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What is the significance of the first ten days of Dhū al-Ḥijjah?

The Prophet ﷺ said no days are more beloved to Allah for righteous action than these. How non-pilgrims can claim their share — with fasting, dhikr, and takbīr.

10 passages from 5 books in the library

The first ten days of Dhū al-Ḥijjah are, in al-Ghazali's words in the Iḥyāʾ, "the best days" of the year — paired with the last ten nights of Ramadan as the year's two peaks. Their summit is the day of ʿArafah: he teaches that "Hajj is ʿArafah," its chief part, and that "the best supplication is the supplication on the day of ʿArafah." While pilgrims stand at ʿArafah and Muzdalifah until after sunset, al-Ghazali warns against performing Hajj while "deluded" and neglecting one's parents, and counts ʿArafah among the noblest times for supplication.

Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.

Where the answer comes from

The classical approach.

These passages are drawn from 5 books by Imam al-Ghazali and Ibn Battuta — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.

Read them closely. If a passage doesn't sit right, open the full book in the library and listen to the chapter around it. Context in the classical tradition is everything.

Cover of Book 7: The Mysteries of Pilgrimage
Book 7: The Mysteries of Pilgrimage
Imam al-Ghazali · Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din

11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali → · Provenance →

  1. "The order is as follows: first, the fulfillment of Islamic Hajj, then making up for a corrupted Hajj, then a vow, deputation, and finally voluntary Hajj. This sequence is requisite, even if intended otherwise. The conditions for the obligation of Hajj include reaching maturity, Islam, sanity, freedom, and ability. Anyone obligated to perform Hajj must also perform 'Umrah. If someone enters Mecca for visitation or trade and is not a Meccan, they are required to assume ihram according to one opinion and conclude it with 'Umrah or Hajj."

  2. "There is no blood obligation for ifrad unless voluntarily offered. The second is qiran, which involves combining Hajj and Umrah by saying "Labbayk for Hajj and Umrah together," becoming a muhrim for both. The Hajj acts suffice, and Umrah is incorporated into Hajj. If one performs tawaf and sa'i before standing at Arafat, the sa'i counts for both rites, but the tawaf does not count as a compulsory duty because obligatory tawaf in Hajj must occur after standing."

  3. "and Hajj must be performed on their behalf using their estate, whether they made a will or not. If someone was able in a certain year but did not join the people for Hajj and lost their wealth before the people undertook Hajj, and then died, they meet Allah without the obligation of Hajj upon them. Those who die without performing Hajj despite having the means face severe consequences before Allah."

  4. "These conditions also apply to 'Umrah, except for the time. For a free adult, voluntary Hajj occurs after fulfilling the obligation of Islamic Hajj. The order is as follows: first, the fulfillment of Islamic Hajj, then making up for a corrupted Hajj, then a vow, deputation, and finally voluntary Hajj. This sequence is requisite, even if intended otherwise."

Cover of The Beginning of Guidance
The Beginning of Guidance
Imam al-Ghazali · The Beginning of Guidance

11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali → · Provenance →

  1. "celestial stars, dwelling in the highest stations. The virtuous days bearing hadith testimony of their nobility, merit, and the magnitude of reward in fasting them are, the day of Arafah, for those not performing Hajj, Ashura, the first ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah, the first ten days of Muharram, Rajab, and Shaban. Fasting the sacred months holds merit, which are Dhu al-Qidah, Dhu al-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab, one separate and three consecutive. In the year, beneficial times include the beginnings, middles, and ends of months, along with the white days, the 13th, 14th, and 15th. In the week, Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, offer"

Cover of Volume Two: From India to the Lands of the West
Volume Two: From India to the Lands of the West
Ibn Battuta · Rihla — The Travels of Ibn Battuta

14th century · Tangier, Morocco
The Riḥlah — a 30-year, 75,000-mile journey across three continents, and the most important travel account of the pre-modern world.
More on Ibn Battuta → · Provenance →

  1. "to the adherents among the poor. In Granada, there are numerous poor Persians who settled there due to its resemblance to their homeland, among them, Hajj Abu Abdullah Samarkandi, Hajj Ahmad Tabrizi, Hajj Ibrahim Kanawi, Hajj Hussain Khorasani, and the two Hajjas Ali and Rashid al-Hindia, among others. Then I traveled from Granada to Al-Hama, then to Velez, then to Malaga, and then to the fortress of Daquan, a beautiful fort abundant with water, trees, and fruits. From there I journeyed to Ronda, and then to the village of Banu Riyah. Its sheikh, Abu al-Hassan Ali Suleiman al-Riyahi, one of the noble and distinguished"

Cover of Book 32: Patience and Gratitude
Book 32: Patience and Gratitude
Imam al-Ghazali · Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din

11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali → · Provenance →

  1. "and he responded, "Patience. The hadith about Hajj states, "Hajj is Arafah," understood to mean its chief part is 'Arafah. He also said, "The best deeds are those imposed upon the soul. It is said that Allah, the Exalted, revealed to David: "Adorn yourself with My attributes, and among My attributes is that I am Patient.""

Cover of Al-Ghunya li-Ṭālibī Ṭarīq al-Ḥaqq — Volume One
Al-Ghunya li-Ṭālibī Ṭarīq al-Ḥaqq — Volume One
Shaykh Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani · Timeless Classics
  1. "there performing the same actions chapter the pilgrimage is only invalidated by intercourse or ejaculation outside of intercourse the pillars of hajj are four ihram standing at arafat the visitation tawaf and sahih according to the sheikh may allah have mercy on him there are two pillars standing at arafat and circumambulating the house the correct view is the first if one of these pillars is omitted the hajj is incomplete and he must perform it either in the same year or the following year entering iran and it cannot be compensated with a sacrifice in any case the obligations of hajj are five staying overnight in muzdalifah until after midnight"

  2. "their heart and proclaim the tawbiyah for umrah, if performing tamattu, which is preferred, or for hajj alone, or for both hajj and umrah together. It is required to say, O Allah, I intend umrah or hajj or both, so make it easy for me and accept it from me, and release me where you have detained me, and then proclaim the tawbiyah. The tawbiyah is as follows. Here I am, O Allah. Here I am. There is no partner for You. Here I am. Verily, all praise, grace, and sovereignty belong to You. There is no partner for You. One should raise their voice with this, saying it after entering ihram, after the five daily prayers, at the onset of night"

  3. "as bathing from impurity, eating, drinking, relieving oneself, and in cases of fear for one's safety from temptation or severe illness. When the conditions for hajj are met, it becomes obligatory to perform hajj and umrah immediately. These conditions include being a free, sane, adult Muslim who has the means for the journey, a safe path free from enemies, the ability to travel, sufficient time to perform hajj, and physical health to endure the journey. The means for the journey include having provisions and a mount after securing the needs of one's family until returning, providing them with shelter, and settling any debts. One"

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