It is important for us to know why has Allah attested such great virtues to these blessed days.

The learned scholars explain that the virtue of these ten days is based on many things:

Allah ﷻ Swears by it in the Holy Quran

Allah ﷻ takes an oath upon things in order to showcase their importance and significance. In the Quran, Allah ﷻ has sworn upon these blessed ten days of Dhul-Hijjah in Surah Al-Fajr:

وَٱلْفَجْرِ

By the dawn

وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ

and the ten nights (first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah), [al-Fajr 89: 1-2]

This oath authenticates the excellence of these nights in the sight of Allah ﷻ; and the great value He attaches to these days.

Dhul-Hijjah is a Month of Sacredness and Piety

Allah ﷻ has deemed four months, out of the twelve months in the Islamic Calendar, to be sacred months. These include Rajab and the three consecutive months of Dhul-Qa`dah, Dhul-Hijjah, and Muharram. Regarding the sacredness of these months, Allah ﷻ states in the Holy Quran:

إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ۚ

The number of months ordained by Allah is twelve in the Book of Allah since the day He created the heavens and the earth. Of these, four are sacred; that is the established principle of Deen. [al-Tawba 9: 36)

Best Days to Perform Righteous Deeds

Righteous deeds that are carried out in these ten days are magnified in their blessings. Allah ﷻ is greatly pleased with His servants who engage in Ibadah and righteous acts in this particular period of time and promises exalted rewards, mercy, and forgiveness.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:

There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these 10 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]

A combination of the Prime Acts of Worship

A distinguishing factor of Dhul-Hijjah, amongst the other Islamic months, is essentially the combination of the primary pillars of Islam – all in one month. During the month of Dhul-Hijjah, Hajj takes place where Muslims gather from across the globe to worship Allah ﷻ.

Moreover, Muslims also engage in the other pillars of Islam including Salah (prayer), Sadaqah (charity) and Siyam (fasting) during the month. Hence, it is an auspicious month where all these great deeds of worship come together with the sole purpose of pleasing Allah ﷻ.

Allah ﷻ Perfected the Religion of Islam on the Day of Arafah

It was on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, that Allah ﷻ sent down the last of the revelations, completing the religion of Islam. It is also known as the day of Arafat, on which Allah ﷻ fulfilled His favour upon His people. As stated in Surah Ma`ida:

ٱلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمَ دِينًا ۚ

This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion. [al-Ma`ida 5: 3]