The Virtue of Reading the Qur'an and Fasting in the First Ten Days of Dhū al-Ḥijjah (UK British Muslim Guide)

The first ten days of Dhū al-Ḥijjah are, by the explicit statement of the Prophet ﷺ, the days in which righteous deeds are most beloved to Allah. "There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days" (Bukhārī). For British Muslim families not on Hajj, these days offer a structured spiritual programme that produces extraordinary reward in just over a week. This piece walks through what to do.

Why these ten days?

Allah swears by them in the Qur'an: "By the dawn, and the ten nights" (al-Fajr 89:1-2). The classical commentators (Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī) hold the "ten nights" refer to the first ten nights of Dhū al-Ḥijjah.

The days contain:

• The Hajj rituals at their peak (8th, 9th, 10th)
• The Day of ʿArafah (9th) — the highest-acceptance day for du'ā in the calendar
• Eid al-Aḍḥā (10th) — one of the two annual ʿīds
• The act of qurbānī (sacrifice)

What to do across the ten days

1. Fast as many days as you can (1-9)

The Prophet ﷺ used to fast the first nine days of Dhū al-Ḥijjah (ʿĀʾishah's testimony preserved in some narrations; see Aḥmad). British Muslims with the health and discipline can fast all nine. Most aim for at least the day of ʿArafah (9th).

The day of ʿArafah: for non-pilgrims, fasting this day expiates the sins of the previous and coming year (Muslim). The single highest-yield voluntary fast in the calendar.

2. Increase Qur'an recitation

Set a target — one juz' per day for nine days = 9 juz' completed. Or one page after each obligatory salah. The principle is that recitation in these ten days is multiplied beyond ordinary days.

3. Increase dhikr

The Prophet ﷺ instructed: "There are no days greater in the sight of Allah… so increase therein the takbīr (Allāhu akbar), the tahlīl (lā ilāha illā Allāh), and the taḥmīd (al-ḥamdu li-llāh)" (Aḥmad).

Walking to the corner shop in Bradford, sitting on the Tube in London, doing the school run in Birmingham — these are dhikr opportunities throughout the ten days.

4. Give ṣadaqah daily

Even small daily ṣadaqah multiplies in these days. Set up a daily standing order to a UK Muslim charity (Islamic Relief, Penny Appeal, Muslim Hands, Human Appeal) for the ten days. £1 a day for ten days outranks £100 in a single transaction.

5. Pray taḥajjud

Set the alarm for 30 minutes before Fajr. Even two rakʿah of night prayer in these ten days carries weight. The Prophet ﷺ said: "The most beloved prayer to Allah is the prayer of Dāwūd" — alternate-day fasting, with night prayer between.

6. Reconcile broken relationships

Allah forgives readily in these days, but the Prophet ﷺ said: "The doors of Paradise are opened on Mondays and Thursdays, and forgiveness is granted to every Muslim who does not associate anything with Allah, except a man with a grudge against his brother" (Muslim).

Use the ten days to reach out to estranged family, settle disputes, return owed money or apologies. The forgiveness of Allah in this season opens through the door of forgiving others.

7. Perform the qurbānī (sacrifice) on the 10th

If you have the means, the qurbānī is sunnah mu'akkadah for British Muslims (the Hanafi school holds it as wājib for the financially able). UK Muslim charities arrange overseas qurbānī from £75-£250. Choose a destination where the meat reaches a community in need (Yemen, Gaza, Sudan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Syria).

8. Attend Eid prayer on the 10th

Take the children. Wear your best clothing. Embrace neighbours and family. The Eid prayer is sunnah mu'akkadah and one of the most communal moments of the British Muslim year.

The structure for a British Muslim family

Days 1-7: fasting (when health allows), increased Qur'an, daily dhikr, daily ṣadaqah, reconciliation work.
Day 8 (Yawm al-Tarwiyah): final preparation, intention for ʿArafah fast.
Day 9 (ʿArafah): fast, listen to ʿArafah khutbah online (Saudi state TV broadcasts), make extensive du'ā at the time of ʿAṣr through Maghrib.
Day 10 (Eid al-Aḍḥā): Eid prayer, qurbānī arranged, family gathering.
Days 11-13 (Tashrīq): no fasting (forbidden); continued takbīr after every obligatory salah.

The ʿArafah du'ā

The Prophet ﷺ said: "The best du'ā is the du'ā of the day of ʿArafah, and the best thing I and the prophets before me have said is: Lā ilāha illā Allāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-ḥamdu, wa huwa ʿalā kulli shay'in qadīr" (Tirmidhī).

Whether on Hajj or sitting in Manchester, Coventry, or Glasgow — make this du'ā extensively on the 9th.

Common British Muslim mistakes

1. Treating the ten days like ordinary days — the multiplied-reward window is missed.
2. Fasting only the 9th — the other 8 days carry their own reward.
3. Rushing the qurbānī arrangement — book it before the days arrive.
4. Skipping the Eid prayer because of work or other commitments — make every effort to attend.
5. Forgetting the takbīr in the days of Tashrīq (11-13).

Pair with related pieces

• The Day of ʿArafah
• The Favour of Muharram
• The Power of Voluntary Fasting

Closing

The first ten days of Dhū al-Ḥijjah are the most spiritually concentrated period in the year. Plan for them. Book a free Eaalim trial to set up a Qur'an recitation programme that runs across the ten days.