The 10 Blessed Days of Dhul Hijjah: Virtues, Worship & Action Items

By the Scholars & Editorial Team at Dar-us-Salam Publications  |  Topic: Dhul Hijjah • Hajj • Worship & Spirituality

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds, who in His infinite mercy has blessed this Ummah with seasons of tremendous reward. Among the greatest of these blessed seasons are the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah — a period so exalted that Allah Himself swore an oath by it in the Noble Qur'an. Whether you are among the blessed pilgrims traveling to the House of Allah or you are at home fulfilling your daily obligations, these ten days represent an unparalleled window of opportunity to draw closer to your Lord, multiply your good deeds, and seek His forgiveness and pleasure.

What Are the Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah?

Dhul Hijjah is the twelfth and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar — the month of Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam. The first ten days, from the 1st through the 10th (which includes the Day of Arafah on the 9th and Eid al-Adha on the 10th), are collectively described by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as the greatest days of the entire year. What makes them unique is the convergence of multiple pillars of Islam: prayer, fasting, charity, and Hajj — all available at once in a way that occurs in no other season of the Islamic calendar.

Qur'anic Evidence for the Virtue of These Days

1. The Divine Oath — Surah Al-Fajr (89:1–2)

The scholars of tafseer — including Ibn Abbas, Ibn al-Zubayr, and Mujahid — held that "the ten nights" here are the ten nights of Dhul Hijjah. When Allah swears by something from His creation, it is to draw the servant's attention to its immense significance. To be singled out by a divine oath in the Book of Allah is itself a testimony to the greatness of these days. Deepen your understanding with our collection of Tafseer books.

2. The Appointed Days — Surah Al-Hajj (22:28)

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) explained that the "appointed days" (ayyāmun ma'lūmāt) are the ten days of Dhul Hijjah. Allah links the mention of His name — takbeer, tahleel, and tahmeed — specifically to these days as a divine command of worship and gratitude.

3. The Numbered Days — Surah Al-Baqarah (2:203)

The "numbered days" refer to the Days of Tashriq — the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul Hijjah — which immediately follow the blessed ten. Together, the Qur'an frames the first half of Dhul Hijjah as an extended period of elevated worship and constant remembrance of Allah.

The Prophet's ﷺ Words on These Days

1. The Greatest Days for Righteous Deeds

This hadith places righteous deeds during these ten days above even voluntary jihad — the highest form of sacrifice in Islam. It should fill every Muslim's heart with urgency and a burning desire to seize this season.

2. The Command to Increase Dhikr

3. The Day of Arafah — Expiation of Two Years of Sins

No other voluntary fast carries this magnitude of expiation — two full years of minor sins wiped away in a single day. The 9th of Dhul Hijjah is the spiritual apex of these ten days.

4. Yawm al-Nahr — The Greatest Day of the Year

5. Mass Forgiveness on the Day of Arafah

The Takbeer of Dhul Hijjah

Among the distinguishing acts of these ten days is the Takbeer al-Mutlaq — the unrestricted proclamation of Allah's greatness at all times and in all places from the 1st of Dhul Hijjah onward — and the Takbeer al-Muqayyad after every obligatory prayer, beginning at Fajr on the Day of Arafah until Asr on the 13th of Dhul Hijjah. Ibn Umar and Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with them) would go to the marketplace and proclaim the takbeer aloud so that others would follow. This is a Sunnah that has largely faded — revive it in your home, your car, and your community.

The Crown of the Ten: Arafah & Eid al-Adha

The Day of Arafah — 9th of Dhul Hijjah

The Day of Arafah is widely considered by scholars to be the greatest day of the Islamic year. Pilgrims gather on the plains of Arafah in humble supplication — the central and indispensable pillar of Hajj, without which the pilgrimage is invalid. For those at home, it is a day of fasting, du'a, and abundant dhikr. Note: those performing Hajj do not fast on this day, following the example of the Prophet ﷺ himself at Arafah.

Yawm al-Nahr — 10th of Dhul Hijjah (Eid al-Adha)

The 10th of Dhul Hijjah is the Day of Sacrifice. Muslims worldwide perform the udhiyah in commemoration of Prophet Ibrahim's (peace be upon him) supreme act of obedience. The Eid prayer is a confirmed Sunnah (Sunnah mu'akkadah). Attend in the largest available congregation, listen to the khutbah, and bring your children so they grow up connected to the spirit of this great day.

10 Action Items to Maximize These Blessed Days

Knowledge is only complete when it is acted upon. Below are ten practical acts of worship — grounded in authentic scholarship — to help you make the most of every single day.

What the Scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah Said

Imam Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani (may Allah have mercy on him) wrote in Fath al-Bari: "The apparent reason for the virtue of the ten days of Dhul Hijjah is that they are the time for the completion of the fundamental acts of worship — prayer, fasting, charity, and Hajj — and these do not converge in this way in any other period."

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) stated in Zad al-Ma'ad: "The ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the best days of the year, better even than the days of Ramadan. And the nights of the last ten days of Ramadan are better than the nights of the ten days of Dhul Hijjah."

Shaykh Ibn al-Uthaymin (may Allah have mercy on him) advised Muslims to make a firm intention before these days arrive, plan their worship schedule in advance, and minimize distractions — especially entertainment — so the heart is fully free to turn toward Allah.

Conclusion: Do Not Let These Days Pass in Heedlessness

These ten days are not merely dates on a calendar — they are a gift from Allah to every believer who is still alive and still able to raise their hands in du'a. The righteous Muslims of old would weep as Dhul Hijjah drew to a close, mourning an opportunity they might never see again. Let that awareness settle in your heart now — before the month arrives — and let it ignite a sense of preparation and sincere intention.

Make a personal Dhul Hijjah plan: how many pages of Qur'an will you recite each day, which extra prayers will you offer, what charity will you give, is your udhiyah arranged? Write it down and share it with your family. Turn your home into a sanctuary of worship during these days.

And remember the words of the Prophet ﷺ: "Take advantage of five things before five others: your life before your death, your health before your illness, your free time before you become busy, your youth before your old age, and your wealth before your poverty." (Authenticated by al-Albani in Sahih al-Jami', no. 1077)

May Allah grant us all the tawfeeq to make the most of the ten blessed days of Dhul Hijjah. May He accept our fasting, our dhikr, our prayers, our sacrifices, and our charity. May He forgive all our sins and admit us and our families into Paradise by His mercy. Ameen.

— The Editorial & Scholarly Team, Dar-us-Salam Publications, Houston, Texas