of Udhiyah than the sacrificing of animals." [Tirmidhi]. One who intends to offer a sacrifice should refrain from cutting their hair and nails from the 1st of Dhul Hijjah until after the sacrifice.
The Night Before Eid
The night before Eid al-Adha — the eve of the 10th of Dhul Hijjah — is known as one of the greatest nights of the year. The scholars have said it rivals even the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr) in its virtue. It is a night of takbir, gratitude, and preparation for one of the two greatest celebrations of the Islamic year.
Eid al-Adha
The 10th of Dhul Hijjah is Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice. It commemorates the trial and devotion of Ibrahim (peace be upon him), who was commanded to sacrifice his son Ismail and submitted completely to the will of Allah. Before the knife could fall, Allah substituted a ram in his place — an act of divine mercy that Muslims commemorate to this day through the Udhiyah.
Eid al-Adha is followed by the three days of Tashreeq — the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul Hijjah — which are also days of celebration and remembrance. The Prophet ﷺ said these are "days of eating, drinking, and the remembrance of Allah."
A Season Not to Be Wasted
Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali wrote: "Allah has favoured certain times over others, just as He has favoured certain places and certain people. Whoever has been blessed with tawfiq — divine enablement — in these precious seasons has truly been given great good."
These ten days will come and go within the blink of an eye. The scholars of the past would begin preparing for Dhul Hijjah months in advance, just as we prepare for Ramadan. Let this month be a season of renewal — a return to Allah with sincerity, increase in worship, and a firm resolve to carry the spirit of these days throughout the rest of the year.
May Allah accept from all of us, grant the pilgrims a mabrur Hajj, and make us from those who maximise every moment of these blessed days. Ameen.
