The First 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah: Maximize These Sacred Days

The Best Days on Earth

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) 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 said: “Not even jihad in the path of Allah — except for a man who goes out with his life and wealth and returns with neither.” (Bukhari)

Let that land for a moment. The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah — when Hajj takes place, when the pilgrims are at Makkah — are the most virtuous days of the entire year for deeds. More beloved than the last ten nights of Ramadan in terms of days. More beloved, in deeds, than even the ultimate sacrifice.

If there is any time of year that deserves full spiritual attention, it is this.

Why These Ten Days?

Allah swears by them in the Quran: “By the dawn, and by ten nights.” (89:1-2) The predominant interpretation among scholars is that these ten nights are the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.

Multiple wisdoms are identified:

Convergence of great acts of worship. The scholars note that these days bring together the four great pillars of Islam in a concentrated way: the shahada is permanent, but Hajj (which includes elements of salah, fasting, zakat-like sacrifice, and the ultimate submission) takes place precisely now. The Day of Arafah is here. The Eid sacrifice is here. The Hajj is here. The days are thick with ibadah.

The sacrifice of Ibrahim. The culmination of these days — Eid al-Adha — commemorates one of the greatest acts of submission in human history: Ibrahim (peace be upon him) preparing to sacrifice his son Ismail, and Allah’s mercy in replacing the sacrifice. The memory of that ultimate submission infuses the days that precede it.

The Day of Arafah. The ninth day of Dhul Hijjah is arguably the single most important day of the Islamic year. For pilgrims, it is the climax of Hajj. For everyone else, it carries extraordinary blessing. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of Arafah.” (Muslim)

What to Do: The Full Guide

1. Fast — Especially the Day of Arafah

The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to fast the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah. (Abu Dawud)

If fasting all nine days feels too ambitious, prioritize the Day of Arafah (the 9th):

“Fasting on the Day of Arafah expiates sins for the past year and the coming year.” (Muslim)

Two years of minor sins in exchange for one day’s fast. This is among the most generous spiritual exchanges in the entire Sunnah. Missing it is a real loss.

2. Increase Your Dhikr

The Quran says: “And mention the name of Allah on known days.” (22:28) The scholars of tafsir identify these “known days” as the first ten of Dhul Hijjah.

The specific dhikr prescribed by scholars includes the takbir: Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, la ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa lillahil hamd.

This should be said abundantly throughout these days — after each prayer (beginning from Fajr of the 9th until Asr of the 13th in the complete form), in the streets, in the home, quietly and aloud. The companions would go to the marketplace specifically to say the takbir, hearing others join in.

Add to this the three general adhkar the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself recommended for these days:

• SubhanAllah
• Alhamdulillah
• Allahu Akbar

He said: “There are no days greater and more beloved to Allah for righteous deeds than these ten days, so increase in them your tahlil (la ilaha illallah), takbir (Allahu Akbar), and tahmid (alhamdulillah).” (Ahmad)

3. Give Charity Generously

The multiplication of reward that applies to all good deeds in these days applies to charity. Even a small sadaqah during the first ten of Dhul Hijjah is more beloved to Allah than a larger one at other times.

Think about what you’ve been putting off — a donation to a cause you care about, supporting a family member, funding something beneficial. These days are the time.

4. Read and Reflect on Quran

The increased spiritual atmosphere of these days makes them ideal for intensifying your Quran connection. Consider:

• Beginning or completing a juz
• Reading the story of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) in Surah Al-Baqarah, Al-Imran, Ibrahim, As-Saffat, and others
• Spending time with Surah Al-Hajj (22), the surah of pilgrimage

Even if you’re not at Mecca, you can align your heart and mind with what’s happening there.

5. Pray the Night Prayer

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “There is no night whose prayer is more beloved to Allah than the night prayer of these ten days.” These nights are paired with the greatness of the days. Use the nights to pray tahajjud, make long dua, and connect deeply with Allah.

6. Make Abundant Dua on the Day of Arafah

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The best dua is the dua of the Day of Arafah.” (Tirmidhi)

Even if you are not on the plain of Arafah, this day is extraordinary for dua. Prepare a list of what you want to ask for — for yourself, your family, the Muslim community, humanity. Then spend the day making dua especially around the time from after Dhuhr until Maghrib, which is the core Arafah standing time.

7. Perform the Udhiyah (Sacrifice)

The sacrifice (qurbani) is obligatory or highly recommended for those with the means, performed on the 10th, 11th, 12th, or 13th of Dhul Hijjah. It is a physical act of following Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and acknowledging that what we have ultimately belongs to Allah.

If doing a local sacrifice or arranging one through a charity, do so before the 10th so it can be executed on the correct day.

Important: The Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed that once the crescent of Dhul Hijjah is sighted, anyone intending to sacrifice should not cut their hair or nails until after the sacrifice. This is Sunnah and connects you symbolically to the state of the pilgrims.

8. Repent Sincerely

These days are among the best opportunities for sincere tawbah. Begin them with the intention to leave behind whatever has been distancing you from Allah. Make a specific, honest istighfar for specific things. Ask Allah to accept these days as a fresh start.

What to Avoid

The Hair and Nails Rule

As mentioned, if you intend to sacrifice, avoid cutting hair and nails from the sighting of the Dhul Hijjah crescent until the sacrifice. Some scholars extend this to anyone who can arrange a sacrifice.

Wasting the Time

The most common loss is simply not noticing the days have come until they’re gone. It happens every year. Make a plan before the first day — what will you do specifically, how will you track your deeds, how will you remind yourself of the elevated status of each day?

Letting Screen Time Eat the Days

Social media, YouTube, Netflix, and mindless browsing are always expensive. During these ten days, the cost is higher — because the return on your time for ibadah is higher than at any other time of year. Use tools like Nafs to reduce digital noise during these sacred days and redirect that time toward something that will outlast the moment.

A Day-by-Day Framework

Days 1-8: Fast as many as you can. Increase dhikr after every prayer. Give charity. Pray tahajjud. Avoid the hair/nails if sacrificing.

Day 9 (Arafah): Fast the whole day. Dedicate the afternoon to dua — especially from Dhuhr to Maghrib. Make this your most intense spiritual day of the year.

Day 10 (Eid al-Adha): Pray Eid prayer. Perform or arrange the sacrifice. Celebrate with family and community. The takbir continues.

Days 11-13 (Ayyam al-Tashreeq): The celebration continues. Dhikr and takbir after every prayer. Avoid fasting (these are days of eating and drinking and remembering Allah).

These Days Are a Gift

Not everyone will perform Hajj. Not everyone can be at Arafah. But Allah, in His mercy, has made these days a gift available to every Muslim on earth — an annual opportunity to receive the same magnitude of spiritual reward, to have sins forgiven, to draw close to Him.

The pilgrims at Mecca are doing their best. So are you, wherever you are.

May Allah accept our fasts, our prayers, our charity, and our dhikr in these blessed days, forgive our sins on the Day of Arafah, and grant us the Hajj we have not yet performed.

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