Making the Most of the First Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah

June 28, 2021

Every year when the countdown to Ramadan begins, we get a flurry of emails, Instagram shares, and WhatsApp forwards all highlighting the tremendous blessings that the month of fasting brings.

Our YouTube thumbnails are replaced by Muslim speakers. Our social media feeds become flooded with lectures aimed at motivating us to put our very best in the month of Ramadan. But then Ramadan ends…and slowly with it those reminders begin to fade away, and life returns to the same ol’ routine…

Until we arrive at the first 10 days of the month of Dhul Hijjah! Do you know that scholars of Islam say that these first 10 days are holier than the days of Ramadan? Yes, you read that right: not similar to the days of Ramadan, not equivalent to the days of Ramadan, but in fact BETTER than the days of Ramadan! Here’s why:

Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "There are no days in which righteous actions are more pleasing to Allah than these days (i.e. the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah)." He was asked: "O Messenger of Allah, not even jihad in the cause of Allah?" He (ﷺ) replied, "Not even jihad in the cause of Allah, except in the case of a person who goes forth with his life & his property and does not return with either of it." [Bukhari]

In the aforementioned hadith, we can immediately see the significance of worship performed in the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah. The Prophet (ﷺ) made no exceptions when describing the rewards attached to performing good deeds in these days. If he wanted to, he could have used phrases like "good deeds in these days are great but not to the level of Ramadan” but he didn’t! This is what led a good number of scholars to say that worship performed in the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah actually carries greater rewards than when they are performed in Ramadan.

Now we come to perhaps the question on all of our minds – if good actions are so important to be done in these days, then what specific actions can I do? Well, here’s an answer:

It was narrated from one of the wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) that the Messenger of Allah used to fast nine days of Dhul Hijjah, the day of 'Ashura' (10th of Muharram), and three days of each month: the first Monday of the month, and two Thursdays of the month. [al-Nasai]

This may bring up another question: why not fast all the 10 days? Because the 10^th of Dhul Hijjah is actually the day of Eid al-Adha on which Muslims are forbidden to fast.

Now let's come back to our initial question: what are the actions we can perform in these super important holy days? Scholars mention that the best deed is to perform Hajj. It is the single greatest act of worship that is performed in the best days of the year so nothing can match it. However, for those of us not at Hajj, we should engage in as much good deeds as we possibly can.

Let's diversify our worship in as many ways as possible, such as:

Increase in our recitation of the Qur’an.

Diligently pray the sunnah mu’akkadah prayers (the sunnahs you grew up hearing your parents telling you not to skip whenever you prayed your 5 obligatory prayers. Yeah, those ones).

Look for amazing sadaqah (charity) opportunities! Donate to:

The masjid that is in need of meeting its monthly expenses.

The poor and needy in your local community.

Medical aid for communities around the world ravaged by the pandemic.

If you’re short on money, then be charitable with your time: volunteer in various causes you can find.

Wake up for Tahajjud (put multiple alarms because you know one alarm won’t cut it for you) and pour out your heart in Du’a by asking Allah for all that your heart yearns for.

Be helpful around the house and help with chores.

Donate to Qurbani, feed the needy in your city, consider NZF’s annual Qurbani Project. There are many right here in our backyard who do not get to eat meat in the entire year! If you cannot afford a whole animal, you can buy a share.