The first 10 days of the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth month of the calendar, are a special time when all kinds of good deeds are encouraged and highly rewarded.
Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” The people asked, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah?” He said, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight, giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing” (Bukhari).
Things to do during the First 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah
The Prophet also said, “No one makes a Dua without Allah giving him what he asks for, or keeping away from him a similar amount of evil, provided he does not ask for something sinful, or for breaking family ties” (Tirmidhi).
Below are the Supplications for the First 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah a number of Duas that you can make or use as a model to make your own set of supplications during these blessed days.
Read the Quran:
Reading the Qur’an is a good deed and Allah (swt) especially loves the good deeds done in these days. Read as much as you can, even if it is a few verses each day.
Increase in Nawaafil Prayers
There are a number of extra prayers you can observe during the day to increase your worship and good deeds.
Make lots of dhikr
Our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There are no days that are greater before Allah or in which good deeds are more beloved to Him, than these ten days, so recite a great deal of tahleel, takbeer and tahmeed during them.” [Ahmad]:
Tahmeed: Al-hamdu Lillah (All praises be to God)
Tahleel: Laa ilaha ill-Allah (There is no god but Allah)
Tasbeeh: Subhaan-Allah (Glory be to God)
Istighfaar
Use these blessed days to seek forgiveness for all our wrongdoings.
Fasting
It is Sunnah for the Muslim to fast on the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, because fasting is one of the best of deeds. In a hadith qudsi, Allah says: “All the deeds of the son of Adam are for him, except fasting, which is for Me and I shall reward for it.” [Bukhari, 1805]
The Prophet said: “Fasting the day of `Arafah expiates the sins of two years: the past one and the coming one.” [Muslim]
Give in charity
Give in charity in these blessed days, as much as you can.
Preserve ties of kinship
Maintaining the ties of kinship is from the best of deeds due to the saying The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): “Whoever would like his provision to be increased and his lifespan to be extended, let him maintain the ties of kinship.” [Bukhari]
And finally as Eid approaches, don’t forget to give your Qurbani.