How to Best Utilize the First 10 Days of Dhu’l-Hijjah_

1. How To Best Utilize the First 10 Days of Dhu’l-Hijjah? The initial ten days of Dhul-Hijjah stand out as the most virtuous period of the year, endowed by Allah (SWT) with uncountable opportunities for His Ummah to multiply their rewards through boundless mercy. These days hold such sanctity that Allah swears an oath by them: 'By the dawn; by the ten nights' [The Noble Qur’an, 89:1-2]. Additionally, Allah reminds us: 'Remember Allah during the appointed days' [The Noble Qur’an, 2:203]. Therefore, it's imperative to focus on our acts of worship, be it learning the Quran or reading during these sacred days. The Prophet (saw) emphasized, 'There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than in these (ten) days'. Keep scrolling to see the nine Sunnah actions to seek Allah’s forgiveness and maximize your reward during this blessed time: Dhikr Increase your remembrance of Allah. In Makkah, the Talbiyah echoes from every pilgrim's lips day and night, and those at home are likewise asked to constantly praise Allah during these ten days. Eid Takbeer: Recite the Eid Takbeer, encompassing tahleel, takbeer, and tahmeed. After Prayer Dhikr: Make dhikr after each of your five daily prayers—SubhanAllah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times, and Allahu Akbar 34 times. Reciting SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi: Recite this phrase one hundred times a day to wash away sins, regardless of their weight.

2. Adhering to these simple practices ensures continuous remembrance of Allah throughout the day, allowing you to get the blessings of Dhul-Hijjah. Fast to the first nine days It's recommended to fast during the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah as fasting is considered one of the most virtuous deeds. In a hadith Qudsi, Allah mentions, ‘All the deeds of the son of Adam are for him, except fasting, which is for Me and I shall reward for it’ [Bukhari]. If fasting for all nine days isn't feasible, focusing on fasting specifically on the Day of ’Arafah, the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, is highly encouraged. Just as Laylat al-Qadr is known as the most blessed night of the year, ’Arafah is recognized as the most blessed day of the year. The Prophet (saw) stated, 'There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the fire than on the day of ‘Arafah' [Muslim]. Similar to Laylat al-Qadr, we should utilize this day to seek forgiveness and avail ourselves of Allah’s boundless mercy. On this significant day, non-pilgrims have the opportunity to absolve the sins of two years through fasting! The Prophet (saw) mentioned, ‘It (fasting on the Day of ‘Arafah) washes away the sins of the past year and the coming year’ [Muslim]. Recite Qur’an Reading the Quran or getting help from a Quran tutor to read the Quran stands as one of the most important acts of worship to move closer to Allah and seek His pleasure. The Prophet (saw) emphasized, 'Whoever reads a letter from the book of Allah, he will have a reward. And that reward will be multiplied by ten. Remember loved ones Many of us plan to perform Hajj specifically for a departed loved one or to make heartfelt supplications for them during our pilgrimage, seeking Allah's forgiveness and mercy for them on the Day of Judgment.

3. If you're unable to undertake Hajj on behalf of a loved one, you can still honor their memory by giving Sadaqah Jariyah in their name during these blessed days. Prophet Muhammad (saw) taught us, ‘When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: Sadaqah Jariyah, knowledge from which benefit is gained, or a righteous child who prays for him’ [Muslim]. Pray Tahajjud It is just about time before we get those ten nights of Ramadan again. Many of us are yearning for the spiritual connection we felt while seeking out Laylat al-Qadr through our nightly worship. However, it's worth knowing that praying at night during the first ten nights of Dhul-Hijjah holds similar significance as well. Give Sadaqah Many of us focus on maximizing our Sadaqah during the last ten nights of Ramadan, but it's important to recognize that the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are equally valuable and offer a prime opportunity to earn extra rewards for simple good deeds! Hasan al-Basri (rh) once said, ‘Going to fulfill the need of your brother is better for you than performing Hajj after Hajj’. Helping our brothers and sisters in need ranks among the acts most beloved by Allah, and we have the perfect tool to help you maximize your rewards during the blessed days of Dhul-Hijjah. The Best 10 Days initiative allows you to automate your donations to five emergency locations, including Yemen and Syria, providing food, clean water, and medical supplies to suffering families. Repent To Allah Hajj stands as the ultimate act of worship for Muslims, offering a profound opportunity to seek forgiveness from Allah and expiate our sins. However, for many of us, going on Hajj even once in

4. our lifetime is a rare blessing. This is why Dhul-Hijjah is such a precious gift from Allah, providing us with the chance to repent and seek forgiveness for our sins even if we are not on pilgrimage. Repentance holds immense significance in Islam as it brings us closer to Allah and cleanses our souls. Allah encourages us to seek forgiveness and repent to Him, promising in the Qur'an, ‘Seek forgiveness of your Lord and repent to Him, [and] He will let you enjoy a good provision for a specified term and give every doer of favor his favor’ [The Noble Qur’an, 11:3]. Pray Eid Salah Eid Salah serves as a significant expression of our Islamic identity as a community and holds great importance as an act of worship for all Muslims to participate in. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) consistently attended Eid Salah, and his companions continued the practice after his passing. He encouraged everyone to join, including menstruating women, who may not perform the prayer but can still partake in the blessings of this gathering. Give a Prophetic Qurbani According to Abu Talhah ‘The Prophet (saw) sacrificed for those in his Ummah who could not afford to sacrifice, those who testified to the Oneness of Allah and [his] Prophethood’ [Tabarani and Ahmad]. During Eid, the Prophet (saw) would offer an additional sacrifice on behalf of someone in his Ummah who was unable to do so themselves. Allah says, ‘There has come to you a Messenger of Allah from among yourselves, who is distressed by the losses you sustain, who is ardently desirous of your welfare and is tender and merciful to those that believe’ [The Noble Qur’an, 9:128]. SubhanAllah, this compassionate act of our beloved Messenger of Allah exemplifies His mercy to His Ummah as referenced in the above verse, sacrificing for His Ummah and covering them until the Day of Judgment. You too can follow this beautiful Sunnah and offer an extra Qurbani to maximize your reward during Dhul-Hijjah. By reviving this forgotten Sunnah, you not only double your impact but also provide meat to even more families for a rare meal during the days of Eid-al-Adha. Explore all our

5. Qurbani locations and place your order here or get help from our female quran teacher to understand the importance of these days. In Sha Allah, these nine tips will assist you in making the most of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. Wrapping It Up! As we should try to make the most of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, let us remember the teachings of our beloved Prophet (PBUH) and seek to emulate his acts of mercy and compassion towards the Ummah. Visit Quraan Teacher today to discover and learn the Quran free online and how our experienced tutors can guide you on your path to deeper knowledge and spiritual fulfillment. May Allah bless you abundantly during these blessed days of Dhul-Hijjah and always.