Virtues of the 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah Explained

The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are among the most sacred in the Islamic calendar. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said they are the days most beloved to Allah for righteous deeds — and yet many Muslims let them pass without fully grasping what is on offer.

This is not about Hajj. You do not need to be in Makkah. You do not need to have performed Hajj or be planning to. These ten days extend their blessings to every Muslim, anywhere in the world, who chooses to show up for them.

Understanding what makes ذو الحجة (Dhul Hijjah) so significant — and what to do with that significance — is one of the most practical gifts of Islamic knowledge.

What the Quran and Sunnah Say About These Days

The earliest indication of the weight of these days comes from the Quran itself. Allah (ﷻ) swears by them — and an oath in the Quran is always a signal to pay attention:

"By the dawn, and ten nights." (Surah Al-Fajr, 89:1-2)

The majority of Quranic commentators, including Ibn Abbas (ra), Ibn Kathir, and Al-Tabari, identify these "ten nights" as the first ten nights of Dhul Hijjah.

Then the hadith makes it explicit. Ibn Abbas (ra) 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 wealth and does not return with either." (Sahih al-Bukhari 969)

This is a remarkable statement. The reward available through ordinary worship during these ten days can surpass even some of the most demanding acts of devotion — simply because of when they are performed.

The tenth day is Eid al-Adha, the day of قربان (qurbani), sacrifice, and communal celebration. But the nine days that precede it carry their own distinct spiritual weight, independent of whether you perform Hajj.

The Best Acts of Worship During These Ten Days

Knowing the virtue of these days is only useful if it leads to action. Here are the acts most recommended by scholars for the first nine days:

Fasting

The Prophet (ﷺ) himself used to fast the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah (Abu Dawud 2437). If fasting all nine feels challenging, prioritize the Day of Arafah — the ninth — which carries a specific promise:

"It expiates the sins of the past year and the coming year." (Sahih Muslim 1162)

Our detailed guide on fasting on the Day of Arafah covers exactly how and why. The significance of the Day of Arafah itself goes far beyond fasting — it is the spiritual peak of the Islamic year.

Takbeer and Dhikr

During these days, Muslims are encouraged to increase الأذكار (al-adhkar) — especially the combined phrase known as التكبير (at-takbeer):

اللهُ أَكْبَر، اللهُ أَكْبَر، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ، اللهُ أَكْبَر، اللهُ أَكْبَر، وَلِلَّهِ الحَمْد

"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."

This takbeer should be said aloud in homes, markets, streets, and after prayers — a public declaration of gratitude that marks these days as different from the rest of the year.

Giving Charity

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "The best charity is that given in Dhul Hijjah." (Al-Bayhaqi) The combination of timing and generosity multiplies the reward. Even small amounts given consistently throughout the ten days carry significant weight.

Reciting Quran

Increasing Quran recitation during these days — even one extra page or juz above your usual — is one of the most accessible ways to honor them, wherever you are.

Performing Qurbani

For those with the means, qurbani on the day of Eid al-Adha is among the best acts of the season. The Quran mentions it directly, and the Prophet (ﷺ) prioritized it.

The DeenBack blog has a practical guide on how to structure worship during the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah that complements this well — especially for people balancing work and family commitments.

Making These Days Count in a Busy Life

The biggest obstacle is not intention — it is structure. Most Muslims want to do more during Dhul Hijjah; the difficulty is making that intention survive contact with a normal schedule.

A few approaches that work:

Set a specific target the night before each day. Instead of vaguely resolving to "do more," decide: tomorrow I will fast, recite two extra pages of Quran, and say my morning adhkar before checking my phone. Specific intentions convert better than general ones.

Stack on what you already do. Add dhikr during your commute, or fast on a day you work from home. The goal is not to create a separate spiritual life — it is to infuse your existing one.

Mark the progression. Tracking which days you fasted or how much Quran you completed gives your effort shape and momentum. Voluntary fasting in Islam is something many Muslims discover they can do more of than they expected, once they simply start.

Use the eid as the destination. The entire ten-day sprint builds toward Eid prayer — the morning you stand with your community and declare gratitude for a period well spent. Let that image motivate the difficult mornings.

The Demi Manifest blog explores how to set meaningful spiritual goals for the ten days of Dhul Hijjah — practical goal-setting frameworks adapted for Islamic practice that pair well with the acts described above.

Why These Days Are More Than an Annual Event

The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are not just a spiritual event on the calendar. They are an annual recalibration — a reminder of what Islam asks of you at its highest, and an invitation to approach that standard for ten days.

Every year, these days offer the same opportunity regardless of what the previous year looked like. They reset nothing and change everything — not through some automatic mechanism, but through the sincere effort of a believer who shows up and does the work.

The rewards of fasting, dhikr, charity, and Quran recitation outside of these days are already immense. The Prophet (ﷺ) told us that multiplying them in these ten days yields something that even the most intense forms of devotion cannot exceed on an ordinary day.

That is the invitation. Not to be a different Muslim during Dhul Hijjah — but to be the most intentional version of yourself.

Common Questions

What if I can only do a little during these days?

Do it anyway. The hadith does not say the deeds must be large — it says they are most beloved to Allah during these days. A consistent small deed in these ten days carries more weight than a large deed you plan but never execute. The Prophet (ﷺ) consistently praised small, regular acts over grand occasional ones.

Is there a specific prayer for the ten days of Dhul Hijjah?

There is no specific obligatory prayer unique to these days. However, scholars recommend increasing voluntary prayer (nafl), sunnah prayers, and the night prayer during this period. The rewards of the obligatory prayers are also multiplied by the sanctity of the time.

Can women who are menstruating benefit from these days?

Yes. Fasting is not possible during menstruation, but dhikr, Quran recitation (according to the majority view), charity, and supplication are all fully open. The opportunity is not restricted to those who can fast.

Does performing Hajj mean you automatically have more reward than those who stay home?

Those performing Hajj are engaged in the Hajj itself, which carries its own unique rewards. For those not on Hajj, the ten days offer a pathway that the Prophet (ﷺ) specifically described as accessible and supremely valuable — neither inferior nor a consolation prize.

Closing

The scholars who preserved this hadith about the ten days of Dhul Hijjah did not know what year you would read it, or what your circumstances would be when you did. But they preserved it because it is meant for every generation.

These days come once a year. They arrive with the same quiet invitation each time: show up, increase your worship, and let Allah do with it what He does best.