Central Khutbah: “The First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah – The Greatest Opportunity of the Year”
The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are among the greatest and most blessed days of the year. Allah, the Exalted, honored them above all other days and even swore by them in the Qur’an: “By the dawn, and by the ten nights.” (Surah Al-Fajr, 1–2). Many Qur’anic commentators explained that the “ten nights” refer to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, as reported from Ibn ‘Abbas, Ibn Az-Zubayr, and other companions. (Ibn Kathir, Tafsir al-Qur’an al-‘Azim, 8/390).
The Prophet ﷺ said: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” The companions asked: “Not even jihad in the path of Allah?” He replied: “Not even jihad in the path of Allah, except for a man who went out with his life and wealth and returned with nothing.” (Al-Bukhari, Sahih, no. 969). Ibn Rajab said: “This hadith shows that all righteous deeds performed during these ten days are superior to deeds done at any other time of the year, without exception.” (Ibn Rajab, Lata’if al-Ma‘arif, p. 458). Ibn Hajar explained that the reason for the special status of these days is that the greatest acts of worship are gathered within them: prayer, fasting, charity, pilgrimage, remembrance of Allah, and sacrifice. (Ibn Hajar, Fath al-Bari, 2/534).
The righteous predecessors understood the greatness of these days and devoted themselves intensely to worship during them. It is reported that Sa‘id ibn Jubayr exerted himself so greatly in worship during these ten days that few people could match him. (Ibn Rajab, Lata’if al-Ma‘arif, p. 470). Therefore, the believer should welcome these days with sincerity, seriousness, and determination.
The greatest deed during these days is preserving the obligatory acts of worship, especially the five daily prayers at their proper times, in congregation, and in the mosque. In a sacred hadith, Allah says: “My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more beloved to Me than what I have made obligatory upon him.” (Al-Bukhari, Sahih, no. 6502). After the obligations come the voluntary acts of worship such as sunnah prayers, night prayer, duha prayer, and voluntary fasting. In the continuation of the same hadith, Allah says: “My servant continues to draw near to Me through voluntary deeds until I love him.” (Al-Bukhari, Sahih, no. 6502).
Fasting is among the greatest acts of worship during these blessed days. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever fasts one day for the sake of Allah, Allah will distance his face from the Fire by seventy years.” (Muslim, Sahih, no. 1153). It is also reported that the Prophet ﷺ used to fast the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah. (Abu Dawud, Sunan, no. 2437). Imam Al-Nawawi said: “Fasting these days is highly recommended.” (Al-Nawawi, Al-Majmu‘, 6/386). Among these days, the Day of ‘Arafah holds a special place. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Fasting the Day of ‘Arafah expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year.” (Muslim, Sahih, no. 1162). He also said: “There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of ‘Arafah.” (Muslim, Sahih, no. 1348).
Recitation of the Qur’an also carries immense virtue during these days. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever recites one letter from the Book of Allah will receive one good deed, and each good deed is multiplied by ten.” (Al-Tirmidhi, Sunan, no. 2910). The righteous predecessors used to dedicate much time to the Qur’an during blessed seasons, and some of them completed the Qur’an several times within a few days. (Al-Nawawi, Al-Tibyan, p. 74).
The remembrance of Allah (dhikr) is among the greatest acts of worship in these days. Allah says: “O you who believe, remember Allah with much remembrance.” (Surah Al-Ahzab, 41). Ibn ‘Abbas explained that the verse: “…and mention the name of Allah during known days…” (Surah Al-Hajj, 28) refers to the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. (Al-Tabari, Tafsir, 18/612). The Prophet ﷺ said: “There are no days greater in the sight of Allah, nor days in which deeds are more beloved to Him than these ten days, so increase in them your tahlil, takbir, and tahmid.” (Ahmad, Musnad, no. 5446). Al-Bukhari reports that Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah would go out to the marketplace during these days proclaiming the takbir, and the people would repeat after them. (Al-Bukhari, Kitab al-‘Idayn, 2/20).
The takbir is of two types: the unrestricted takbir, which begins from the start of Dhul-Hijjah, and the restricted takbir after the obligatory prayers beginning from the Fajr prayer of the Day of ‘Arafah until the ‘Asr prayer of the last day of Tashriq. (Ibn Qudamah, Al-Mughni, 3/290). Its well-known form is: “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, la ilaha illa Allah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa lillahi al-hamd.”
Charity is also among the greatest deeds during these days. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Charity is proof of faith.” (Muslim, Sahih, no. 223). He also said: “The one who cares for a widow or a poor person is like the one who strives in the path of Allah.” (Al-Bukhari, Sahih, no. 5353; Muslim, Sahih, no. 2982). Scholars have mentioned that helping those in need can sometimes be more virtuous than a voluntary pilgrimage, especially when people are in severe hardship. (Ibn Taymiyyah, Majmu‘ al-Fatawa, 26/19).
All righteous deeds gain tremendous value during these days: prayer, fasting, charity, remembrance of Allah, recitation of the Qur’an, kindness to parents, maintaining family ties, helping people, spreading peace, forgiving others, removing harm from the road, smiling at fellow Muslims, caring for orphans and the poor, visiting the sick, helping the oppressed, and relieving people’s difficulties. Allah says: “Race toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Paradise as wide as the heavens and the earth.” (Surah Aal ‘Imran, 133). And He says: “…those who restrain anger and pardon people; and Allah loves the doers of good.” (Surah Aal ‘Imran, 134).
These ten days are therefore a tremendous opportunity to draw closer to Allah, purify the heart, increase in worship, return sincerely to Him, and attain His forgiveness, mercy, and pleasure.
(Central khutbah by the religious leader Hafiz Hilmija Redžić on May 15, 2026, at the “Centre Culturel Islamique de Luxembourg” in Mamer)
