The First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah: A Season of Mercy, Worship, and Nearness to Allah

Mufti Imamuddin Saeedi

The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are among the greatest gifts Allah has given to the Muslim Ummah. These blessed days are not ordinary days. They are a special season of mercy, forgiveness, worship, and spiritual renewal. In these days, good deeds become more beloved to Allah, hearts are invited back to repentance, and believers are given a beautiful opportunity to come closer to their Lord.

Allah has honored these days in the Qur’an, and the Prophet ﷺ emphasized their virtue in the Sunnah. That alone shows us how valuable this time is. A believer should not allow these days to pass in heedlessness. Instead, they should be filled with prayer, remembrance of Allah, recitation of the Qur’an, charity, fasting, sincere repentance, and every form of righteous action.

One of the greatest lessons of these days is that Allah gives His servants repeated chances to return to Him. Human life is short, and our time in this world is limited, but Allah’s mercy is vast. A person who recognizes the value of these days and uses them wisely can receive immense reward through even simple acts of worship. This is why Muslims are encouraged to increase in saying: Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illa Allah, and Alhamdulillah during these blessed days.

The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are also connected to the great worship of Hajj. During this sacred time, Muslims from around the world gather in humility, wearing simple garments, calling upon one Lord, and standing together as servants of Allah. The Day of Arafah and the Day of Sacrifice also fall within this blessed period, making these days even more powerful and meaningful.

The Prophet ﷺ taught that righteous deeds performed during these ten days are more beloved to Allah than deeds done in any other days. This should awaken every believer. These days are not only a time of ritual worship; they are a time for personal change. We should use them to correct our hearts, improve our character, strengthen our relationship with the Qur’an, serve our families, help those in need, and seek Allah’s forgiveness with sincerity.

In reality, the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are not just dates on the calendar. They are a call from Allah toward mercy, obedience, and transformation. Successful is the person who recognizes this opportunity and fills these days with worship and remembrance. May Allah allow us to honor these blessed days, increase in good deeds, repent sincerely, and earn His pleasure. Ameen.