The Importance and Significance of the
First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah
Dr Mozammel Haque
First day of
Dhul-Hijjah
Monday 18 May 2026
Saudi Arabia has
announced Dhul-Hijjah starts today, Monday 18 May 2026,
following the sighting of the crescent moon on Sunday
evening. Saudi Arabia announced that the five-day Eid-ul-Adha celebration will
begin on 27th of May 2026. This will be the 10th day
of Dhul Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic Hijri calender.
Arafat Day on
Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Dhul-Hijjah, the 12th month
of this year 1447 Hijri begins Tuesday 18 May 2026. Hajj
will start on the 8th day of Dhul-Hijjah, corresponding to 25th
of May and end on the 11th day of Dhul-Hijjah,
corresponding to 28th of May. Arafat Day falls on the 9th day
of Dhul-Hijjah, corresponding to 26th of May, 2026.
Eid-ul-Adha will begin inshaAllah on Wednesday, the 27th of May 2026.
Now
this first ten days of the month of Dhul Hijjah is very important and
significant. Those who have gone for Hajj they will be in Makkah, Mina, Arafah
and Muzdalifah. But those who are not in Makkah and other holy sites for them
these days are very important days too. The earlier Muslims used to take this
opportunity to make themselves better.
And there is another Hadith about the
fasting on the Arafat Day wherein Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be upon
him said: “Fasting on the Day of Arafat expiates the sins of the past year and
the coming year.” (Muslim)
Dr. Ahmad
Al-Dubayan on Dhul
Hijjah and Day of
Arafah
Speaking about
these days Dr. Ahmad al-Dubayan the Director General of the Islamic Cultural
Centre, London, said on Sunday, the 12th of August 2018 at the
Library Hall of the Centre, “When we say Aml as saleh as the
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said it covers everything not only as some
people think only fasting, for example or not only giving alms to the poor and
needy; no; it covers everything.”
First Aml
As Saleh– Takbeer
There are many good
deeds which can be done during these first ten days of the month of Dhul Hijjah.
Last Sunday was the first day of the month of Dhul Hijjah and there are still
ten days till the tenth day when there will be Eid day. One of the Aml
as Saleh, according to Dr. al-Dubayan, is saying Takbeer. He
said, you can do the Aml as Saleh by saying these days Takbeer:
Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar la ilaha illalla Allahu Akbar Allahu
Akbar Allahu Akbar wa lillahil hamd.
These ten days any
time not only related to after prayer. After prayer Takbeer. will
come after the Eid day for three days. But now till the day of Eid you
can Takbeer. any time. You can do it when you are sitting, you can
do it when you are at home, you can do it in your car or when you are walking
whatever. Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar la ilaha illalla Allahu Akbar
Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar wa lillahil hamd. This is one of the good actions or
good deeds Allah Subhanahu wa Taala likes it to be done in
these days, explained Dr. al-Dubayan.
Dr.
Al-Dubayan also mentioned an incident. He said, Hazrat Umar (Allah be pleased
with him) during these days used to go to the market where people buy and he
used to remind them of the Takbeer during these days by saying
loudly Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar la ilaha illalla Allahu Akbar
Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar wa lillahil hamd.
Another
good deed – Fasting
Dr. al-Dubayan also
said, One of the good things we can do is fasting; we can fast one day,
two days, three days or four days as many as you want. But do not fast on the
Eid day; because fasting on the Eid day is harm. Because Eid day is a day of
joy, day of eating, day of drinking; it is a day of celebration. So you can
fast one day or two or three.
Another good deed –
Visiting family relations
Dr. al-Dubayan also
said, “One of the good deeds you can do is visiting your families, your uncles,
your cousins, your brothers your sisters, doing best for your parents, or
anybody who is around from your families visit him or visit her try to show
them your kindness with the intention that you are doing your duty for the sake
of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala.
Giving charity to
needy and poor people
The ICC Chief also
said one of the good things which you can do is to give charity to the needy,
to give charity to the poor people, whatever it is, small or big. Don’t think
big money will be accepted by Allah Subhanahu wa Taala only.
Sometimes you give little will be better in the sight of Allah than someone who
gives a lot. That’s why the Prophet peace be upon him said one dirham is better
than one thousand dirham in sadaqa. Why? That person who gives one
dirham he gives with the pure intention for the sake of Allah. Another one who
gave one thousand dirham may be gave it for other reason - to be seen by
people; to be praised by people whatever. So this one dirham is better,
explained Dr. Al-Dubayan.
Taking care of
children, orphans
ICC Director
General mentioned, one of the good things is in these days really “to take care
of your children; taking care of orphans if they are around you; especially if
they are within your family. For example if you have nephew or niece, cousins
you give them more care; show them love and affection especially in these days.
You have to show always but to show them in these ten days are more beneficial.
Because Allah Subhanahu wa Taala likes to see all goods deeds
in these ten days. Prophet peace be upon him was asked by somebody; he said:
what is jihad fi Sabilillah? He said is it better? Prophet peace be
upon him said, anything you do in these days better than the jihad except if
someone goes for jihad with all his money, his life; never return back
everything lost; that person gives his all properties and give his life for the
sake of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala. May be this one is better. But
nothing else is better than that doing hasanah good deeds during these days,
explained Dr. al-Dubayan.
Season of
Good Deeds
Dr. al-Dubayan said
we have ten days like a season of good deeds, two times a year. One is the last
ten days of Ramadan; this is a season why because the Lailatul Qadr is
there, may be the first, the second or third till the end of Ramadan. Then we
have the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. Now these ten days are for doing hasanah or
good deeds. Anything even talk to people is good. If somebody angry with you
for any reason or other try to fix it; if you did wrong to some body, try to
fix it; even if he or she does not know about it. Try to clean yourself before
the day of Eid.
Arafah Day 9th of
Dhul Hijjah
Dr. Al-Dubayan
explained the Day of Arafah. He said, the last day before the Eid, the day
number 9th, we call it the day of Arafah the 9th day. People on
Hajj they will stand on Arafah, that day standing on Arafah day; it is a very
very holy day in the ten days. On that day it is Sunnah to
fast for those who do not perform Hajj. We are here in London or anywhere who
is not in Makkah we fast on the 9th Dhul Hijjah; the
day of Arafah. That’s why, Prophet peace be upon him said, “I am asking Allah
for those fast on the day of Arafah to forgive their sins for one year before
Arafah and one year after Arafah. It is an important day, explained ICC Chief.
Prophet
(peace be upon him) always talked about forgiveness. Dr al-Dubayan said we have
to remember forgiveness for all the things between us and Allah
Subhanahu wa Taala. But not peoples rights. This is a misunderstanding of
the Hadith. Because peoples rights must be taken care of.
Day of
Arafah is the Day of Mercy
Asking Forgiveness
Dr. al-Dubayan also
explained, Day of Arafah is the Day of Mercy; the Day of Praising Allah
Subhanahu wa Taala. Allah Subhanahu wa Taala.forgives so many
peoples. That’s why, it is really important on the Day of Arafah to make Takbeer and
to make dua supplication always to Allah Subhanahu wa Taala asking
forgiveness for us for all Muslims; for the loved ones; for all families;
asking guidance for yourself; for our husband; for our wives; for our children;
for everybody. It is a day of mercy and also forgiveness and comfortable for
all people around the world. Anybody you can ask Allah Subhanahu wa
Taala you have relatives or friends or somebody you like or she or he
is not Muslims; ask Allah Subhanahu wa Taala to guide him or
to guide her to the right path. You can make dua for those who are not Muslims
to give them guidance from Allah Subhanahu wa Taala.
Guidance is in the
hand of Allah
Another important
thing one must try to understand is that showing light or Guidance is from
Allah and not from people. Dr. al-Dubayan explained this aspect of Guidance. He
said it is very close to Islam. People could not see the light of it. Many
people read the Qur’an; speak the Arabic; read Islamic books but they don’t see
the light. But some other people see the light just away far away and see this
light and they come to Islam. Allah Subhanahu wa Taala directs
them. Guidance is in the hand of Allah. He can guide someone in the light even
by explaining convincing a person.
That’s why;
Dr. Al-Dubayan said you have to ask Allah Subhanahu wa Taala for
the guidance for the people you like. He gave an example of Prophet’s uncle Abu
Talib. He said Prophet (peace be upon him) he himself wanted his uncle Abu
Talib to come into the fold of Islam. But he could not. They loved each other.
Abu Talib used to protect Prophet (peace be upon him) all the days in Makkah;
because Abu Talib was one of the leaders of the people; he led the Quraish
people in Makkah and all of them respected him. They respected him so much that
when he said something they followed him. He protected Prophet Muhammad (peace
be upon him) his nephew. Prophet (peace be upon him) received all the
protection from Abu Talib; he loved so much. Prophet (peace be upon him) was so
keen for his uncle to become Muslim but he could not make it. He could not make
it. Allahu Akbar. Then he was so sad for that, he was so sad; then Allah
Subhanahu wa Taala revealed to him in the verse of the Qur’an which
says you cannot guide those people who love but it is only Allah who guide
people.
That’s why,
Dr. al-Dubayan said and advised it is good that when we pray we asked Allah to
guide those people we like to guide. Dr. Al-Dubayan also mentioned some people
come to Islam just in one bleak. Something happened to them my God this is it.
Whereas, some people stay with Muslims many years, they do not see those light.
Even the Qur’an is in front of them and they do not see the light. And
sometimes the Qur’an is very close; Islam is very close and when the moment
comes when Allah wants them to be guided then he guided to go there. In this
connection Dr. Al-Dubayan narrated the story of conversion of Cat Stevens to
Islam as Yusuf Islam.
Dr.
Al-Dubayan advised Muslims to remember every people on the Day of Arafah. He
said, “When you pray on the day of Arafah please remember all those people; all
those people who have difficulty in their life; remember the refugees;
remember the poor people; remember the orphans; remember people who have
difficulties; ask Allah Subhanahu wa Taala to make it
easy; ask Allah Subhanahu wa Taala to give guidance to
the people you like; ask Allah Subhanahu wa Taala to keep on
the right path because some people some Muslims after sometimes have sometimes
misconception in your mind or misunderstanding or doubts; then the devil
started to play with you. That’s why you see some people go out of Islam again.
Ask Allah Subhanahu wa Taala to keep you till the last moment
of your life on the right path. This is what Prophet (peace be upon him) used
to ask Allah Subhanahu wa Taala to let him stay on the right
path till the last minute of your life.
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