Making the Most of Dhul-Hijjah

The Prophet ﷺ said: “There are no days on which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days,” (Bukhari). Anyone keen on being beloved to Allah and doing what is beloved to Him would naturally ask, "Which ten days??" They are the first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah.

Yet, in comparison to Ramadan, fewer people take heed. During Ramadan, the obligatory fast, the taraweeh prayers, searching for Laylat al-Qadr, and the often-times communal nature of the month, all help to create a certain energy that encourages all of us to take part, even the most reluctant.

But Dhul-Hijjah catches many of us by surprise. The preparation is less, significantly so. Everyone does something different. Still, it is another opportunity from a Merciful Lord to turn back to Him, to get excited about worshipping Him, and to exert effort to be close to Him. So how can we take advantage of these days, even if we have not prepared, even if we feel we are late?

1) Just start:

The Prophet ﷺ told us doing good deeds doing these blessed days are the most beloved to Allah (Bukhari). These can be any righteous deeds. Start every day with the intention that you will increase for His sake. Pray your prayers on time. Attach voluntary prayers to the obligatory ones, if you do not already do so. Replace the radio and Instagram scrolling with Qur'an recitation, and Netflix with a Dhul-Hijjah series. Guide others to do good. Start a 'good deed a day' in your whatsapp groups with family and friends.

2) Remember Him

Remembrance of Allah is often underrated, but the simplest and most beloved thing you can do is remember Him. The Prophet ﷺ said, “There is no day more honorable in Allah ‘s sight and no acts more beloved therein to Allah than those in these ten days. So say tahlil (‘There is no deity worthy of worship but Allah: La ilaha illAllah‘), takbir (‘Allah is the greatest: Allahu akbar‘) and tahmid (All praise is due to Allah: alhumdulillah‘) a lot.” (Ahmad)

The Prophet ﷺ also said, “The best thing that I or the Prophets before me have said is ‘There is no god but Allah, alone, without any partner’ [La ilaha illa Allah, wahdahu la sharika lah].” (Muwatta Malik). You can do this while you cook, walk, drive, change diapers - almost anywhere! And what happens when you remember Allah?"... I am with [my servant] when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in his heart, I remember him to Myself, and if he remembers me in an assembly, I mention him in an assembly better than his…” (Bukhari and Muslim)

3) Reflect on your post-Ramadan state

Many of us may have had post-Ramadan resolutions. Perhaps we vowed to reflect more on the Qur'an, or to start praying the witr prayer. Now is the time to reflect. Have you been keeping up with your resolutions? If not, what is one thing you can do today to pick up where you left off?

4) Make it a point to increase the quality and quantity of prayers 

The Prophet ﷺ said, “When anyone of you is engaged in the Prayer, he is holding an intimate conversation with his Lord.” (Muslim) What extra prayers can you add during these days? Are they the dhuha (post-sunrise) prayers? Or perhaps even tahajjud? Even more importantly is being devoted in our prayer. This is something that constantly needs reminding. Make it a point to begin your prayer mindfully, reminding yourself that you are standing before and speaking to Allah.

5) Fast

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever fasts a day in the way of Allah, Allah will move his face away from the Hellfire by a distance of seventy years.” (Bukhari and Muslim) This applies any time of the year, so imagine when you fast even one day from the days that good deeds are even more beloved to Allah? Furthermore, the Prophet ﷺ was asked about fasting the day of Arafah, and he said, “It will expiate the sins of the previous and upcoming years,” (Muslim). If you can fast on the Day of Arafah, then do that, and if you can fast even more than that, then look forward to the immense blessings of fasting those extra days. And if you are exempt from fasting, remember that your intention counts!

6) Be charitable

Charity in Islam is a vast concept. It includes, but is not limited to, giving from our wealth. Many people are struggling these days. Help at least one person during these blessed days, and more if you can. Be forgiving towards people, and spread joy. All these are counted as charity. The Prophet ﷺ said, “The son of Adam has three hundred and sixty joints, and charity is due upon each one of them every day. A kind word that a man speaks is charity. A man helping his brother with something is charity. Giving someone a drink of water is charity. Removing harmful things from the road is charity.” (Tabarani)

7) Seek forgiveness

The essence of repentance is going back to Allah and making amends for our misdeeds. But there can be no repentance when we are in heedlessness, and no improvement without deep reflection. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever would love to be pleased with his record, let him increase seeking forgiveness on it.” (Bayhaqi)

8) Make du'a

During Ramadan, particularly during the last ten nights and when we believe it is Laylat al-Qadr, our du'as are intense. We ask Allah with humble, needy hearts. And Allah loves when we ask Him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “No Muslim sets his face towards Allah Almighty in some matter but that he will be given a response, whether it comes quickly or is stored for later.” (Ahmad) Use the opportunity to ask Him during these days, particularly on the day of Arafah and if you are fasting. The Prophet ﷺ said, “The best du`a’ is du`a’ on the day of `Arafah” (Malik).

9) Guide others to good

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever guides someone to goodness will have a reward like one who did it." (Muslim) Even if there are some things that you cannot do, you can remind others to do good. You can encourage your friends and family to give charity, to listen to beneficial lectures, and to remember Allah.

10) Worship Allah out of hope, fear, and love

Don't let your actions be mechanical. Infuse your actions with heart, working on your internal state, and seeking to connect to Allah in all you do. Recognize what a magnificent Lord you have, who gives you opportunities in every moment to come close to Him and come back to Him.

May you have a blessed Dhul-Hijjah!