Dhul Hijjah: The Twelfth Islamic Month
Suggest editDhul Hijjah (Arabic: ذو الحجة, "the one of the pilgrimage") is the twelfth and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar, one of the four sacred months, and the month containing the most blessed days of the entire year. It is during Dhul Hijjah that the Hajj pilgrimage takes place, culminating on the 10th with Eid al-Adha — the Festival of Sacrifice. The first ten days of this month are described by the Prophet ﷺ as the greatest days of the year.
The First Ten Days: The Greatest Days of the Year
The Prophet ﷺ said: "There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days" (Bukhari). When asked if even jihad in the path of Allah is not better, he replied: "Not even jihad in the path of Allah, except for the man who goes out with his life and wealth and returns with nothing." This hadith establishes the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah as opportunities of unparalleled spiritual magnitude. Allah Himself swears by these days in the Quran: "By the dawn, and the ten nights" (89:1-2) — interpreted by Ibn Abbas and the majority of exegetes as the first ten nights of Dhul Hijjah.
During these ten days, Muslims are encouraged to increase in:
- Dhikr: Specifically the Takbir (Allahu Akbar), Tahlil (La ilaha illa Allah), Tahmid (Alhamdulillah), and Tasbih (Subhan Allah) — said aloud in masjids and homes, as the Companions did.
- Fasting: The Prophet ﷺ reportedly fasted the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah (Abu Dawud). Fasting specifically on the Day of Arafah (9th Dhul Hijjah) expiates the sins of the previous and coming year.
- General good deeds: Prayer, Quran recitation, charity, and righteous conduct.
The Day of Arafah
The 9th of Dhul Hijjah — the Day of Arafah — is considered the greatest day of the Islamic year. Pilgrims stand on the plain of Arafah in supplication, and the Prophet ﷺ said: "Hajj is Arafat" (Tirmidhi). For those not performing Hajj, fasting on this day is among the most meritorious of voluntary acts. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Fasting the Day of Arafah — I hope Allah will expiate the sins of the year before it and the year after it" (Muslim). This single fast yields expiation for two years of minor sins.
Eid al-Adha and the Sacrifice
The 10th of Dhul Hijjah is Eid al-Adha — the Greater Festival — commemorating the willingness of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah's command, before Allah ransomed the son with a great sacrifice. The obligatory Udhiyah (sacrifice) is performed by those who can afford it — one sheep or goat per household, or one-seventh of a camel or cow per household — with the meat distributed among family, neighbors, and the poor. The Prophet ﷺ said: "There is nothing dearer to Allah on the Day of Sacrifice than the flowing of blood [in sacrifice]" (Tirmidhi). After the Eid prayer and the sermon, the three days of Tashreeq (11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul Hijjah) follow, during which the Takbir is recited and pilgrims complete their Hajj rites at Mina.
The Hajj: Peak of the Month
The Hajj pilgrimage, the fifth pillar of Islam, takes place entirely within the first thirteen days of Dhul Hijjah. Pilgrims from every corner of the earth converge upon Mecca, don the white Ihram garments, and perform the rites established by Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and perfected by the Prophet ﷺ. The Hajj represents the pinnacle of Islamic worship — the complete surrender of the self, wealth, comfort, and individual identity in submission to Allah. The gathering on Arafah is described as a rehearsal for the Day of Judgment: millions standing together, equal before their Creator, seeking His forgiveness and mercy. Dhul Hijjah thus ends the Islamic year on its highest spiritual note — a reminder that every year of a Muslim's life should be oriented toward Allah and should culminate in increased nearness to Him.