Dhul Hijjah: The Best 10 Days of the Year and What to Do

If you could choose ten days in the year to work hardest for your akhirah, which would they be? The Prophet ﷺ answered that for us: the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah. Hajj, the Day of Arafah and Eid al-Adha all fall inside them, and good deeds done in them are better than at any other time of the year. Here is what the authentic hadith say about Dhul Hijjah, and what we can do in it, even far from Makkah.

When is Dhul Hijjah 2027?

Dhul Hijjah is the twelfth and last month of the Islamic year, and one of the four sacred months. In 2027, 1 Dhul Hijjah 1448 is expected on Friday 7 May, the Day of Arafah on Saturday 15 May and Eid al-Adha on Sunday 16 May. These are estimates: the sighting of the new moon decides, so dates in your country may differ by a day. All the key dates are on our Islamic calendar page.

1. The best 10 days of Dhul Hijjah for good deeds

Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:

The companions knew jihad as one of the greatest deeds, which is why they asked. As HadeethEnc explains, the answer means that good deeds in these ten days are better than jihad on other days, except for the one who goes out with his life and wealth and loses both. Ibn Hajar explained that these days are special because the main acts of worship, prayer, fasting, charity and Hajj, come together in them, which does not happen at any other time (Fath al-Bari, quoted by Jordan’s General Iftaa’ Department).

At-Tirmidhi narrates the same hadith with the words “more beloved to Allah”:

Notice that the hadith says “good deeds” without listing them. Salah, Quran, dhikr, charity, fasting, kindness to parents: all of it counts, and all of it weighs more in these days.

Try this: pick one deed you already do, such as your morning dhikr, two rak’ahs of Duha or a small daily charity, and do it on every one of the ten days, a little more than usual.

2. Fasting the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah

Hunaydah ibn Khalid narrated from his wife, from one of the wives of the Prophet ﷺ, who said:

Nine days, not ten, because the tenth is the day of Eid al-Adha. The ninth is the Day of Arafah, and its fast, for those not on Hajj, has its own hadith: the Prophet ﷺ said he hoped it expiates the sins of the year before and the year after (Sahih Muslim 1162a).

Try this: if nine days of fasting is too much for you this year, start smaller: a few of the days, or at least the Day of Arafah, with a sincere intention.

3. “I never saw him fasting the ten”: Aishah’s report

‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said:

So did he fast these days or not? Imam an-Nawawi, in his commentary on Sahih Muslim, explained that “the ten” here means the first nine days, and that ‘Aishah’s words could mean the Prophet ﷺ did not fast them in some years because of illness, travel or another reason, or that she simply did not see him fasting them. He cited the narration of Abu Dawud above in support. Ibn Hajar added that he may have left them at times so that people would not think they were obligatory (both quoted by Jordan’s General Iftaa’ Department).

We present both reports as they are. Scholars differ on the details, so for a ruling that fits your situation, please ask a qualified local scholar.

Try this: when two authentic reports seem to disagree, look up how the scholars brought them together before choosing a side. It is a habit that protects us from taking one hadith alone.

4. Offering a sacrifice? Leave your hair and nails

Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:

Another narration in the same chapter says he “should not get his hair cut or nails trimmed” (Sahih Muslim 1977d). As HadeethEnc explains, this covers hair from any part of the body and the fingernails and toenails, from the start of Dhul Hijjah until the sacrifice is slaughtered. It applies to the one who intends to offer the sacrifice (udhiyah, or qurbani). Scholars differ on whether it is forbidden or disliked (IslamQA quotes an-Nawawi on this), so ask a qualified local scholar if you need the ruling.

Try this: if you plan to give a sacrifice this year, trim your hair and nails before 1 Dhul Hijjah, and set a reminder for the evening the month is announced.

Bringing it together

Most of us will not be on Hajj this year. Yet the Prophet ﷺ did not keep the virtue of these days for the pilgrims only: every good deed, done anywhere, counts for more in them.

Reflection: Ramadan gives us its last ten nights, and Dhul Hijjah gives us its first ten days. If we plan for them the way we plan for Ramadan, with a simple list of deeds and a little extra effort each day, they can become one of the brightest seasons of our year.

Questions people ask

Key lessons

• The first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are the best days of the year for good deeds.
• “Good deeds” is general: salah, Quran, dhikr, charity and fasting all count.
• A narration in Abu Dawud reports the Prophet ﷺ fasting the first nine days; an-Nawawi reconciled it with Aishah’s report.
• Whoever intends to offer a sacrifice leaves his hair and nails from 1 Dhul Hijjah until the sacrifice.

May Allah let us reach the ten days of Dhul Hijjah in good health, and accept from us whatever we manage to do in them.

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