The month of Dhul Hijjah is one of the holiest periods of the Islamic year, SubhanAllah. Many people don’t know that the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are the best days of the year and most beloved to Allah (SWT). They are indeed the 10 best days with no exception.
There are no days on which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days
It is important to focus on our relationship with Allah (SWT) during these holy days, and to maximise our worship. One of the best ways to do this is to make lots of du’a.
When performed with sincere intention and faith in Allah’s (SWT) acceptance, the rewards of making du’a could be exceptional.
Dua is the essence of worship.
We have put together some of the most beneficial duas to help you reap the rewards of the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah:
Muslims are taught to fast on the first 9 days of Dhul-Hijjah. As an important Sunnah, Dhul Hijjah fasting brings great rewards and forgiveness of sins.
Fasting in Dhul Hijjah is extremely beneficial to Muslims because of the blessings Allah (SWT) bestows during this time. As fasting is one of the most virtuous acts of rewards, fasting Dhul Hijjah is highly recommended.
When you open your fast, recite the following du’a:
ذهب الظمأ وابتلت العروق وثبت الأجر إن شاء ال:له
Transliteration: “Dhahaba adh-Dhama’ wabtallatil-urooq wa thabatal-ajr inshaa’Allah”
Translation: Thirst is gone, the veins are wet, and the reward is confirmed by the will of God.
Allah extends his Divine Mercy to all those who turn to Him with sincerity and supplicate for forgiveness in the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah.
The following is a du’a for forgiveness from the Qur’an:
رَبَّنَآ إِنَّنَآ ءَامَنَّافَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ
Transliteration: “Rabbanaaa innanaaa aamannaa faghfir lanaazunoobanaa wa qinaa ‘azaaban Naar’
Translation: ”Our Lord! surely we believe, therefore forgive us our faults and save us from the chastisement of the fire”(Al-Imran, Chapter 3, Verse 16)
The first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are beloved to Allah, and a time of acceptance of dua. It’s important to remember our Akhirah when making dua, and to ask for protection. You can make the following dua during this time:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ رِضَاكَ وَالجَنَّةَ ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ وَالنَّارِ
Transliteration: ‘Allaahumma innee as-aluka Ridaaka wal Jannah wa a’audhu’bika min sakhatika wan-naar’
Translation: O Allah, I ask of Your pleasure and for Paradise, and I seek refuge from Your displeasure and from the Hellfire.
The first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are a special time for us to gain closeness to Allah (SWT) and to change the direction of our lives so that we are focused on gaining His pleasure. Therefore, it’s important to make du’a for Allah’s guidance to allow us to do so:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الهُدَى وَ التُّقَى وَ العَفَافَ وَ الغِنَى
Transliteration: ‘Allāhumma Innī As’aluka al-Hudā Wat-Tuqā Wal-Afāfa Wal-Ghinā’
Translation: O Allah, I ask You for guidance and piety, and abstinence (from the unlawful) and modesty, and contentment and sufficiency.
Dhul Hijjah is the time in which Hajj takes place – where muslims from across the globe unite at Makkah with the same goal of pleasing Allah and fulfilling His rights. During these holy days, it’s important to remember our Muslim brothers and sisters across that world, and to ask Allah (SWT) to grant them ease, patience and fulfil their needs.
اللَّهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ أُمَّةَ مُحَمَّدٍ
اللَّهُمَّ فَرِّجْ عَنْ أُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ
اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْ أُمَّةَ مُحَمَّدٍ
Transliteration: ‘Allahumma aslih Ummata Muhammad. Allahumma farrij ‘an Ummati Muhammad. Allahumma Rham Ummata Muhammad [sallAllahu alayhi wasalam]’
Translation: O Allah! Improve (help) the state of the Ummah of Muhammad. O Allah! Grant ease to the Ummah of Muhammad. O Allah! Have mercy on the Ummah of Muhammad.
During Dhul Hijjah, qurbanis take place across the globe, to reflect the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail, for the sake of God.
After increasing our worship and offering qurbani in Dhul Hijjah, it’s important to make dua for the acceptance of our good deeds.
As we reflect on Prophet Ibrahim (AS)’s story and sacrifice, we may recite the dua that he made whilst he and Ismail (AS) completed building the Holy Ka’aba:
رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيم
Transliteration: “Rabbana taqabbal minna, innaka antas-Sami’ul-‘Aleem.”
Translation: ”Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily! You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.”
The Day of Arafah is one of the most important days in the year for Muslims. It’s the day on which Allah completed His favours upon His beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and approved Islam as a way of life.
Whether we are performing Hajj and standing on the plains of Arafah on this day, or at home, it’s important to make the most of the blessed day. We should make lots of du’a, asking Allah (SWT) for forgiveness. Don’t forget to include your friends, relatives, neighbours as well as the wider ummah in your du’a on this special day.
There is no day on which Allah frees people from the Fire more so than on the day of ‘Arafah. He comes close to those (people standing on ‘Arafah), and then He reveals before His Angels saying, ‘What are these people seeking.
The following is a special dua to recite on the Day of Arafah. The best time to make dua is during the last hour before Maghrib prayer:
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٍ
Transliteration: “Lailaha illalahu wahadahu lasharikalahu lahulmulku walahu hamdu wahuva alakulli shayin kadir”
Translation: ”There is no God but Allah alone Who has no partner, to whom dominion belongs, to whom praise is due, and who has power over everything.”
It is also the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to recite Tahleel (‘Laillaha illalah’), Takbeer (‘Allahuakbar’), Tahmeed (‘Allhamdulillah’), and Tasabeeh(‘Subhanallah’) as many times as possible on this day.
It is highly recommended for every Muslim adult to recite the Takbeer-e-Tashreeq after prayer from the 9th-13th Dhul Hijjah. Men should recite this out loud, while women should recite this silently:
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إلَهَ إلَّا اللَّهُ وَاَللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْد
Transliteration: “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa ilaaha illallahu Wallahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Wa lillahil Hamd”.
Translation: Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest. There is no deity besides Allah and Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest and all praises are for Allah only.
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Page last reviewed: 30th May 2023
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Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.
Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.
Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.
Nadeem Azhar
Nadeem joined Islamic Relief Worldwide in September 2022. He has worked in the charitable sector for over a decade.
He studied Modern History and Politics at Manchester University, and at the University of Law in London before qualifying as a solicitor in 2011.
Nadeem is an experienced corporate, commercial and governance lawyer, having worked with various faith-based and grant making charities as well those in health and education settings. He was a partner at a law firm in London before moving in-house where he focused on setting up and restructuring charities and social enterprises.
Most recently, Nadeem was Lead Counsel at Mind, a leading mental health charity, where he co-authored a new federation agreement, revamped legal processes, and played a major role in developing its strategic and fundraising partnerships.
Nadeem has been a charity trustee for the Seafarers Charity, as well as many grant-making bodies and theatre companies.
Adnan Hafiz
Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.
Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.
Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.
Martin Cottingham joined Islamic Relief in 2012 as IRUK Media Relations Manager, and was appointed Head of Communications in 2015 before taking up his current position as Director of External Relations and Advocacy for Islamic Relief Worldwide.
Martin has helped Islamic Relief to increase its mainstream media profile and expand its campaigning work, producing hard-hitting advocacy reports on floods in Pakistan (2011) famine in Somalia (2012) disaster risk reduction (2013) and aid to Afghanistan (2014). He has over 20 years’ experience working in media, communications and marketing roles for international development and environmental charities.
Martin graduated from the University of London with a degree in English and Drama (1982-85) then trained as a journalist with a postgraduate diploma at City University (1986-87). He has previously worked for Christian Aid as Editor of Christian Aid News and Media Relations Manager (1988-97) for Oxfam as Regional Campaigns Manager (1997-2000) and at the Soil Association as Marketing Director (2001-2006), as well as working for a wide range of organisations as a freelance writer, researcher and communications consultant.
Waseem Ahmad joined the Islamic Relief family over 24 years ago, serving as Programme Officer in the Balochistan province of south-western Pakistan before becoming Head of Programmes in Pakistan. Waseem then moved to Oxfam and Tearfund before returning to Islamic Relief to establish our mission in Malawi. Later serving as Head of Programme Funding and Partnerships, Waseem led the response to major crises across the globe, including the East Africa drought, Pakistan earthquake and the Indian Ocean Tsunami.
Waseem then served for nearly 6 years as our Director of International Programmes, during which time the charity secured and retained the coveted Core Humanitarian Standard certification in recognition of the quality of our programming. He was appointed CEO of Islamic Relief in May 2021.
With a special interest in community mobilisation and infrastructure, Waseem received an MSc in Project Planning and Management from the University of Bradford, as well as an MSc in Economics from Arid Agriculture University in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Waseem has also worked for Lepra Health in Action and is a member of the International Civil Society Centre’s Board of Trustees. The father-of-3 enjoys walking and playing football, and is a keen birdwatcher.