First 10 Days of Zul Hijjah

What is the meaning of Zul Hijjah?

Zu al-Hijjah (ذُو ٱلْحِجَّة) is one of the four blessed months in the Islamic lunar calendar. Dhul Hijjah means ‘The Month of the Hajj/Pilgrimage’. During this month, Muslims around the world gather in Makkah to perform Hajj for the sake of Allah (SWT)

Why is the First Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah Important?

What is the importance of Dhul Hijjah’s first 10 days? There are different reasons that make the beginning ten days of Dhul Hijjah honourable. Some of them are-

1. Dhu’l Hijjah is a sacred (حَرَام) month in Islam and these days are on this month.

2. Allah (SWT) swears an oath by the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah in the Quran

وَٱلْفَجْرِ . وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ .

“By the dawn; And by the ten nights.”                                                                   [Sura Al-Fajr, 89: 1-2]

3. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mentioned these days as the best days of the year Jabir (R) narrated a hadith from Allah’s Messenger ﷺ,

‏”‏ مَا مِنْ أَيَّامٍ الْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ فِيهَا أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ هَذِهِ الأَيَّامِ ‏”‏ 

“There is no better day to Allah than the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah.”

[Sunan Ibn Majah 1727]

10 Important Things to Do on Dhul Hijjah’s First 10 Days

First ten days of the Islamic month of Hajj are blessed days of the entire year and hold great potentials. Here are several acts of worship that we can do to make this period effective.

1. Hajj and Umrah

The thing that makes the first period of Dhul Hijjah so glorious is Hajj, which is one of the five pillars of Islam. The rituals of Hajj are derived from the Sunnah of Ibrahim (AS). Performing hajj is obligatory for Muslims who can afford it.

2. Fasting on the First Nine Days, Especially on Arafah Day

It is an important Sunnah to fast on the first 9 days of Dhul Hijjah. These days are glorious to Allah, so fasting during Dhul Hijjah will make you rewarded. But if they are unable to Fast these 9 days, at least Fast on the day of Arafah.

3. Make Lots of Dhikr, Especially Takbeer

During the ten days of Dhul Hijjah, it is recommended to recite more Dhikr, especially Takbeer frequently. This serves as a reminder of the greatness of Allah and our gratitude to Him.

Takbeer:

الله أكبر، الله أكبر،لا إله إلاالله والله أكبر،الله أكبر ولله الحمد

“Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, there is no God except Allah, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and all praise belongs to Allah)”

4. Doing More Worship

These 10days are an excellent opportunity to engage to increase acts of worship such as voluntary prayer (especially Tahajjud), recitation of the Quran, giving charity, making supplications, kindness to others, and other worship.

5. Seeking Forgiveness

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said,

‏”‏ مَا مِنْ أَيَّامٍ الْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ فِيهَا أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ هَذِهِ الأَيَّامِ ‏”‏

“There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.”

[Sunan Ibn Majah 1727]

6. Special Supplication on the Day of Arafah

The 9th day of Dhul Hijjah is known as the Day of Arafah (Yawm al-Arafah يوم العرفة . On that day, Hajj pilgrims gather in the plain of Arafah in Makkah, seeking forgiveness and supplicating to Allah.

7. Don’t Cut Hair, Nails, Sprains

Another important Sunnah in the first 9 days of Dhul Hijjah is not to cut your nails, hair, hair below the navel, etc. Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

“‏من كان له ذبح يذبحه، فإذا أهل هلال ذي الحجة، فلا يأخذن من شعره ولا من أظفاره شيئًا حتى يضحي‏

“If you see the moon of Duhl Hijjah and intend to perform Qurbani (sacrifice), you shouldn’t cut your hair and nails.”

[Riyad as-Salihin 1706]

Don’t Cut Hair, Nails, Sprains

Based on the Hadith, some scholars say it’s Mustahab and another group says it’s Wajib (mandatory) for the sacrificers to avoid cutting nails and hair before offering Qurbani. But the family members of the sacrificers can cut hair or clip nails.

8. Offering Udhiya (Qurbani)

The tenth day of Dhul Hijjah is known as Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice. Muslims who are economically solvent are encouraged to offer a sacrifice as an act of obedience and gratitude to Allah. The sacrifice serves as a reminder of the obedience of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail (AS) for the sake of Allah.

9. Spending Eid in Sunnah Way

It is Sunnah to offer Eid al-Adha عيد الاضحي prayer with the community in the 10th Dhul Hijjah. On Eid day, you should also take a bath, wear good clothes, and use perfume. And you shouldn’t eat anything before the Eid ul-Adha. After completing the Eid prayer and sermon, your main task is to sacrifice.

Say this in Eid greetings

تَقَبَّلَ اللَّهُ مِنَّا وَمِنْكُمْ

“May Allah accept from us and you (our good deeds)”. [At-Tabarani, Fathul Bari]

10. Avoid Sins

We should always refrain from all sorts of sins. We should be more careful about it during the sacred month of Dhul Hijjah, especially in its first 10 days.