The First 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah: What to Do and Why They Matter

The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah occupy a singular place in the Islamic year. While Ramadan is the month of fasting and the last ten nights of Ramadan contain Laylat al-Qadr, the Prophet ﷺ made an unambiguous statement about these days that stands apart from everything else: there are no days in the entire year in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten. Not a qualification, not a comparison to a narrow category of deeds. Every good deed performed during these days carries a weight it would not carry at any other time.

This article explains why that is, what the scholars have said about it, and what you should actually do with these days practically: the specific acts the Prophet ﷺ emphasized, the duas he recommended, and the one thing to avoid if you plan to offer Udhiya.

Why these 10 days rank above all others

The basis begins in the Quran. Allah swears by the dawn and by the ten nights at the opening of Surah al-Fajr: "By the dawn, and by the ten nights" (89:1–2). This oath (and Allah only swears by something of great significance) was interpreted by Ibn Abbas, the foremost companion in Quranic exegesis, as referring specifically to the first ten nights of Dhul Hijjah. The majority of the mufassirun including Ibn Kathir follow this interpretation. That Allah singles out these nights for an oath in His Book is itself a signal of their rank.

Then comes the explicit hadith. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that 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 way of Allah?" He said: "Not even jihad in the way of Allah, except for a man who goes out with his life and his wealth and returns with neither." Sahih al-Bukhari 969

The exception is worth dwelling on. Jihad (giving one's life and wealth in Allah's cause and returning with neither) is the pinnacle of sacrifice in Islam. The Prophet ﷺ explicitly carved out only that scenario as exceeding these days. The implication is plain: an ordinary prayer, an ordinary fast, an ordinary act of charity performed during these ten days carries more weight than the same deed performed at virtually any other time in the year. This is not a metaphorical statement. It is a direct instruction about where to concentrate effort.

Why are these days elevated? The scholars explain that these ten days uniquely gather the greatest acts of worship in a single stretch: Hajj, the fifth pillar, is performed during these days. The Day of Arafah, the greatest single day of the Islamic year for those on pilgrimage, falls on the 9th. Eid al-Adha and the Udhiya sacrifice occur on the 10th. No other ten days of the year contain this convergence of major pillars, major rites, and major events. The reward of ordinary deeds is multiplied by the sanctity of the time.

What specifically to do

Increase all good deeds

The hadith of Sahih al-Bukhari 969 does not specify one type of deed. It says righteous deeds in the broadest sense. This means prayer performed with greater attention and focus, Quran read with reflection, acts of charity and kindness, visiting family ties that have grown distant, helping neighbours. The elevated reward applies to all of it. If you have been meaning to restore a broken relationship, these ten days are the right time. If there is a portion of the Quran you have been neglecting, these are the days to return to it.

Fasting

Fasting during the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah is narrated in the books of hadith. Sunan Abu Dawud (2437) records that the Prophet ﷺ would fast the nine days before Eid al-Adha. Though the chain of this narration has some weakness, the general merit of fasting in these days is supported by the broad hadith of Sahih al-Bukhari 969 and is the position of many scholars including Imam Ahmad. Even if you can only fast one day, fast the 9th.

The Day of Arafah fast stands in a category of its own. The Prophet ﷺ was asked about fasting on the Day of Arafah and he said:

"It expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year." Sahih Muslim 1162

Two years of minor sins erased by a single day's fast. For those not performing Hajj (and most of the Muslim world is not in Makkah on that day), this is the single most powerful voluntary act available to them during this season.

Dhikr, tahlil, tahmid, and takbir

Ibn Abbas narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: "There are no days greater in the sight of Allah, and in which good deeds are more beloved to Him, than these ten days. So increase in these days the tahlil, the takbir, and the tahmid." (Musnad Ahmad 6154)

The three terms refer to three specific phrases: tahlil is "La ilaha ill-Allah," tahmid is "Alhamdulillah," and takbir is "Allahu Akbar." The recommended takbir for Dhul Hijjah, which the companions would say openly in the markets and the masjid, is:

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, la ilaha ill-Allah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa lil-lahil hamd.

