Virtues of the First Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah

The Power of Good Deeds in These Days

Yesterday, we established that the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the most beloved days for righteous deeds in the entire year. Today, we go deeper into why that matters for you, right where you are.

The Prophet ﷺ did not say that only huge, dramatic deeds are beloved in these days. He said righteous deeds – plural, general, all-encompassing. That means your small, ordinary, consistent acts of goodness become extraordinary in these ten days. Not because the deeds change, but because the time changes. Allah, in His infinite generosity, multiplies the reward of simple actions during these sacred days beyond what we can imagine.

Let us explore five categories of deeds that become power-packed in Dhul Hijjah: Salah, Qur’an, charity, dhikr, and kindness.

1. Salah – Your Daily Anchor Transformed

You are already praying five times a day. But in these ten days, the same rak’ahs carry weight they do not carry in any other month. The scholars explain that the multiplication of reward in these days applies to both obligatory and voluntary deeds. However, the obligatory deeds – like your five daily prayers – are already the most beloved to Allah. Add the virtue of these ten days on top, and you are looking at a reward multiplier that should make you eager to pray with renewed focus and presence of heart.

What can you do? Arrive early for congregational prayers. Lengthen your sujood. Add the sunnah prayers before and after. Pray Tahajjud in the last third of the night. Do not underestimate a single extra prostration. In these days, that prostration could outweigh months of worship done at another time.

2. Qur’an – One Letter, Infinite Reward

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever recites a single letter from the Book of Allah will receive a hasanah (reward), and each hasanah is multiplied by ten” (Tirmidhi). That is on a normal day. Now imagine that multiplication happening during the ten best days of the year. One letter of Qur’an during Dhul Hijjah could be written for you as hundreds or thousands, of good deeds. This is not exaggeration. This is the promise of Allah, Who multiplies for whom He wills.

So do not think, “I cannot finish the whole Qur’an in ten days.” Recite one page. One verse. One letter. Allah sees your effort. Aim for ten minutes of Qur’an daily. If ten minutes is too much, aim for five. If five is too much, aim for one page. A small deed done consistently in these days is better than a huge deed done once and abandoned.

3. Charity – Giving Little, Receiving Much

We often assume charity means large sums of money. But the Prophet ﷺ said: “Protect yourself from the Fire even with half a date” (Bukhari). Half a date. That is the smallest, most insignificant amount you can imagine. Yet in these ten days, half a date – or a few rands, a meal for a neighbour, a bottle of water for a worker – becomes a shield against hellfire.

That multiplication is magnified in Dhul Hijjah. Your small act of giving – a smile, a helping hand, a small donation – grows like a seed into a harvest you will see on the Day of Judgment when you need every single good deed.

4. Dhikr – The Heaviest Deed on the Scale

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Shall I not tell you of the best of your deeds, the purest in the sight of your Lord, the highest in your ranks, and better for you than spending gold and silver?” The companions said, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” He said: “Remembrance of Allah (dhikr)” (Tirmidhi, Ahmad).

Glorifying Allah with “SubhanAllah”, praising Him with “Alhamdulillah”, declaring His greatness with “Allahu Akbar” – these are light on the tongue but heavy on the scales. During Dhul Hijjah, the command to increase dhikr is explicit. Allah says: “And mention the name of Allah on known days” (22: 28). The Prophet ﷺ specifically instructed us to say the takbeer, tahleel, and tahmeed abundantly in these ten days.

You can do this while driving, cooking, working, or waiting. You do not need wudu. You do not need a quiet room. You just need a conscious heart.

5. Kindness – The Deed the World Desperately Needs

Sometimes we forget that kindness to others is one of the greatest righteous deeds. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Every act of kindness is charity” (Bukhari, Muslim). Visiting the sick, helping a neighbour, removing harm from the road, forgiving someone who wronged you – these are not small deeds. In normal times, they carry immense reward. In Dhul Hijjah, they become even more beloved to Allah than many ritual acts of worship.

Do not underestimate a smile. Do not underestimate a kind word to your spouse. Do not underestimate checking on a friend who is going through hardship. These deeds cost nothing but time and intention, yet they can tip your scales of good deeds on a day when every single atom’s weight matters.

The Danger of Underestimating Small Deeds

There is a quiet trap that many of us fall into. We think: “My deeds are too small. I am not doing enough. What I offer is insignificant compared to what others do.” That voice is from Shaytan. He wants you to abandon good deeds entirely because you feel they are not enough.

Remember the hadith of the man who gave a drink of water to a thirsty dog. That one small act – a handful of water for an animal – led to his forgiveness and entry into Jannah. Remember the woman who was forgiven for feeding a cat. Remember the woman who was granted Paradise for giving water to a dog. Their deeds were tiny. Their sincerity was immense. And Allah multiplied their small acts into eternal salvation.

Do not let Shaytan convince you that your small deed is useless. In Dhul Hijjah, a small deed done sincerely can become a mountain on your scale.