The 10 days of Dhulhijjah – Good Deeds To Do In These Days

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First written 29 May 2025 | Last updated 1 June 2025 at 3:25am (Makkah Time)


Allah chose these early days of the month of DhulHijjah as the days for Hajj, the Pillar of Islam.

And for those of us who remain behind, Allah still encouraged us to maximise our good deeds in these First 10 Days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah, as related in the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w).

See Text of Hadith on This at:
– Sahih al-Bukhari 969
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:969
–  Sunan Abi Dawud 2438
https://sunnah.com/abudawud:2438


Here are some specific good deeds and other general good deeds for these 10 days:

  1. The best days to perform an increase in any out of all good deeds is during the first 10 Days of DhulHijjah as encouraged the our beloved Prophet Muhammed (s.a.w). These good deeds can be any General good deeds and ought to include the following specifically encouraged good deeds.

    Important Note:
    The Prophet Did NOT Fast ALL 9 or 10 Days of the First 10 Days of DhulHijjah:
  • The Authentic Hadith: Aishah (r.a) said, as in authentic hadith in Sahih Muslim, that she never saw the Prophet fast the ten days, or during the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
    See Hadith at:
    https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:1729
    https://sunnah.com/abudawud:2439
  • The Not-Authentic: In another report it is related that the “Prophet fasted the nine days of Dhul-Hijjah”. This is related by Abu Dawud and others with much differerences and inconsistencies in words. Some include mention of 9 days while others omit it. Sh Albani classed the 9 Days fast as Authentic. However far greater Scholars such as Abu Hatim Razi (from generation of teachers of Imam Bukhari), Abu Zurah Razi and very many other Scholars regarded it is NOT Authentic the claim of  Prophet’s 9 days of Dhul-Hijjah. Indeed, from my research and understanding this is the strongest saying, ie. it is NOT the Prophet’s Sunnah to fast ALL 9 Days out of the first 10 Days of DhulHijjah.
  • Thus, what is encouraged for first 10 Days of Dhul-Hijjah is to generally increase in performing good deeds during the 10 Days, including Recitation of Qur’an, Dhikr, Charity, maybe some extra fasts, being dutiful to Parents (بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ), being good to blood-relatives (صِلَةُ الرَّحِمِ), doing good towards other Muslims, fellow human beings, animals, the environment, and other all good deeds in general.


  1. Fast of the day of Arafah, ie. on the 9th Day of DhulHijjah for your place. It expiate two years of sins, the past and the upcoming year.
    See Hadith at:
    https://sunnah.com/muslim:1162b
    https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:1730
    Note:
    The exceptionally special great status of (1) Dua, (2) specific Dhikr or (3] salvation from Hellfire on the Day of Arafah are part of specific greatness bestowed by Allah for the people performing Hajj present at Arafah, and that status is not for the ones who remain behind at home (according to the strongest saying of Scholars).
    https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:3585
    https://sunnah.com/muslim:1348


  1. Perform Eid Prayer, AND …
    Everyone To Attend Eid Prayer Gathering:-
    https://sunnah.com/bukhari:971
    https://sunnah.com/bukhari:980
    https://sunnah.com/bukhari:981    
    Prayer Then Khutbah:-
    https://sunnah.com/nasai:1569
    Khutbah attendance:-
    https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:1290
    Eat before or after Eid Prayer:-
    https://sunnah.com/bukhari:953
    Change paths on way up & back:-
    https://sunnah.com/bukhari:986
    Takbir in Eid Prayer (See before 987)
    & Celebrations with spears:-
    https://sunnah.com/bukhari:987
    No Sunnah Prayers for It:-
    https://sunnah.com/bukhari:989
    Prohibited to Fast Eid Day:-
    https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5571
    If Friday & Eid On Same Day:-
    https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5572


