The Best 10 Days Of The Year-Dhul Hijja Is Here.

The Best 10 Days of the Year Are HERE — Don’t Let Them Slip Away

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

And if you’re anything like me, you might be feeling a mix of things right now — a quiet excitement, maybe a little guilt that you’re not among the hujjaj this year, and honestly, a flicker of “I don’t even know where to start.”

I know that feeling. The days sneak up on us. Life is busy. And sometimes the most blessed seasons pass us by while we’re still planning how to “use them properly.”

But here’s the truth allah ﷻ wants you to know — you don’t need to be in Makkah to benefit from the best 10 days of the year. These days were given to ALL of us. Every single Muslim, sitting right where they are, has an open door to some of the greatest rewards of their life.

Let’s walk through these days together — with intention, with hope, and with practical steps. ❤️

Why Are the First 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah So Special?

These aren’t just any 10 days. Allah ﷻ Himself swore an oath by them in the Quran:

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

Scholars of tafsir — including Ibn Kathir (rahimahullah) — have said that these “ten nights” refer to the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. When Allah ﷻ swears by something in His Book, it’s because that thing carries immense significance. Let that sink in for a moment.

And then our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

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

Not the last ten nights of Ramadan. Not any other time. The scholars explain this is because these days uniquely gather ALL the major acts of worship together — salah, fasting, charity, hajj, dhikr — in a way that no other time of year does.

This is your second chance in a year -a wrapped in ten days.

“But I’m Not Going for Hajj This Year…” — You’re Not Missing Out

Oh, this pain. Many of us carry it quietly. We scroll through photos of pilgrims in white, tears in our eyes, whispering — ya Allah, when is my turn?

If that’s you, I want you to hold onto this: Allah ﷻ does not close a door of goodness without opening another.

The Prophet ﷺ taught us deeds that carry the reward of Hajj even for those at home. He ﷺ said:

“Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, then sits remembering Allah until sunrise, and then prays two rakat (of nawafil) — that person has the reward of Hajj and Umrah: complete, complete, complete.”(Tirmidhi — hasan)

Complete. Three times. SubhanAllah. You can sit on your prayer mat in your own home and chase that reward today. So don’t let shaytaan make you feel like these days don’t “belong” to you. They do. They were made for you too. 🤍

The Virtues of Dhul Hijjah — A Quick Overview

Before we talk about what to do, let’s talk about what these days are, because when you understand the value of something, you guard it differently.

• These days are from the four sacred months (Dhul Hijjah, Muharram, Rajab, and Dhul Qa’dah).
• The Day of Arafah (9th Dhul Hijjah) is the greatest single day of the year — the day Allah ﷻ perfected the deen, the day He frees the most people from the Fire.
• Eid al-Adha (10th Dhul Hijjah) — the Feast of Sacrifice — commemorates the ultimate surrender of Ibrahim ﷺ and Ismail ﷺ.
• Every good deed in these days is multiplied and more beloved to Allah than the same deed done at any other time.

Practical Productivity: What to Do in the Best 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah

Sister, let’s be real — we can read a beautiful article and still do nothing. So let’s get specific. Here’s a day-by-day spirit of what you can pour into these ten days, broken into simple, doable acts.

1. Fast — Even If It’s Just One Day

Fasting in the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah is a confirmed Sunnah. The Prophet ﷺ himself used to fast these days. But if nine days feels hard with your schedule, don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.

At the very minimum, fast the 9th — the Day of Arafah.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Fasting on the Day of Arafah expiates the sins of the past year and the coming year.” (Sahih Muslim)

Two years of sins. One fast. Sister — what deal could possibly be better than this?

Practical tip: Set your intention tonight. Tell your family. Prepare your suhoor the night before. Make it a family affair — get your children excited about fasting with you.

2. Fill Your Tongue with Dhikr — Especially the Takbeer

The Prophet ﷺ gave us a specific command for these days:

“There are no days that are greater before Allah or in which good deeds are more beloved to Him than these ten days, so recite a great deal of Tahleel (La ilaha illa Allah), Takbeer (Allahu Akbar), and Tahmeed (Alhamdulillah) during them.” (Musnad Ahmad)

The Takbeer-e-Tashreeq — which begins after Fajr on the 9th and continues through the days of Tashreeq — is something the Sahabah (radiAllahu anhum) used to recite loudly in the markets, in their homes, everywhere.

Takbeer-e-Tashreeq:

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allah, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, wa lillahil hamd. (Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, there is no god but Allah, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and all praise belongs to Allah.)

Practical tip: Put this as your phone lock screen. Say it while cooking, driving, walking. Let your home ring with the greatness of Allah ﷻ.

3. Revive Your Salah — Especially the Nawafil

These ten days are not the time to be “just doing the minimum.” Our five daily prayers are the foundation, yes — but this is the moment to stack nawafil on top.

Pray your sunnahs. Pray Duha. Pray Tahajjud at least once. Pray the two rakat after sitting with dhikr after Fajr.

