بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
Allah, Almighty says:
وَأَذِّن فِى ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًۭا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍۢ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍۢ (٢٧)
“And proclaim the Pilgrimage among men: they will come to thee on foot and (mounted) on every kind of camel, lean on account of journeys through deep and distant mountain highways;”
S. Al-Hajj, 22:27
There is something deeply moving about this moment.
The command was given to Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) at a time when there were no means to reach the world - no networks, no systems, - he was told to call. And he responded with his call.
He was told to call—and he did.
With nothing but his voice, and complete trust that Allah would carry it beyond what he could reach.
Allah promised (and Allah never breaks his promise) that the people would come - from every distant place, across lands and generations yet to exist. And this is what happens to this day, every year at this precious time and for this designated spot.
My spine runs with chills every year at this time, as I imagine our father, Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), standing on some mountain top, proclaiming as firm and loud as he could with what only he had – his own voice and his own physical limits, with the faith and hope in Allah that the call would indeed reach the far corners of the earth for the people to respond with their humble attendance and offering worship to the One Lord of the heavens and the earth.
Perhaps we are not standing on that mountain - but in these days, we are still being called.
Today, as the days of Dhul-Hijjah approach, that call is still being answered.
Not just by those traveling for Hajj, but by every believer who turns their heart toward Allah in these blessed days.
These are not ordinary days.
They are the most beloved days to Allah for righteous deeds - a time to return, to renew, and to respond to a call that began long before us.
Why These Days Matter
Our beloved Prophet Mohammed ﷺ later emphasized the weight of these days:
“There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days…”
– Sahih Al-Bukhari.
This hadith goes on even further, in several renditions, to expand that only the expense paid by those who lose their money and their lives in the cause of Jihad is considered any more righteous than the worship performed in these ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
A Second Chance After Ramadan
Just as we have already learned that the last ten nights of Ramadan are the best nights of the year, as rewards for good deeds are multiplied immensely during those nights, the same applies to these first ten days of Dhul-Hijja, in that the rewards for worship and good deeds during these days exceeds that of any other time of the year.
Perhaps for whatever reason, you did not meet your goal or your intention for the last ten nights of Ramadan – this blessed time serves as a second chance to seek reward for all your good deeds.
How to Respond to the Call
For those who are able – financially, physically, and logistically (concerning obstacles such as government permissions and official acceptance of Hajj application) – to attend the hajj in person.
Realistically, not all Muslims are able every year to attend the haj. And there is no harm in that – in fact, it is a blessing, perhaps in disguise. But even for those who are not in attendance to the haj, there are still many ways to reap the vast blessings and benefits of the season.
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Prayer (on time) – keep up the momentum of your prayers, and increase in the voluntary prayers that perhaps you have been lacking in. Concentrate on getting your prayers on time, and with mindful presence.
- Dhikr (especially):
Takbeer ➤ Tahmeed ➤ Tahleel
AND…just as it was important to learn, memorize and implement into practice once particular du’a in the last ten nights of Ramadan, there is one powerful du’a recommended to repeat often during these days– whether we are present for the haj or not, and it is:
There is one powerful du’a recommended to repeat often during these days
لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير
Laa ilaha illa Allahu wah-dahu, laa sharika lahu, lahul-mulk wa lahul-hamd, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’un qadir.
There is no god but Allah alone, without any partner. To Him belongs all dominion and all praise, and He has power over all things.
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Fasting (especially Day of Arafah) - this goes with it conditions. For those who are present at Arafah on the Day of Arafah, that in itself is sufficient, and they ARE NOT to fast. However, for those who are not so fortunate to be present for Arafah on the Day of Arafah, then for them, wherever they may be on this earth, fasting is an excellent form of worship specifically for this day.
The Day of Arafah alone holds great significance for Islam. It is the day in which the religion of Islam was deemed completed – as a direct message from Allah. We have the verse in the Quran:
ٱلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمَ دِينًۭا ۚ
This day I have completed your religion for you, perfected my favour upon you, and have chosen Islam has your religion. – S. Al-Ma’idah, 5:3
According to all reports, this verse was revealed and our Prophet Mohammed ﷺ
first recited it as the revelation was delivered to him, as he was delivering the Khutbah al-Wadaa’ (the final sermon), as he was performing the pilgrimage in that year, and the sermon was delivered at Arafah on the Day of Arafah.
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Qur’an (even small portions)
Recite daily – even if only 2-3 verses, or 2-3 pages, whatever is your ability and ease of capacity. Anything that you do in addition to your normal daily practice constitutes a concentrated effort and change – hence hopeful of more reward as promised.
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Charity
Donate in charity – even if only a few coins to someone you come across who is in need. Or at the very least – pick up some obstacles from the path that others are taking, to reduce friction and obstacles for others who may pass along the same way. Or smile to someone as you are out and about. Make a positive difference in someones life – even if for only a fleeting moment, and for only one person.
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Du’a
Make sincere du’a, supplicating in humble measure to your Creator and Sustainer – seeking not only forgiveness for yourself and others, but also seeking of the vast abundances and blessings which flow without measure.
A Gentle Daily Plan
Lets see what a possible day in the life of a worshipper can be for the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah:
Morning
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Recite the morning adhkar before dawn, before proceeding for the fajr prayer.
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Ensure that you have awoken before the fajr time, so that you can and do pray the 2 rakat of “before fajr” to reap the fast benefits, as the Prophet (SAAW) said, “the two rakat of fajr are worth the world and all that is within it”.
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Set your intention for the day – that all you do, even if the most mundane and repetitive activities, you do so for the sake of Allah and seek His pleasure and His acceptance. Whatever you set out to do, regardless if it is a genuine form of worship or simple daily activities and even work – still setting the intention to achieve Allah’s blessings is a step in the right direction to reaping the vast benefits to be gained during this blessed time.
“Actions are according to intentions and everyone will get what was intended.” –
Day
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Do at least one act of intentional worship – pray the voluntary prayers that go along with the obligatory prayers; read regularly from the Qur’an (such as 1-2 pages after the prayer); fast for the day; connect others with the teachings of Islam; - any multitude of possibilities – truly the sky is the limit – and even then there is no real limit.
Evening
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Reflection on the day, and plan for tomorrow, and make additional supplications for direction, guidance, forgiveness, and success.
A Final Reminder
The first ten days of Dhul Hijja are a blessed time – in which rewards are multiplied in excess of our hopes, imaginations and even expectations. This is a precious season and a time deserving of concentrated effort and attention.
I pray that you will find the strength and perseverance to enable you to strive for Allah’s pleasure and acceptance during these days and always.
If you’d like a simple way to structure your days, you can download a gentle companion guide here.
If you’d like to reflect more deeply on the story behind the Hajj, the legacy of Hajar (عليها السلام), and the meaning of trusting Allah through uncertainty, you can also read:
Then He Will Not Abandon Us — The Story of Hajar and the Meaning of Tawakkul
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