Dhul Hijjah: The 10 Most Sacred Days of the Year & How to Maximize Them
When asked about the most beloved days to Allah, the Prophet 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 cause of Allah?" The Prophet replied: "Not even Jihad — except for a man who goes out, putting himself and his wealth at risk, and returns with neither." (Sahih al-Bukhari)
Those ten days are the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah — the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar, the month of Hajj. This guide explains what makes these days so spiritually weighty and how every Muslim, whether on Hajj or at home, can maximize them.
What is Dhul Hijjah?
Dhul Hijjah (Arabic: ذو الحجة), also written as Zil Hajj in Urdu and South Asian usage, is the twelfth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Its name translates to "the possessor of the pilgrimage," because it is the month in which the Hajj rituals take place.
The month begins with the sighting of the new moon (the zil hajj ka chand) and contains the most sacred ten days of the Islamic year, the Day of Arafat, Eid al-Adha, and the Days of Tashreeq.
Why are the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah so special?
Several reasons converge:
Allah swears by them in the Quran. Surah Al-Fajr opens: "By the dawn, and by the ten nights..." The classical commentators identify "the ten nights" as the first ten of Dhul Hijjah.
They contain the rituals of Hajj. The pilgrimage itself takes place from the 8th to the 13th. The 9th — Arafat — is the spiritual peak of the year.
They contain Eid al-Adha. The 10th of Dhul Hijjah is the festival of sacrifice, commemorating Prophet Ibrahim's submission.
The Prophet ﷺ explicitly named them the most beloved days. No other ten-day window in the year carries this designation.
Six recommended deeds for the 10 days
1. Fasting
The Prophet ﷺ used to fast the first nine days. Fasting on the Day of Arafat (9th Dhul Hijjah) is especially virtuous — for non-pilgrims, it expiates the sins of the previous and following year. (Pilgrims at Arafat do not fast that day.)
2. Takbeer and Tahlil
Recite throughout the day:
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illa Allah, wa Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa lillahi al-hamd.
Begin from the morning of the 1st of Dhul Hijjah and continue through the Days of Tashreeq (13th).
3. Sadaqah (charity)
The Prophet ﷺ taught that every act of worship is multiplied in these days — including charity. A gift given in these ten days carries the weight of many gifts given in ordinary days.
4. Recitation of the Quran
Specifically, scholars recommend reading Surah Al-Hajj in this period. Read our Surah Al-Hajj guide for verse-by-verse meaning.
5. Repentance and dua
These are days of accepted prayer. Make sincere tawbah, seek forgiveness for past sins, and pray with conviction. The duas of the pilgrims at Arafat are not the only ones being heard — yours are too.
6. Qurbani on Eid al-Adha
The crowning act of the season. Qurbani (the sacrifice of an eligible animal on the 10th, 11th, or 12th of Dhul Hijjah) is mandatory upon every financially able adult Muslim. For details, see HBSMWA's Qurbani 2026 program.
Sunnah practices specific to those giving Qurbani
The Prophet ﷺ instructed those intending to give Qurbani to refrain — from the start of Dhul Hijjah until after the sacrifice — from:
- cutting hair,
- trimming nails,
- removing skin.
This is a Sunnah, not an obligation. It aligns the donor outwardly with the pilgrims in Hajj, who are bound by similar restrictions in their state of Ihram.
The Day of Arafat: the heart of the season
The 9th of Dhul Hijjah is the most important day of the year for Muslims worldwide.
For pilgrims, it is the rite of standing at Arafat — the central pillar of Hajj.
For everyone else:
- Fast the day if you are able.
- Make abundant dua. The Prophet ﷺ said the best dua is the dua of the Day of Arafat.
- Recite the Quran and remember Allah.
- Give Sadaqah.
The dua of the Prophet ﷺ on the Day of Arafat:
"There is no god but Allah, alone, with no partner. To Him belongs all sovereignty and praise, and He is over all things capable."
Eid al-Adha: the festival of sacrifice
The 10th of Dhul Hijjah is Eid al-Adha — the second of the two Eids in Islam, marking the day of sacrifice. It commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail and Allah's substitution of a ram. Read the story of Hajj for the full account.
On Eid al-Adha:
- Pray the Eid prayer in congregation.
- Sacrifice the Qurbani animal (or arrange for it to be done on your behalf).
- Distribute the meat — one third for your family, one third for relatives and neighbors, one third for the poor.
- Wear your best clothes, eat with family, exchange greetings.
Days of Tashreeq (11–13 Dhul Hijjah)
The three days following Eid al-Adha are the Days of Tashreeq. The Prophet ﷺ called them "days of eating, drinking, and remembrance of Allah." Qurbani may still be performed on these days. Takbeer is recited after every obligatory prayer.
Multiply your reward this Dhul Hijjah
If the Prophet ﷺ said good deeds in these ten days are more beloved to Allah than any others, then this is the moment to act. Don't let the season slip past as just another month on the calendar.
Give Qurbani 2026 with HBSMWA — your sacrifice feeds flood-affected families in Pakistan and families in Palestine. Or fund a water well as Sadaqah Jariyah — a continuous reward inspired by Zamzam itself.
The pilgrims will return home from Hajj. The reward of these days is yours forever.
Read next: The Story of Hajj → · Hajj Mubarak Meaning → · Surah Al-Hajj → · Back to Hajj guide →