Allah ﷻ says in a Hadith Qudsi:

“My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more beloved to Me than what I have made obligatory upon him. And my servant continues to draw near to Me with voluntary deeds until I love him.” (Sahih Bukhari)

Practical tip: Pick ONE nawafil salah to commit to for all ten days. Just one. The two rakat of Tahiyyatul Wudu (after every wudu) are a beautiful, easy starting point.

4. Give Sadaqah — Even a Little, Every Day

These are the days when good deeds are most beloved to Allah — which means your charity in these days carries a weight your charity at other times simply doesn’t.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Charity does not decrease wealth.” (Sahih Muslim)

It doesn’t have to be big. Feed someone. Sponsor an iftar. Give to a welfare fund. Pay for someone’s groceries anonymously. Buy milk for a neighbour.

Practical tip: Set aside a small amount — even 10 rupees or 1 pound — every single day for 9 days. Make it intentional. Watch what Allah ﷻ does with that barakah in your life.

5. Make Tawbah — A Deep, Sincere One

We rush past this one, but sister — this might be the most important act of all.

These days are a season of Divine Mercy. On the Day of Arafah, Allah ﷻ descends to the lowest heaven and — in a hadith narrated by Imam Muslim — He says to the angels:

“Look at My servants — they have come to Me dishevelled and dusty, from every deep valley. They hope for My mercy.”

And then He boasts of them to the angels and forgives them. Even us, sitting at home, can access that mercy.

Make this your dua of Arafah:

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ Laa ilaaha ill-Allah, wahdahu laa shareeka lah, lahul mulku wa lahul hamd, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The best supplication is the supplication of the Day of Arafah. And the best of what I and the prophets before me have said is: Laa ilaaha ill-Allah, wahdahu laa shareeka lah…” (Tirmidhi)

6. Reconnect with the Quran

Pick a surah. Read it daily with meaning. Or commit to reading a juz a day. Or simply sit with one ayah and let it go deep into your heart.

The Quran isn’t a book to finish — it’s a companion to meet every single day.

“Indeed, this Quran guides to that which is most upright.” (Surah Al-Isra, 17:9)

Practical tip: Keep your mushaf on your pillow. Before you sleep and after Fajr — just open it. Even five minutes. The barakah of those minutes in these days? Immeasurable.

7. Don’t Cut Your Hair or Nails (If You’re Giving Qurbani)

This is a Sunnah often forgotten. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“When you see the new moon of Dhul Hijjah and one of you intends to offer a sacrifice, let him refrain from (cutting) his hair and nails.” (Sahih Muslim)

This is a beautiful way of feeling spiritually connected to the Hujjaj, even from home. It’s a small act of solidarity and a reminder that you, too, are in a sacred state of devotion.

Your Dhul Hijjah Dua List — Ask BIG

The Day of Arafah, the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, is the single greatest day for dua in the entire year. Prepare your dua list beforehand. Don’t go into it unprepared.

Here are some duas to include:

For forgiveness:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni. (O Allah, You are All-Pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.)

For tawfeeq to worship:

رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ Rabbi-j’alni muqimas-salati wa min dhurriyyati, Rabbana wa taqabbal du’a. (My Lord, make me one who establishes prayer and [many] from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication.) (Surah Ibrahim, 14:40)

For accepting our deeds:

رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ Rabbana taqabbal minna, innaka anta As-Sami’ul-‘Alim. (Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.) (Surah Al-baqarah, 2:127)

Write your personal dua list. Your marriage, your children, your health, your rizq, your parents, your akhirah. Bring it all to Allah ﷻ on the Day of Arafah. He is Al-Sami’ — the One who hears every whisper. He is Al-Mujib — the One who answers.

A Small Steps Plan for the 10 Days

Don’t overwhelm yourself. Here’s a gentle structure to work with:

You Don’t Have to Be Perfect. You Just Have to Try.

I want to end by saying something from the heart.

These 10 days are not for the super-spiritual. They’re not only for those with a schedule perfectly colour-coded in green. They are for the exhausted mama, the sister going through a hard season, the one who missed Ramadan and still carries that weight, the one who wants to be better but doesn’t know how.

They are for you.

Allah ﷻ knows what’s in your chest. He sees the intention you just made while reading this article. He knows you want to come close to Him. And He says in His own words:

“And when My servants ask you about Me — indeed I am near. I respond to the call of the one who calls upon Me when he calls upon Me.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:186)

So take one step.Say Allahu Akbar on your way to work. Give a little sadaqah. Open the Quran tonight.

One sincere deed in these ten days can change the trajectory of your entire year.

May Allah ﷻ give us all the tawfeeq to worship Him as He deserves in these blessed days. May He accept from us our fasting, our duas, our tears, and our smallest acts done with love for Him. May He write our names among those freed from the Fire on the Day of Arafah. And may He grant every sister reading this the barakah of seeing the Sacred House with her own eyes.

آمين يا رب العالمين ❤️

With duas for you, Fahmina Jawed (Aafiya) 

 Sister, I’d love to hear from you! Are you planning to fast on the Day of Arafah this year? Which deed are you committing to in these 10 days? Drop it in the comments below — let’s keep each other motivated! 🤍

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