The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are among the most valuable opportunities in the Islamic year. They arrive outside Ramadan, often while normal work, school and family routines are still running, which is exactly why they can be easy to underuse.
The strongest reason to take these days seriously is not a viral reward chart. It is authentic Sunnah. Ibn ‘Abbas reported that the Prophet ﷺ said there are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these days, meaning the first ten of Dhul Hijjah (Sahih al-Bukhari 969).
Why are the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah special?
These days gather several major acts of worship in one period: prayer, charity, remembrance, fasting for those able, Hajj for those performing it, and the Day of Arafah. They also lead to Eid al-Adha and the sacrifice for those to whom it applies.
The point is not to turn worship into a scoreboard. The hadith gives us a window of increased opportunity. Even ordinary good deeds matter, and consistency is more realistic for most people than creating an impossible schedule and burning out after two days.
The evidence for doing more good deeds
In Sahih al-Bukhari 969, the Companions asked whether even jihad was surpassed by righteous deeds in these days. The Prophet ﷺ explained the exception of a person who went out with life and wealth and returned with neither. The comparison shows just how significant these days are.
This is a broad encouragement. It includes obligatory worship first, then voluntary deeds: Qur’an, dhikr, charity, helping people, maintaining family ties and leaving sins.
Should you fast the first nine days?
Many Muslims choose to fast some or all of the first nine days if they are able. The tenth day is Eid al-Adha and is not a fasting day.
The clearest specific virtue is for the Day of Arafah, the ninth of Dhul Hijjah, for someone who is not performing Hajj. The Prophet ﷺ said that fasting on Arafah expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year (Sahih Muslim 1162).
This should not be exaggerated into unsupported claims. Older internet articles sometimes say that each of the nine fasts automatically equals a full year of fasting, or that every night has the reward of Laylat al-Qadr. Those claims should not be repeated without sound evidence.
What about someone performing Hajj?
The Day of Arafah is different for the pilgrim standing at Arafah. The Prophet ﷺ did not fast there during Hajj, and scholars use the relevant narrations when discussing the pilgrim’s practice. If you are performing Hajj, follow the guidance of knowledgeable scholars and your Hajj group rather than a general online checklist.
Practical good deeds for Dhul Hijjah
Protect the five daily prayers
Start with the obligations. A packed voluntary routine does not compensate for neglecting the prayers Allah has already made obligatory.
Increase Qur’an, even in small amounts
Choose a realistic daily amount. Ten focused minutes every day can be more sustainable than an ambitious target you abandon.
Make more dhikr
Fill dead time with remembrance: while walking, driving, waiting or doing routine tasks. Takbir, tahmid, tahlil and tasbih are simple ways to keep the tongue connected to Allah.
Fast Arafah if you are able and not on Hajj
Plan for it rather than remembering late. Check the date, prepare your suhur and protect your energy if you have work or family responsibilities.
Give charity quietly
It does not need to be large. Choose something you can give sincerely and without needing recognition.
Repair a relationship
Good deeds are not only rituals. Apologising, forgiving, checking on relatives and ending a petty dispute may be among the most meaningful things you do.
Leave a repeated sin
One of the best uses of a sacred season is to stop something that has been pulling you away from Allah. Pair the decision with sincere tawbah and practical boundaries.
A simple 10-day plan for busy people
- Pray every fard salah on time as well as you can.
- Read a fixed amount of Qur’an daily.
- Choose one form of dhikr for journeys and spare moments.
- Give something in charity during the ten days.
- Fast Arafah if appropriate and physically able.
- Make a personal du‘a list before Arafah.
- Choose one bad habit to reduce or leave.
- Do one act of service for family or community.
Do not turn Dhul Hijjah into spiritual pressure
If you cannot do everything, do not conclude that you have failed. The Sunnah encourages righteous deeds. It does not require every Muslim to copy the same online schedule.
A parent caring for children, a person working long shifts, someone who is ill and a student in exams may all worship Allah differently during these days. Build around your real responsibilities and prioritise sincerity and consistency.
What should you prioritise if you cannot do much?
Prioritise the obligations, then choose the voluntary deeds you can sustain. For many people that means protecting the five prayers, avoiding obvious sins, adding daily Qur’an or dhikr, giving some charity and planning to fast Arafah if appropriate.
Do not underestimate the worship already inside your responsibilities. Caring patiently for children, earning halal income, supporting relatives and serving someone who depends on you can all become acts of worship through sincere intention and correct conduct.
Prepare for Arafah before the day arrives
A common mistake is waiting until Arafah afternoon to think about what to ask Allah for. Write a du‘a list earlier. Include your faith, forgiveness, family, health, provision, akhirah and the people you usually forget to pray for. You do not need to recite a perfect script. Speak to Allah sincerely.
If you are fasting, plan the practical side too. Hydrate properly beforehand, arrange work where possible and avoid filling the day with unnecessary errands. Good planning can protect the worship from becoming an exhausting emergency.
What about takbir in these days?
Remembrance of Allah is strongly associated with the days of Hajj and Dhul Hijjah. Muslims commonly increase takbir, tahmid and tahlil during this period. Detailed timings for unrestricted and restricted takbir are discussed by scholars, so follow reliable local guidance if you want the fiqh detail.
Frequently asked questions
Can I fast all nine days before Eid al-Adha?
Many Muslims fast some or all of the first nine days if able. The tenth day is Eid and is not a day of fasting.
What is the virtue of fasting on Arafah?
Sahih Muslim 1162 reports that it expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year. Scholars explain this in relation to minor sins and the wider teachings on repentance.
Are good deeds in Dhul Hijjah equal to Laylat al-Qadr?
Do not repeat that as a blanket claim. The authentic hadith clearly establishes the exceptional virtue of righteous deeds in the first ten days, which is sufficient encouragement without adding unsupported reward formulas.
References
- Sahih al-Bukhari 969
- Sahih Muslim 1162
