reading time ~16 mins

1. Dhul Hijjah
2. Deeds for first 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah
   1. Hajj
   2. Udhiya 
   3. Fast ‘Arafa
   4. Dhikr
      1. Takbir al Tashriq
      2. Types of Takbir al Tashriq
      3. Other Form of Takbir
   5. Cutting Hair / Nails
      1. Prohibition Period
      2. Permissibility
   6. Additional deeds
3. Dhul Hijjah in Quran
4. Dhul Hijjah in Sunnah
5. Summary
6. Additional Reading

Dhul Hijjah

Dhul Hijjah is the 12th & final month in the Islamic calendar. It is the month where Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) takes place. “Dhul-Hijja” literally means “Possessor of the Pilgrimage” or “The Month of the Pilgrimage”

The best 10 days of the year in Islam are the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah (wheras, the last 10 nights of Ramadan are the best 10 nights of the year)

Deeds for first 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah

The first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are the best 10 days of the year. It is recommended to do plenty of good deeds such as

Hajj

Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims. Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, and of supporting their family during their absence from home.

Udhiya 

Udhiya refers to the animal (camel, cattle or sheep) offered as a sacrifice, and it as an act of worship dedicated solely to gain the Pleasure of Allah Subhanahu Wa ta’ala

Fast ‘Arafa

It is highly recommended to fast on day of ‘Arafa (9th Dhul Hijjah / one day before Eid ul Adha) to remove sins of past and coming year. This is a voluntary deed with great reward

Dhikr

Takbir al Tashriq

The following words of remembrance should be recited at different occasions during Dhul Hijjah. These are called Takbir al Tashriq

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ

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.”

Tashriq: is an arabic word which means “drying something out”. The 9^th – 13^th Dhul Hijjah are called the days of Tashriq because traditionally people used to dry out the meat of the animals that they had sacrificed during Eid over these days. Read more

Types of Takbir al Tashriq

It is recommended to recite Takbir al Tashriq from 1^st – 13^th Dhul Hijjah under two categories 

1. Takbir Mutlaq 
2. Takbir Muqayad

Takbir Mutlaq

Mutlaq means unrestricted. It is recited at all times, and is not attached to any particular act of worship

Mutlaq is recited during the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah and all the days of tashriq

recite Takbir any time

from 1^st Dhul Hijjah (after Maghrib on the last day of Dhul Qe’da)

to 13^th Dhul Hijjah (till Maghrib)

Imam Bukhari when discussing the blessings of the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah (Bukhari 969) mentioned that there is sound evidence that Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with them) used to go out in the marketplace during the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, reciting Takbir, and the people would recite Takbir when they heard them. 

The idea behind reminding the people to recite Takbir is that each one should recite it individually, not in unison

Takbir Muqayad 

Muqayad means restricted. It is recited after a particular act of worship (fard salah) and only to be recited on days of Tashriq

recite Takbir after every fard salah

from 9^th Dhul Hijjah (from Fajr)

to 13^th Dhul Hijjah (till Asr)

Men can recite the takbir after every fard salah audibly. Women should recite it silently. Takbir should not be done in Unison (but individually)

Remember and glorify Allah no matter what you are doing: This is particularly easy as one can remember Allah anywhere and at any time whether it is during work or any daily activity.

Other Form of Takbir

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيرًا وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلاً

Allah is truly Great, praise be to Allah in abundance. Glory be to Allah in the morning and the evening.

Allahu Akbaru kabira, wal-hamdu Lillahi kathira, wa subhan-Allahi bukratan wa asila

Muslim 601

Cutting Hair / Nails

It is highly recommended to stop cutting nails or cutting or removing hair during the first 10 days until the sacrifice of the animal is done

This applies to one who is planning to offer udhiya (usually head of household or multiple people from household earning an income). One who is not offering udhiya can also do this as a Nafl (voluntary good deed)

Prohibition Period

Nails and hair should not be cut from moon sighting of Dhul Hijjah until sacrifice is done on 10 Dhul Hijjah

The wisdom behind the prohibition of the one who wants to offer a sacrifice from cutting his hair & nails is so that he may resemble those in ihram in some aspects of the rituals performed.

Permissibility

The scholars have ikhtilaf (different opinions) about the permissibility of cutting hair or nails during the first 10 days until Sacrifice. 

1. Imam Ahmad
   1. considers it forbidden to remove hair or nails
2. Imam Malik, Imam Shafi’i:
   1. consider it maqruh (disliked) to remove hair or nails
3. Imam Abu Hanifa
   1. considers it permissible to remove hair or nails

In summary a person who is not performing Hajj but still intends to offer udhiya is encouraged to refrain from cutting nails and hair during the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah until sacrifice of their animal. Cutting hair or nails does not make one sinful (due to the ikhtilaf) however it is highly recommended to refrain from it to please Allah and follow the advice of our Prophet ﷺ. And Allah knows best.