Translation: "Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, there is no god but Allah, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and to Allah belongs all praise."

Imam al-Bukhari records that Ibn Umar and Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with them) would go out to the marketplace on these days saying the takbir aloud, and the people would follow them in it. This is not a quiet, private practice. It is an outward, communal expression of gratitude and praise. Say it in the morning, say it between prayers, say it when you wake. These ten days are an extended act of glorification.

Tawbah and seeking forgiveness

The gathering of virtue in these days makes them especially appropriate for sincere repentance. These are days when Allah's mercy is at its most expansive and when good deeds are multiplied. A tawbah (a genuine turning back to Allah with regret for sins committed and a firm intention not to return) offered during these days carries the same elevated weight as any other deed.

Sadaqah

Giving charity in these days is among the most impactful things a person can do. The Prophet ﷺ was asked which charity is best and replied: "The one given in these ten days." (Ibn Hibban, with some discussion of chain, but the general principle is supported by the broader hadith.) Give what you can, to those in need in your community, to causes you trust, to family who are struggling. The act is the same as any other act of charity; the time makes it weigh more.

Intention for Udhiya

For those who intend to offer the sacrificial animal (Udhiya) on Eid al-Adha, the Prophet ﷺ gave a specific instruction: from the first of Dhul Hijjah, do not cut your hair or clip your nails until after you have made the sacrifice. This ruling is addressed in detail in the next section.

The 9th Day: the Day of Arafah

The 9th of Dhul Hijjah, the Day of Arafah, is the heart of the Hajj, and for those not performing pilgrimage it is the single most important day of this entire blessed stretch. It was on this day that Allah revealed to His Prophet ﷺ one of the most momentous verses in the entire Quran:

ٱلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلْإِسْلَٰمَ دِينًۭا

"This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen Islam as your religion." (Quran 5:3)

Umar ibn al-Khattab wept when this verse was revealed, understanding that completion implies an end and that the Prophet ﷺ would not be with them much longer. The verse was revealed on the Day of Arafah. Allah chose this day, above all days, to seal and complete the religion of Islam. The weight of that moment is still present in every Arafah that follows.

For those not on Hajj, the most important single act on this day is to fast. As cited above, fasting this day expiates the sins of the previous and coming year (Sahih Muslim 1162).

Beyond fasting, the Day of Arafah is a day for abundant du'a. The Prophet ﷺ said the best du'a is the du'a of the Day of Arafah, and the best thing he and the prophets before him ever said is:

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

La ilaha ill-Allah, wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir.

Translation: "There is no god but Allah, alone, with no partner. To Him belongs the dominion and to Him belongs all praise, and He is over all things powerful."

(Sunan at-Tirmidhi 3585, classified as hasan)

Repeat this on the Day of Arafah. Repeat it between Asr and Maghrib especially, as that is the time when pilgrims are standing on the plains of Arafah. Make du'a for yourself, your family, your community, and Muslims everywhere. This day, more than almost any other, is when du'a is answered.

The 10th Day: Eid al-Adha

The 10th of Dhul Hijjah is Eid al-Adha, the festival of the sacrifice, and the greater of the two Eids in terms of its religious significance. The day begins with the Eid prayer, which is sunnah mu'akkadah (a confirmed, strongly emphasized sunnah) for every Muslim man and woman who is able to attend.

After the prayer, those who can offer the Udhiya, the sacrificial animal, do so. The sacrifice is a sunnah of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and a commemoration of the moment Allah ransomed Ismail (peace be upon him) with a great animal from the unseen. Those who offer the sacrifice divide the meat: a third for the household, a third for family and friends, a third for the poor and needy. The day closes with family, gratitude, and the opening of the three days of Tashriq (11th, 12th, and 13th Dhul Hijjah) during which the takbir continues to be said.

A full guide to the Eid al-Adha prayer, its takbirat, and the proper way to perform the sacrifice is available in the Eid al-Adha sunan and takbirat guide.

What NOT to do if you plan to sacrifice

There is one specific restraint the Prophet ﷺ placed on those intending to offer Udhiya. Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:

"When you see the new crescent of Dhul Hijjah and one of you intends to offer a sacrifice, let him refrain from cutting his hair and his nails." Sahih Muslim 1977

From the first of Dhul Hijjah until the sacrifice is made on Eid al-Adha, the person offering Udhiya should not cut their hair or clip their nails. The scholars discuss the legal status of this (Imam Ahmad held it as obligatory; the Shafi'i and Hanafi schools hold it as sunnah), but the instruction itself is clear and direct from the Prophet ﷺ.

This ruling is specifically for the person intending to sacrifice. It does not apply to family members who are not themselves making the Udhiya offering. A husband may intend to sacrifice on behalf of the household; in that case, the prohibition applies to him, not to his wife and children. And it does not apply at all to those who have no intention of sacrificing, whether because they cannot afford it or choose not to. There is no blame on a person who cuts their hair during Dhul Hijjah if they are not performing Udhiya.

The wisdom scholars mention for this ruling is that it creates a symbolic connection between the one sacrificing at home and the pilgrims performing Hajj, both in a state of some restraint, both directing themselves toward an act of worship involving sacrifice.

FAQ

Are the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah better than the last 10 nights of Ramadan?

Ibn Taymiyya resolved this classical question with characteristic precision: the days of Dhul Hijjah are better than the last ten days of Ramadan, because they combine Hajj, Eid al-Adha, Udhiya, and the Day of Arafah, acts of worship not available at any other time. But the nights of the last ten of Ramadan are better than the nights of Dhul Hijjah, because of Laylat al-Qadr. The two seasons are excellent in different ways, and there is no contradiction between the ahadith. Ramadan is the season for night worship; Dhul Hijjah is the season for daytime deeds.

Is fasting all 9 days of Dhul Hijjah obligatory?

No. Fasting during the first nine days is a sunnah, recommended but not obligatory. You will not be sinful if you do not fast. The Day of Arafah fast (the 9th) is the most strongly emphasized for those not on Hajj, the Prophet ﷺ said it expiates the sins of two years (Sahih Muslim 1162). If you can only manage one day, make it the 9th.

Why does the hadith say these deeds are better than jihad in Allah's path?

The hadith is not saying that an ordinary prayer in Dhul Hijjah beats dying as a martyr for Allah's cause. The exception the Prophet ﷺ included, the man who goes out with life and wealth and returns with neither, makes this clear. What the hadith says is that these ten days so uniquely concentrate major acts of worship that the reward of ordinary deeds in them exceeds ordinary deeds at any other time. The elevated timing multiplies the reward; it does not exceed the absolute pinnacle of sacrifice. The point of the hadith is practical: these days are the best opportunity for ordinary Muslims to dramatically increase their deeds.

What if I start fasting the first nine days but miss a day?

There is no requirement to complete all nine days. These are voluntary (nafl) fasts, no obligation and no sin in missing a day. There is no makeup required. Fast as many days as you are able, and prioritize the 9th above the rest. A person who fasts only the 9th has done something genuinely excellent.

Can women fast during the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah?

Yes. There is no prohibition on women fasting during Dhul Hijjah. Women who happen to be menstruating or in the post-natal period during these days cannot fast them, but they can, and should, increase other forms of worship: dhikr, Quran recitation, sadaqah, du'a. There is no obligation to make up voluntary fasts, and missing the fast due to menstruation carries no blame.

What exactly is the Takbir of Eid recited during Dhul Hijjah?

The Takbir al-Eid, also called Takbirat al-Tashreeq, is recited from the Fajr of the 9th of Dhul Hijjah (Day of Arafah) through the Asr prayer of the 13th. Scholars differ slightly on exact wording, but the most widely narrated and commonly used form is: Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, la ilaha ill-Allah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa lil-lahil hamd, "Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, there is no god but Allah, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and to Allah belongs all praise." It is said after every fard prayer during that period, and said freely and openly at other times.