  1. Only After It Sacrifice on Eid Day or Tashriq Days (ie. 11th to 13th of DhulHijjah) of a good healthy 6-month or older sheep (per individual or family), or a 2-year or older cow or 5-year or older camel (shared by upto seven families or individuals).
    See Hadith at:
    https://sunnah.com/bukhari:1712
    https://sunnah.com/nasai:4389
    https://sunnah.com/abudawud:2808
    Note:
    Person offering the sacrifice is to remain in a more devout state like the person at Hajj in Ihram. Thus, such a person who is offering a sacrifice while not at Hajj is prohibited by the Prophet Muhammed (s a.w) to not trim nails or hair from the 1st of the Month till the Sacrifice of the Eid Day.
    See Hadith at:
    If Sacrificing, Don’t Trim Hair or Nails Till Do Sacrifice:
    https://sunnah.com/muslim:1977g
    https://sunnah.com/muslim:1977c

    More Islamic Guidelines About Eid Sacrifice (Udhiyah)
    Do Sacrifice Only After Eid Prayer:
    https://sunnah.com/bukhari:951
    https://sunnah.com/bukhari:954
    https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5546
    https://sunnah.com/bukhari:985
    Husband on Behalf of Whole Family:
    https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5548
    https://sunnah.com/muslim:1967
    Abu Musa Told His Daughters (perhaps when he was old) to Do Sacrifice (See Chapter Heading of Chapter 10 Before Hadith 5559 at the link below):
    https://sunnah.com/bukhari/73
    Way to Sacrifice Sheep:
    https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5503
    https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5565
    Prophet Said Bismillah & Takbir:
    https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5565
    https://sunnah.com/muslim:1967
    Cursed Whoever Sacrifices to Other Than Allah:
    https://sunnah.com/muslim:1978a
    No Ihram Restrictions If Sent Gift Sacrifice Away To Makkah:
    https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5566
    Can Eat & Give to Others
    https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5569
    Conditions About Sacrificial Animals:
    https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:3144
    Condition of Age of Sacrificial Animal:
    https://sunnah.com/muslim:1963


  1. Takbir at General & Specific Times:
    Takbir is to thank and praise Allah for the guidance that He has given us, including the guidance to sacrifice and more. Allah encouraged us to do Dhikr, including Takbir, on these days in Surah Hajj Verses 28 and 37 and in Surah Baqarah Verse 203. The Companions of the Messenger of Allah (ص) – Ibn Umar, Abu Hurairah and others – implemented these verses, as related in two Chapter headings (Mu’allaq) and their Hadith by Imam Bukhari in Sahih Bukhari {https://app.turath.io/book/1681?page=1560} & {see before hadith 969 at https://sunnah.com/bukhari:969}, by doing Takbir from the 1st of DhulHijjah till the sunset on the 13th. Scholars explained this Takbir referred to above in the Verses and action of Companions in various ways, including the following two times & manners of doing Takbir:

    Takbir by Ibn Umar & Abu Hurairah:
    Takbir Mutlaq: – See Before Chapter Heading before Bukhari Hadith 969
    Takbir Muqayyad: See Chapter Heading Before 970.

    See Chapter Heading of Chapter 11 before Hadith 969 and Chapter 12 before Hadith 970 at the link: https://sunnah.com/bukhari/13
  • Takbir Generally at All Times (Takbir Mutlaq): Good to do Takbir throughout the first Ten Days of DhulHijjah, till sunset on the 13th, and especially for men and women to joyfully do Takbir on the way to Eid Prayer!
  • Takbir At Specific Times (Takbir Muqayyad): Good to do Takbir after each Fard Prayer from Fajr Prayer of 9th Dhul-Hijjah (ie. Arafah Day) till the Asr Prayer of the 13th of DhulHijjah when the Hajj, with the Days of Tashriq, ends.
  • One of the Words of This Takbir:

الله أكبر الله أكبر الله أكبر، لا إله إلا الله والله أكبر، الله أكبر ولله الحمد.