Dhul Hijjah is the twelfth and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Its name literally means, ‘the month of Hajj,’ reflecting the pilgrimage to Makkah, the fifth pillar of Islam. Within this month, Muslims who are physically and financially able commit themselves to the rites of Hajj. These rites include standing at the plain of Arafah, circling the Ka'bah, and sacrificing an animal in following the path laid by Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and perfected through the guidance of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Beyond Hajj itself, Dhul Hijjah includes the days the Prophet (PBUH) described as the most virtuous of the year, making it a month of profound spiritual opportunity for every Muslim, whether performing Hajj or not.
The most prominent representation of Dhul Hijjah within the Quran is the opening of Surah Al-Fajr, in which Allah (SWT) swears, "By the dawn, and by the ten nights" (Quran, 89:1-2). Many scholars, such as Ibn Kathir and Ibn Al-Qayyim, hold the opinion that this refers to the 10 days and nights of Dhul Hajjah. Sheikh Abd al-Rahman al-Sa’di also mentioned the view that they may include the last ten nights of Ramadan, both being blessed periods of worship and closeness to Allah (SWT). The swearing by these nights is a powerful indication of their immense rank and sacred status, as days when Allah (SWT) opens the doors of His mercy in a way unlike any other time, drawing believers closer to Him than on any other days of the year.
The Value of the First Ten Days
The Prophet (PBUH) said, "There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days (of Dhul Hijjah)." The companions asked, "Not even Jihad in the way of Allah?" He replied, "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). This hadith elevates the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah above every other season of worship. It goes further still, subordinating the highest form of sacrifice, striving with one's life and wealth, to the righteous deeds performed in these days.
The Day of Arafah: A Day of Universal Mercy
Within the first ten days, the ninth, the Day of Arafah, holds a rank of its own. On this day, Hajj pilgrims gather at the plain of Arafah, in what is considered the spiritual peak of the entire pilgrimage. For those not performing Hajj, the Prophet (PBUH) prescribed fasting as an act of worship whose reward defies comparison. Abu Qatadah Al-Ansari (may Allah (SWT) be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) was asked about fasting on the Day of Arafah, to which he responded, "It expiates the sins of the previous year and the year to come" (Sahih Muslim, 1162). No other voluntary fast in our tradition carries this stated scope of expiation, covering two full years of minor sins in a single day's act of worship.
The Day of Arafah also carries immense significance as a moment of nearness to Allah (SWT) and mercy. The Prophet (PBUH) said, as reported by Muslim, “There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of Arafah. He draws near, then boasts of them before the angels, saying, ‘What do these people want?”’ (Sahih Muslim, 1348) The hadith reveals that the Day of Arafah is the single greatest occasion of forgiveness in the entire Islamic calendar. It was also on this day, during the Farewell Pilgrimage, that Allah (SWT) revealed, “This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as your religion” (Quran, 5:3).
The certainty of the Day of Arafah is another reason for its significance. Sheikh Ibn Baz held the opinion that the final ten nights of Ramadan are superior from the perspective of the night, because they contain Laylat al-Qadr, and the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are superior from the perspective of the day, because they contain the Day of Arafah and the Day of Nahr, which are the two greatest days of this worldly life. Neither month holds unqualified supremacy over the other; rather, each rules its own domain.
What distinguishes the Day of Arafah from Laylat al-Qadr is that it is clearly known, while Laylat al-Qadr is hidden within the last ten nights of Ramadan. The Prophet (PBUH) encouraged believers to seek it throughout those nights without specifying any particular night (Sahih Al-Bukhari, 2017), encouraging consistent worship over several nights rather than focusing on a single one.
The Day of Arafah, however, operates differently. The ninth of Dhul Hijjah is the day on which Allah (SWT) frees more souls from the Fire than any other, the day on which two years of sins are expiated through a single voluntary fast, and the day on which our religion itself was declared complete. To allow it to pass without intentional worship is to decline a gift whose merits could not have been made clearer. The very underlying purpose of the day being known is a mercy to mankind, offering believers a clear and accessible opportunity to seek forgiveness and renewal.
The Day of Nahr and the Days of Tashriq
The tenth of Dhul Hijjah, the Day of Nahr or the Day of Sacrifice, is Eid Al-Adha, the greater of our two Islamic celebrations. Abdullah ibn Qurt reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, "The greatest day in the sight of Allah is the Day of Sacrifice, then the Day of Qarr (the eleventh of Dhul Hijjah)" (Sunan Abu Dawud 1765). On this day, the obligatory and recommended acts converge: the Eid prayer, the sacrifice of livestock in commemoration of Ibrahim (AS)’s trial, and the completion of Hajj rites in Mina. The sacrifice, known as the Udhiyah, is an act of worship that the Quran addresses directly, "Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you" (22:37). While sacrifice is symbolic, it is the sincerity and piety within the hearts that matter in these moments. This act of worship reflects the deep devotion of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), who was willing to obey Allah’s command to the point of sacrificing his beloved son, Prophet Ismaeel (AS). For Muslims, this sacrifice serves as a powerful reminder of gratitude to Allah (SWT) and complete submission to His will. It teaches that true devotion is shown through willingness to give up what is most dear in obedience to Allah, strengthening our sense of faith, trust, and sincerity in Him. Following Eid Al-Adha are the three Days of Tashriq, the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth of Dhul Hijjah. Nubashah Al-Hudhaliyy reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, "The Days of Tashriq are days of eating, drinking, and remembrance of Allah" (Sahih Muslim, 1141).
Recommended Acts of Worship
Fasting, particularly on the Day of Arafah for non-pilgrims, is among the most highly encouraged, given the hadith of Abu Qatadah cited above. Abundant dhikr, specifically through takbir, or praising Allah (SWT) and glorifying Him by His names, is prescribed on the basis of the verse in Surah Al-Hajj directing believers to "mention the name of Allah on known days" (22:28). For those who intend to sacrifice, the Prophet (PBUH) instructed, "When the ten days begin, and one of you intends to offer a sacrifice, let him not cut his hair or nails." (Sahih Muslim, 1977). This ruling symbolically ties the non-pilgrim to the state of the Hajj pilgrim, creating spiritual solidarity across the entire ummah.
These ten days are, in the words of the Prophet (PBUH), unmatched in the sight of Allah. They are an invitation extended to every Muslim, regardless of their condition. These are days to be filled with prayer, fasting, dua, and charity that reaches those in need, and with reflections on what it means to submit, as Ibrahim (AS) submitted. Allah has made the virtue of these days explicit and their timing known as a bestowed mercy, so that we may incline towards righteousness and elevate ourselves in both this life and the next.