Dhul Hijjah is one of the four sacred months.

"The sacred months are Dhul-Qiʿdah, Dhul-Ḥijjah, Muḥarram and Rajab; sin and obedience are greater in them than in other months: “So do not wrong yourselves therein.” [Qur'an 9:36]

Just as sins committed in these times are more heinous, good deeds are equally even more virtuous.

However, the first 10 days of this month are particularly special, with the Prophet (saw) explaining that there are no deeds greater in reward than the deeds performed in its first ten days.

‘There are no deeds as excellent as those done in these ten days... except a man who goes forth endangering his life and wealth and does not return with anything.’ (Bukhari)

These days are in fact so special that Allah swears an oath by them in the Qur’an!

Scholars explain that one of the apparent reasons for this period being so distinguished is that it combines so many great acts of worship – prayer, fasting, charity and the obligatory pilgrimage, hajj. As Ibn Hajar says, “in no other periods do these great deeds combine.”

The Salaf (righteous predecessors) would exert more effort in worship during the first ten days. When they would begin, Ibn Jubayr would exert extra efforts in worship and good deeds to the point that he would almost not be able to bear it and say: "Do not turn off your lights during the nights of the first ten days (of Dhu’l-Hijjah)." (Al-Lata’if)

Ibn Rajab described how Allah gave special times of year and seasons to worship Him, and within them, “(special) grants” which are attained by those Allah favours with His mercy. We are meant to take advantage of these times and seize these opportunities where we can reap immense rewards. He encouraged us, “fortunate is he who makes the most of these seasons; months, days and hours - and grows closer to his Lord by acts of obedience - in the hope of achieving one of those grants!”

Ramadhan is widely believed to be the best time of the year to give sadaqah.

However, scholars have commented that the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are in fact greater in virtue and reward than all the other days of the year, including the days of Ramadhan – even its last ten!

"These ten days are better than all the other days of the year, with no exceptions, not even the last ten days of Ramadan.” (Ibn Kathir)

"The first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are better than the last 10 days of Ramadan”. (Ibn al-Qayyim)

Automated giving doesn’t just take the weight off your mind for that one extra thing you’d otherwise be worrying about, when you have so much to do. It also offers a discreet way of giving sadaqah without the awkward pressure of public fundraising appeals. As described in the hadith Bukhari about the seven who Allah will shade on the Day of Judgment, our hope is to give like that man “…who gives in charity and hides it, such that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives in charity.” [Bukhari] Automated giving is a means to this end, and we hope you feel its benefits.

These are the first ten days of the Hijri month of Dhul Hijjah. Each year the date changes according to the sighting of the moon. In 2024, The 1st Dhul Hijjah is expected to be Friday 7th June, subject to moon sighting. Jumuah is expected to be the 1st and 8th Dhul Hijjah. Mondays and Thursdays are expected to be the 4th and 7th of Dhul Hijjah.

The Day of Arafah is the 9th of Dhul Hijjah and therefore expected to be on the 15th June. The Day of Eid, Yawm an-Nahr, is the final day of the 10 days, and expected to be on 16th June 2024.

The dates may vary depending on whether you follow local sighting or global sighting.

Out of the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah, the day of Arafah is particularly virtuous. It is the peak of the hajj pilgrimage, on which pilgrims gather on the plains of Arafah, in Makkah, spending the day seeking Allah’s forgiveness and freedom from the Fire. The Prophet (saw) explained that there is no day on which Allah frees more of His slaves from the hellfire than this day.

"There is no better day in the Sight of Allah than the Day of ‘Arafah. Allah The Almighty descends [on that day] to the lowest heaven, and boasts about the people of the earth to the dwellers of heaven, saying: ‘Just look at My slaves! They have come to Me with dishevelled hair and covered in dust, standing in the forenoon. They have come from every distant pass. They seek My Mercy although they have not seen My punishment.’ There is no day when Allah sets free more slaves from Hell than the Day of ‘Arafah.” [Ibn Khuzaymah]

Although most of us will not physically be standing on the plains of Arafah, we are all encouraged to spend the day increasing in good deeds and seeking God’s forgiveness, wherever we may be in the world.

"Being free from Hell is for all people, those who stood in 'Arafah and those who did not. On the day of Arafah, Allah frees even those who are not physically in Arafah. Therefore, the next day is Eid for all.” (Ibn Rajab)

Those who are not performing hajj are encouraged to fast this day, and are promised the reward of their sins being expiated from the previous and the coming year.

One of the best ways to make up for one’s shortcomings during fasts are to give sadaqah.

The Sahabi, Anas (ra), said, “The day of ‘Arafah equals 10 000 days in virtue.” It therefore makes perfect sense that we would want to ensure that we give more sadaqah on this day.

With HHUGS automated giving service you can choose to give more on the day of Arafah, than the other 10 days of the Dhul Hijjah.

The Prophet (saw) told us that the best day of the week is Friday. Ka'b (ra) narrated that the Prophet (saw) said, “Giving Sadaqah on Friday is better than giving it on any other day of the week”.

Ibn al-Qayyim also explains about the virtue of giving on this day: “Charity on Fridays has an advantage and greater reward over the same on all other days. Compared to it on different days of the week, Friday's charity is such as charity during the month of Ramadhan in relation to charity during other months. I saw the Sheikh of Islam Ibn Taymiyyah carrying bread and other goods he had found in his house to give secretly as charity, and I heard him say: "If Allah has commanded us to give charity before praying to the Messenger of Allah (saw) then giving charity before praying to him is the most important and more deserving of virtues.”

Imam ash-Shafi’i also advised: "It is recommended to do a lot of charity and good on Friday days and nights.”

The Prophet (saw) told us that, “Deeds are presented (to Allah) on Monday and Thursday. So, I like my deeds to be presented while I am fasting.”

In another narration, he explained that the “Gates of Paradise are opened on Mondays and Thursdays” and that "Deeds are presented to Allah on every Monday and Thursday, and Allah will forgive every slave who does not associate anything with Allah in worship, except for a person who is at odds with his brother. He shall say: 'Leave these two until they are reconciled.’" [at-Tirmidhi]

Many of us will be striving to fast all 10 days of Dhul Hijjah, so what better time for our deeds to be presented to Allah, on a Monday and Thursday, when the gates of Paradise are opened, and whilst we are fasting. Who wouldn’t want their sadaqah to be raised and presented to Allah at this precious time?

With our automated giving service, you can choose to give more on particular days of the week, such as Mondays, Thursdays or Fridays.