What Is The Importance of the 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah?

The first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are the opening days of the 12th and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. They are considered the most virtuous days of the entire year days in which Allah (SWT) Himself swears an oath in the Quran, and in which the Prophet ﷺ confirmed that righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than on any other days.

Whether you’re going for Hajj or staying home, these days are a golden window for worship, forgiveness, and spiritual renewal. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly what these days are, why they matter so deeply, and what you can do to make the most of every hour.

What Are the First 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah?

Dhul Hijjah (ذو الحجة) is the twelfth and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Its name literally means “The Month of Pilgrimage,” as it is the month in which Muslims perform Hajj — one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

The “first ten days” refer specifically to days 1 through 10, which begin with the sighting of the new crescent moon and end on the day of Eid Al-Adha (10th Dhul Hijjah). This is a short but intense season of worship.

Where Do They Fall in the Islamic Calendar?

The Islamic (Hijri) calendar is a lunar calendar of 12 months. Dhul Hijjah is the final month, coming after Dhul Qi’dah. Because the lunar year is about 10–11 days shorter than the solar (Gregorian) year, the dates shift earlier every year.

Year	1st Dhul Hijjah	Day of Arafah (9th)	Eid Al-Adha (10th)
2025	~May 28	~June 5	~June 6
2026	~May 18	~May 26	~May 27
2027	~May 8	~May 16	~May 17

Why Does Allah Swear by Them in the Quran? 

In the Quran, Allah (SWT) takes oaths only by things of immense significance. One of the most powerful testimonies to the greatness of these ten days is found at the very opening of Surah Al-Fajr:

وَٱلْفَجْرِ ﴿١﴾ وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ ﴿٢﴾

“By the dawn. And by the ten nights.”

(Surah Al-Fajr, 89:1–2)

The vast majority of scholars and companions — including Ibn Abbas, Ibn Zubayr, and Mujahid (may Allah be pleased with them all) — affirmed that “the ten nights” here refers to the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.

When Allah swears an oath by something in the Quran, it is a signal to pay deep attention. This alone elevates these ten days above almost any other period in the entire Islamic year.

Why Are the 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah the Best Days of the Year?

The Prophet ﷺ’s Testimony in Sahih Bukhari

The most direct evidence comes from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself:

مَا مِنْ أَيَّامٍ الْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ فِيهَا أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ هَذِهِ الأَيَّامِ يَعْنِي أَيَّامَ الْعَشْرِ

There are no days during which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these days (the ten days of Dhul Hijjah).

Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari, 969

The companions asked: “Not even jihad in the path of Allah?” The Prophet ﷺ replied: “Not even jihad in the path of Allah, unless a man goes out with his life and his wealth and does not return with any of it.”

This is an extraordinary statement. It places righteous deeds during these ten days above nearly every other act of worship performed at any other time of the year.

All Major Acts of Worship Combine in These Days

One of the most remarkable aspects of the first ten days of Fasting for dhul hijjah is that they are the only time in the entire year when the four greatest pillars of worship all occur together:

Act of Worship	Why It Occurs in These 10 Days
Salah (Prayer)	Maintained with heightened focus and night prayers
Sawm (Fasting)	Sunnah to fast all 9 days; Day of Arafah especially recommended
Zakat & Sadaqah (Charity)	Extra giving is strongly encouraged during these blessed days
Hajj (Pilgrimage)	The rites of Hajj take place on Days 8–12 of Dhul Hijjah

Imam Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani said: “The apparent reason why these ten days excel all others is that they bring together the most important acts of worship, prayer, fasting, charity, and Hajj which cannot all be combined at any other time.”

Key Events During the 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah

• Day 8: The Start of Hajj (Yawm Al-Tarwiyah)

The 8th of Dhul Hijjah is known as Yawm Al-Tarwiyah (يوم التروية) — the Day of Quenching. Pilgrims enter the state of Ihram and make their way to Mina, where they spend the day and night in prayer, dhikr, and preparation for the climax of Hajj.

For non-pilgrims, this is still a day of increased worship. Continue fasting, increase your dhikr, and set your intentions clearly for the days ahead.

• Day 9: The Day of Arafah (The Greatest Day of the Year)

The 9th of Dhul Hijjah is Yawm Arafah — widely regarded by scholars as the single greatest day of the entire Islamic year. Pilgrims stand at the plain of Arafat in a sea of white, making du’a and seeking forgiveness.

For non-pilgrims, fasting on this day carries one of the greatest rewards in the Islamic calendar — wiping away two years’ worth of sins. We will cover this in full detail in a dedicated section below.

• Day 10: Eid Al-Adha & Qurbani

The 10th of Dhul Hijjah is Eid Al-Adha — the Festival of Sacrifice. This day commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) to sacrifice his son Ismail in obedience to Allah, and Allah’s mercy in providing a ram in his place.

• Muslims worldwide perform the Eid prayer in congregation.
• Those able to do so offer Qurbani (the ritual slaughter of a livestock animal).
• Meat is divided into three equal portions: one for the family, one for relatives, and one for the poor.
• Note: Fasting is prohibited on Eid Al-Adha. Do not fast on the 10th.

What Should You Do in These 10 Blessed Days?

You don’t need to be at Hajj to benefit from these days. Here are seven powerful acts of worship to focus on:

1. Fast the First 9 Days (Especially the Day of Arafah)

It is Sunnah to fast all nine days before Eid. The Prophet ﷺ himself never missed fasting these days. Even if you can only manage one, make it the 9th of Dhul Hijjah (Day of Arafah) — its reward is enormous.

Important: Do NOT fast on the 10th (Eid Al-Adha). It is forbidden (haram) to fast on this day.

2. Increase Dhikr — Tahleel, Takbeer, Tahmeed

The Prophet ﷺ specifically instructed us to increase three types of remembrance during these days:

• Tahleel: لا إله إلا الله (Laa ilaaha ill-Allah) — There is no god but Allah
• Takbeer: الله أكبر (Allahu Akbar) — Allah is the Greatest
• Tahmeed: الحمد لله (Alhamdulillah) — All praise is due to Allah

The companions used to go to the marketplace and recite the Takbeer aloud. Do the same — fill your home, your commute, and your moments of waiting with dhikr.

3. Read and Reflect on the Quran

These ten days are deeply connected to the Quran Allah swears by them in Al-Fajr. Use this as an invitation to read more, reflect more deeply, and perhaps memorise a new surah or verse.

Even 15–20 minutes of focused Quranic reading each day can transform these ten days spiritually. If you want to deepen your relationship with the Quran beyond these days, QuranBliss offers structured Quran courses for all levels.

4. Give Sadaqah and Charity

Charity during these ten days carries multiplied rewards. Even a small, consistent amount given daily is beloved to Allah. Consider:

• Automated daily sadaqah for all 10 days
• Sponsoring an orphan or feeding a family in need
• Contributing to a Qurbani if you cannot perform one yourself

5. Make Tawbah (Sincere Repentance)

One of the greatest acts of these days is sincere repentance (tawbah). The doors of forgiveness are wide open. Sit in quiet reflection, acknowledge your shortcomings, ask for forgiveness sincerely, and resolve to improve.

True tawbah has three conditions: remorse over the sin, ceasing it immediately, and firmly resolving not to return to it.

6. Avoid Cutting Hair and Nails (Ruling Explained Simply)

If you intend to offer Qurbani, scholars recommend avoiding cutting your hair, nails, or skin from the 1st of Dhul Hijjah until after the sacrifice is complete.

إِذَا دَخَلَتِ الْعَشْرُ وَأَرَادَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يُضَحِّيَ فَلاَ يَأْخُذَنَّ شَعَرًا وَلاَ ظُفُرًا

“When the ten days begin and one of you wants to offer a sacrifice, let him not cut his hair or nails.”

Source: Sahih Muslim, 1977

This ruling applies specifically to the person offering the Qurbani — not to their family members. If you are not doing Qurbani, there is no issue with cutting hair or nails during these days.

7. Offer Qurbani If Able

Qurbani is the ritual sacrifice performed after the Eid prayer on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah (and may continue through the 12th). It is obligatory according to the Hanafi school and a strongly recommended Sunnah according to others.

If you cannot perform it yourself, you may donate through a trusted Islamic charity that will carry out the Qurbani and distribute the meat to those in need.

Why Is the Day of Arafah the Greatest Day of the Year?

Beyond all other days in the Islamic year — including the last Friday of Ramadan and Laylatul Qadr — many scholars affirm that Yawm Arafah is the greatest single day. Here is why:

1. Allah perfected the religion on this day. The last verse of the Quran was revealed in Arafah: “This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you.” (Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5:3)
2. Allah boasts about His servants to the angels. He draws close and shows pride in those who are standing, fasting, and worshipping — whether at Arafat or at home.
3. Fasting this day wipes away two years of sins. (Previous year and coming year — as confirmed in Sahih Muslim.)
4. It is the day most pilgrims describe as life-changing. The standing at Arafat (Wuquf) is considered the central pillar of Hajj itself.

What Does Fasting on Arafah Wipe Away?

صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ وَالسَّنَةَ الَّتِي بَعْدَهُ

Fasting on the Day of Arafah — I hope that Allah will expiate thereby the sins of the year before it and the year after it. Source: Sahih Muslim, 1162

This hadith makes fasting on Arafah one of the most rewarding single acts a Muslim who is not performing Hajj can do all year. It is not recommended for pilgrims at Arafat, as they need their full strength for standing.

What to Say and Do on Arafah (For Non-Pilgrims)

If you are not at Hajj, here is how to maximise the Day of Arafah from wherever you are:

1. Fast the entire day (from Fajr until Maghrib)
2. Spend the day in du’a — this is the best du’a on the best day of the year
3. Recite the best du’a of Arafah: لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير
4. Make sincere tawbah and seek forgiveness for all sins
5. Read Quran — especially Surah Al-Fajr, Al-Ikhlas, and Al-Fatiha with reflection
6. Give charity — even something small, as acts of worship are multiplied on this day

The Importance of These Days for Non-Pilgrims

It is a common misconception that the blessings of Dhul Hijjah are only for those performing Hajj. In reality, every Muslim on earth has access to the rewards of these days. The hadith of Sahih Bukhari makes no distinction — “righteous deeds during these ten days” means your prayer at home, your fast in your city, your sadaqah from your phone.

The ten days are a season of mercy for all Muslims, not a VIP access for pilgrims. Take advantage of every moment.

How to Feel Spiritually Connected from Home

Here are practical ways to connect spiritually during these days without being at Hajj:

• Set a daily intention at Fajr for how you will spend the day in worship
• Follow the Hajj live — watching or reading about the rituals deepens your connection
• Fast along with the pilgrims — your fast on Arafah parallels their standing
• Make du’a for the Hujjaj (pilgrims) and for all Muslims globally
• Limit distractions — social media, entertainment, idle talk — and replace them with Quran and dhikr
• Reconnect with the Quran — consider starting a structured Quran course on QuranBliss to deepen your understanding beyond these ten days

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The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are a mercy and a gift. They arrive every year as an invitation — to reset, to repent, to worship with full intensity, and to gain rewards that can change the trajectory of an entire year.

You don’t need to be at Makkah to benefit. All you need is a sincere heart, a clear intention, and these seven simple acts: fast, make dhikr, read Quran, give charity, make tawbah, avoid cutting hair if offering Qurbani, and give Qurbani if able.

May Allah accept our worship in these blessed days, forgive our sins, and unite us with the Ummah in seeking His pleasure. Ameen.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Are the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah better than Ramadan?

Scholars differ on this, but many — including Ibn Taymiyyah — hold that the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the best days of the year (by day), while the last ten nights of Ramadan are the best nights. The Prophet ﷺ said righteous deeds in these ten days are more beloved to Allah than at any other time, which is a strong indication of their superiority for daytime worship.

Can I fast only the Day of Arafah?

Yes, absolutely. While fasting all nine days is Sunnah, fasting the Day of Arafah alone is sufficient and carries enormous reward — expiation of two years of sins. If you can only manage one day, make it the 9th of Dhul Hijjah.

Should women fast these days?

Yes, the reward is the same for men and women. Women who are in their menstrual period during Arafah cannot fast, but they should increase their dhikr, du’a, and sadaqah to maximise the day’s blessings. The reward for sincere worship is not withheld due to circumstances outside one’s control.

What is the ruling on cutting hair during Dhul Hijjah?

If you are offering Qurbani, it is recommended to avoid cutting your hair and nails from the 1st of Dhul Hijjah until after the sacrifice (based on Sahih Muslim 1977). This ruling applies to the person offering the Qurbani, not their family members. If you are not doing Qurbani, this recommendation does not apply to you.

When do the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah 2026 start?

The first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah 2026 are expected to begin on Monday, May 18, 2026, with the Day of Arafah on Tuesday, May 26, and Eid Al-Adha on Wednesday, May 27. Exact dates depend on official moon-sighting by Saudi authorities and may vary by one day.