Additional deeds

There are other good deeds that one can also do during the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah

• adhkar – Tasbeeh (“Subhan-Allah”), Tahmeed (“Al-hamdu Lillah”), Tahleel (“La ilaaha ill-Allah”), Takbir (“Allahu akbar”) 
• quran – Reciting, contemplating on the meaning, bringing to actions and sharing
• salah – Increasing prayers during the day (voluntary Nafl with Faraid) and night (Qiyam ul Layl)
• sadaqah – Help and feed the poor

Dhul Hijjah in Quran

1. Allah swears by the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah (Quran Al Fajr 89:1-2) (Tafsir Ibn Kathir Al Fajr 89:1-2)
2. We are told to remember Allah during the numbered days of Dhul Hijjah. (Quran Al Baqarah 2:203) Scholars say that these are the days of Tashriq (Tafsir ibn Kathir Al Baqarah 2:203)
3. Allah says that we mention the name of Allah on appointed days, and scholars say those appointed days are 10 days of Dhul Hijjah (Quran Al Hajj 22:28) (Tafsir ibn Kathir Al Hajj 22:28)

Dhul Hijjah in Sunnah

1. Deeds in 10 Days
   • Narrated Ibn `Abbas, The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijjah).” Then some companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Not even Jihad?” He replied, “Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah’s sake) and does not return with any of those things.” (Bukhari 969)
   • Jabir reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “No days are better to Allah than the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.” A man said, “O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), are they better or time spent waging jihad in the way of Allah?” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “They are better than time spent waging jihad in the way of Allah. No day is better to Allah than the day of ‘Arafa. Allah descends to the lowest heaven and He boasts to the inhabitants of the heavens about the inhabitants of the earth, saying: Look at My servants, appearing disheveled and dusty. They came from every mountain pass hoping for My mercy. They do not see My punishment, yet they do not see that on no day are more saved from Hellfire than the day of ‘Arafa.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 3853 sahih)
   • Ibn Umar reported: The Prophet (ﷺ), said, “There are no days greater and more beloved to Allah than these ten days of Dhul Hijjah, so increase in them your declaration of the oneness of Allah (Tahleel), your exaltation of Him (Takbir), and your praise of Him (Tahmeed).” (Musnad Aḥmad 5423 sahih)
     • Tahleel (“La ilaaha ill-Allah”) Takbir (“Allahu akbar”)Tahmeed (“Al-hamdu Lillaah”) these are all covered in Takbir al Tashriq
2. Fasting ‘Arafa
   • Abu Qatadah reported: A man came to the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), and he said, “What is your view about fasting on the day of ‘Arafa?” The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “It will expiate the sins of the previous and upcoming years” (Muslim 1162)
   • It is not recommended to fast on the day of ‘Arafa for those who are performing the Hajj pilgrimage in order for them to have strength to perform more prayers and supplications, but it is still permissible for pilgrims to fast if they wish.
   • Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said: I have performed the Hajj pilgrimage with the Prophet (ﷺ), and he (ﷺ) did not fast it. I performed it with Abu Bakr and he did not fast, with Umar and he did not fast, and with Uthman and he did not fast. I do not fast it, nor do I command it or prohibit it.(Sunan al-Tirmidhī 751 sahih)
3. Prohibition of Cutting Hair and Nails
   • Umm Salama reported (these words) directly from Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ): “If anyone has in his possession a sacrificial animal to offer as a sacrifice (on ‘Id al-Adha), he should not get his hair cut and nails trimmed after he has entered the first days of Dhu’l Hijjah” (Muslim 1977e)

Summary

In summary the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are the best 10 days of the year. It is recommended to

1. perform hajj – at least once if physically and financially able
2. offer the udhiya (sacrifice an animal)
3. fast on day of ‘Arafa (9th Dhul Hijjah / one day before Eid ul Adha) to remove sins of past and coming year
4. recite takbir al tashriq “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa ilaaha illallahu Wallahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Wa lillahil Hamd” at the appropriate times
5. refrain from trimming/shaving any hairs from the body or cutting nails. This is especially recommended for one who is offering udhiya
6. do additional deeds
   1. adhkar – Tasbeeh (“Subhan-Allah”), Tahmeed (“Al-hamdu Lillah”), Tahleel (“La ilaaha ill-Allah”), Takbir (“Allahu akbar”) 
   2. quran – Reciting, contemplating on the meaning, bringing to actions and sharing
   3. salah – Increasing prayers during the day (voluntary Nafl with Faraid) and night (Qiyam ul Layl)
   4. sadaqah – Help and feed the poor

Additional Reading

1. Four Things to Do on the Blessed 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah (An excellent article summarizing the benefits of 10 days of Dhul Hijjah)
2. Takbir al-Tashriq (Short explanation of Takbir al-Tashriq)
3. Virtues of the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah (An article summarizing which deeds can be done to gain benefits on the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah)