Alhamdulillah, Allah ﷻ has once again blessed us to witness the arrival of Dhul-Hijjah — the month of Hajj, sacrifice, and some of the most beloved days to Allah.
As Muslims around the world prepare to journey to Makkah for Hajj, many of us hope that one day Allah will invite us as His guests as well. But even for those of us remaining at home, the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are an incredible gift and opportunity.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah).” (Sahih al-Bukhari 969)
“Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “There are no days in which a good deed is more pleasing to God than these ten days.” (Al-Masabih 1460 )
These are not ordinary days. Every salah, every fast, every dua, every act of charity, and every sincere effort to draw closer to Allah carries immense reward.
At the heart of Dhul-Hijjah is the story of Prophet Ibrahim عليه السلام and his family — a story of trust, sacrifice, and complete submission to Allah.
The rituals of Hajj trace back thousands of years. When Allah commanded Prophet Ibrahim عليه السلام to leave Hajar عليها السلام and their infant son Ismail عليه السلام in the barren valley of Makkah, Hajar ran between the hills of Safa and Marwah searching for water. Allah answered her tawakkul with the miracle of Zamzam, a well that continues to nourish millions today.
Years later, Allah commanded Ibrahim and Ismail عليهما السلام to build the Ka‘bah as a house of worship and call humanity to pilgrimage:
“Call all people to the pilgrimage. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel from every distant path.” (Surah Al-Hajj 22:27)
Today, every ritual of Hajj carries that legacy.
The Sa’ee between Safa and Marwah honors Hajar’s perseverance and reminds us to trust Allah even when we cannot yet see His plan (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:158).
The standing at Arafah is the heart of Hajj: a day of mercy, forgiveness, and heartfelt dua. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Hajj is Arafah” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 889).
‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
“There is no day when God sets free more servants from Hell than the Day of ‘Arafa. He draws near, then praises them to the angels, saying: What do these want?” (Sahih Muslim 1348)
The stoning of the Jamarat, taught through the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, symbolizes rejecting Shaytan and resisting temptation. Islamic tradition connects this ritual to Prophet Ibrahim عليه السلام, who rejected Shaytan’s attempts to deter him from obeying Allah, reminding us that faith often requires actively resisting doubt, ego, and distraction. (Sahih Muslim 1299)
And Qurbani (sacrifice), offered during Eid al-Adha even by those not performing Hajj, honors Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice what was most beloved to him for Allah’s sake. It reminds us that true sacrifice is not about the act itself, but the sincerity behind it.
As Allah says:
“Neither their meat nor their blood reaches Allah, but what reaches Him is your piety.”
(Surah Al-Hajj 22:36-37)
One of the greatest blessings within these ten days is the Day of Arafah. For those not performing Hajj, fasting this day carries tremendous reward. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Fasting the Day of Arafah expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year.”
(Sunan Ibn Majah 1730)
These days remind us that beloved deeds are not always the biggest or most visible. Often they are the quiet acts of worship done sincerely:
- Fasting as many of the first nine days as possible
- Praying salah on time
- Increasing in dhikr and takbir
- Reading Qur’an
- Giving charity
- Making tawbah
- Turning back to Allah with sincerity
- Performing Qurbani (Sacrifice)
“The best of supplication is the supplication of the Day of `Arafah. And the best of what I and the Prophets before me have said is: None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, Alone, without partner, to Him belongs all that exists, and to Him belongs the Praise, and He is powerful over all things. (Lā ilāha illallāh, waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-ḥamdu, wa huwa `alā kulli shai’in qadīr).’” (Tirmidhi 3585)
As we enter these blessed days, let us make a plan now for how we want to spend them. Even small intentions matter.
May Allah allow us to benefit from the blessings of Dhul-Hijjah, accept the Hajj of all pilgrims, forgive our sins, and allow these ten days to bring us closer to Him. Ameen.
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