The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are the greatest days of the entire year — even greater than the last ten of Ramadan in terms of daytime deeds. Allah swears by them in the Qur'an: "By the dawn, and by the ten nights." (89:1–2)
"There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days." The companions asked, "Not even jihād?" He ﷺ said, "Not even jihād — except a man who goes out with himself and his wealth and returns with none of it."— Sahih al-Bukhari
You don't need to be on Hajj to earn the immense reward of these days. Increase in every good deed:
For those not on Hajj, fasting the Day of Arafah is among the most rewarding acts of the year:
Fasting the Day of Arafah "expiates the sins of the past year and the coming year."— Sahih Muslim
It is also the greatest day for du'ā. The Prophet ﷺ said: "The best supplication is the supplication on the Day of Arafah." Spend the day fasting, in remembrance, and in heartfelt du'ā.
From the 1st of Dhul-Hijjah, and especially after each obligatory prayer from the Day of Arafah through the days of Tashrīq, Muslims proclaim the takbīr aloud:
Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, lā ilāha illā Allāh, Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, wa lillāhi al-ḥamd
"Allah is the Greatest… there is no god but Allah… and to Allah belongs all praise."
Whoever intends to offer a sacrifice (qurbānī) for Eid al-Adḥā should not cut their hair or nails from the start of Dhul-Hijjah until after the sacrifice, following the Sunnah. Read more on our Eid guide.
These ten days culminate in Hajj and Eid al-Adḥā — explore both: