Dua for the First 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah: Make the Most of the Best Days

Ten days. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said they are the greatest days of the entire year.

Not the last ten nights of Ramadan — those are special too, and scholars have debated their relative merit. But for daytime deeds, the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah hold a status that nothing else in the Islamic calendar matches.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days." (Bukhari 969)

And yet, most Muslims outside of Hajj context barely know these days exist. They pass quietly, without the communal energy of Ramadan, without the visible preparation of Eid. Millions of these precious days are spent like ordinary days.

This does not have to be you.

The Duas and Dhikr for the First 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah

The Dhikr the Prophet Specifically Commanded:

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

Subhanallah. Alhamdulillah. La ilaha illallah. Allahu Akbar.

"Glory be to Allah. Praise be to Allah. There is no god but Allah. Allah is the Greatest." — (Bukhari 969)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) told his companions to increase these four remembrances abundantly during the first ten days.

The Takbeer of Dhul Hijjah:

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa lillahil-hamd.

"Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, there is no god but Allah, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and all praise belongs to Allah."

The Greatest Dua — for the Day of Arafah (9th Dhul Hijjah):

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa ala kulli shay'in qadir.

"There is no god but Allah, alone, without partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is over all things capable." — (Tirmidhi 3585 — the best dua of Arafah)

The Story Behind These Days

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) arrived in Madinah and the people had two days on which they would play and celebrate. He asked: What are these two days? They replied: We used to celebrate them in the time of Jahiliyyah. He said: Allah has replaced them with two better days — Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr." (Abu Dawud 1134)

The ten days before Eid al-Adha were given their status because they correspond with the sacred pilgrimage — Hajj. While millions make tawaf around the Kaaba, while pilgrims stand on Arafah crying to Allah, while Ibrahim's devotion is commemorated — every Muslim anywhere in the world can access the blessing of these days through worship.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked: Are these ten days greater than fighting in the way of Allah? He replied: "Greater than fighting in the way of Allah — except for a man who goes out with his life and his wealth, and returns with neither." (Abu Dawud 2438)

This is the magnitude. And it is available to every Muslim who simply chooses to use these days with intention.

How to Make the Most of These 10 Days

Build a daily plan — starting from Day 1:

• Increase dhikr throughout the day. Say subhanallah, alhamdulillah, la ilaha illallah, allahu akbar as a constant background practice. On your commute, between tasks, before meals. The Prophet said to increase it — there is no limit.

• Fast the first nine days. Even if you can only fast some of them, any fasting during this period is beloved to Allah. Fasting the Day of Arafah alone expiates two years of sins (Muslim 1162).

• Say the takbeer openly and consistently. Ibn Umar and Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with them) used to go to the market during these ten days saying the takbeer aloud, and people would follow them. There is a communal dimension to this practice — do not let it stay private.

• Give extra sadaqah. Righteous deeds are multiplied during these days — which means your charity has greater impact now than at almost any other time.

• Make the Day of Arafah the peak. On the 9th — whether or not you are at Hajj — fast, make extensive dua, and say the dua of Arafah as often as possible. This is the pinnacle of the ten days.

Use Dhul Hijjah With Intention

Deen Back helps you track fasting, dhikr, and daily worship during these blessed ten days — so you make the most of the greatest days of the year. Set up your Dhul Hijjah plan today.

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Related Duas

Dua for Dhul Hijjah:

For the broader Dhul Hijjah season and the practices associated with it, see dua for dhul hijjah for complementary supplications.

Dua for Eid al-Adha:

The ten days culminate in Eid al-Adha. See dua for eid al adha for the supplications and practices of the celebration itself.

Dua for accepting fasts:

During your fasting days in Dhul Hijjah, see dua for acceptance of fasts — asking Allah to accept your worship during these blessed days.

Dua for gratitude:

The Day of Arafah and these ten days are a time of profound gratitude. See dua for gratitude for specific supplications of shukr.

Common Questions

Do these days start from the new moon of Dhul Hijjah or from the first of the month?

They are the same — the month of Dhul Hijjah begins with the new moon, and the ten blessed days begin from Day 1 of that month through to the 10th (Day of Eid). The crescent moon sighting or confirmed Islamic calendar date marks the start.

Can I make up for these days if I missed them?

There is no making up these specific days — they pass and return only next year. This is not a reason for guilt but for urgency now and preparation for next year. Mark the dates well in advance so you are ready when they arrive.

What if my regular commitments prevent long worship sessions?

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said these deeds are more beloved regardless of quantity — so a small consistent deed during these ten days carries more weight than the same deed at other times. Even five minutes of sincere dhikr, a short prayer, or a small sadaqah during these days is precious. Do not let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Is the virtue specific to the first ten days, or does it extend to the whole month?

The specific virtue mentioned by the Prophet pertains to the first ten days. The rest of Dhul Hijjah contains significant moments — the days of Tashreeq (11th-13th), and the general month has sanctity as one of the four sacred months. But the unparalleled status is for the first ten.

Do Not Let These Days Pass

Every year, the ten greatest days of the year arrive. Every year, many Muslims let them pass like any other ten days — because they do not know, or because they forgot, or because they thought they would prepare next year.

The days of Dhul Hijjah do not care about your intentions to use them well next time. They come, they stay for ten days, and they leave.

Increase your dhikr. Fast if you can. Say the takbeer. Make the Day of Arafah a day unlike any other. Ask Allah for everything your heart carries.

These ten days are your opportunity. Use them.

Your Best Ten Days Start Now

Set up Dhul Hijjah goals in Deen Back — fasting tracker, dhikr counter, daily worship plans — and make this the Dhul Hijjah you finally used the way the Prophet described.

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