Virtues of the First Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah

The Spirit of Sacrifice

We have reached the final days of our preparation week. By now, we understand that the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the best days of the year. We understand that even small deeds carry massive reward. We understand that dhikr should fill our tongues and homes. Today, we go to the very heart of why these days are so sacred – the spirit of sacrifice, embodied by Prophet Ibrahim (AS), whose legacy defines Dhul Hijjah and Eid al-Adha.

Allah says in the Qur’an: “And proclaim to the people the Hajj. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass” (Surah Al-Hajj 22: 27). The Hajj itself is a re-enactment of Ibrahim AS’s journey. The sacrifice of Eid is a commemoration of Ibrahim AS’s willingness to sacrifice his son. The stoning of the pillars recalls Ibrahim AS`s stoning Shaytan. Every ritual of these days’ points back to one man – a man who was called Khalilullah, the close friend of Allah.

What made Ibrahim AS so special? It was not wealth. It was not power. It was not miracles. It was one quality above all others: absolute submission. When Allah commanded, Ibrahim AS did not ask “Why?” He did not bargain. He did not delay. He submitted completely. That is the spirit of sacrifice we need to understand and embody – not just during Dhul Hijjah, but in our daily lives.

What Does Sacrifice Mean in Our Daily Lives?

Now we come to the critical question. We are not prophets. We are not being asked to slaughter our children. We are not being left in a desert. So what does sacrifice mean for us today?

The word udhiyah comes from the root meaning “to come near” or “to draw close.” Sacrifice is not about killing an animal. Sacrifice is about drawing closer to Allah by giving up something you love for His sake. The animal is a symbol. The true sacrifice is what is in your heart.

Allah says: “Their meat and their blood do not reach Allah, but what reaches Him is your consciousness (taqwa)” (Surah Al-Hajj 22:37). The animal is a means. The real sacrifice is your sincerity, your intention, your willingness to give up what is dear to you.

So what are you sacrificing? What are you giving up for Allah this Dhul Hijjah? Let us explore four areas where the spirit of sacrifice must live in our daily lives.

1. Sacrifice of Sins – Letting Go of What Displeases Allah

The most basic sacrifice is abandoning sins. Every time you choose not to lie, you have sacrificed the temporary benefit of dishonesty. Every time you lower your gaze, you have sacrificed a forbidden pleasure. Every time you control your anger, you have sacrificed the satisfaction of lashing out.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “A person may utter a word that displeases Allah without realising its seriousness, and it will cause him to fall into the Fire deeper than the distance between the east and west” (Bukhari). Abandoning that word – that harmful joke, that backbiting comment, that sarcastic put-down – is a sacrifice. It may feel small. But in the sight of Allah, it may be greater than sacrificing a hundred animals.

2. Sacrifice of Ego – Killing Your Pride Before It Kills You

The greatest sacrifice in our time is the sacrifice of the ego. We live in an age of self-promotion, of “look at me”, of defending our honour even when we are wrong. The ego demands to be right. The ego demands to be recognised. The ego demands revenge. Sacrifice means telling your ego: No.

Ibrahim (AS) was willing to sacrifice his son. You are being asked to sacrifice your pride. Put the knife on the neck of your arrogance, your need to win every argument, your refusal to apologise, your habit of blaming others. That is a sacrifice that will raise your rank more than any ritual.

3. Sacrifice of Bad Habits – Cutting What Holds You Back

We all have habits that hold us back from Allah. Scrolling on your phone until late at night, so you miss Fajr. Eating excessively, so your body becomes heavy and your worship lazy. Watching content that dulls your heart. Listening to music that replaces the Qur’an in your home.

These are not small things. They are idols you have set up in your life. Ibrahim AS destroyed the idols of his people. What idols do you need to destroy? What habit do you need to sacrifice for Allah? Pick one. Just one. And in these ten days, cut it. Not gradually. Decisively. That is the spirit of sacrifice.

4. Sacrifice of Comfort – Choosing Difficulty for Allah’s Sake

Finally, sacrifice means leaving comfort. Hajir RA was left in a desert with no comfort. Ibrahim AS left his home, his family, his familiar environment. Ismail AS lay down willingly to be slaughtered. None of them chose ease. They chose obedience over comfort.

For us, this might mean waking up early for Tahajjud when the bed is warm. It might mean giving charity when you want to save that money for yourself. It might mean fasting on a long, hot day when you are tired. It might mean speaking the truth even when it costs you a friendship or a job opportunity.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “The most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are most consistent, even if they are small” (Bukhari). Consistency requires sacrificing comfort. It requires doing what is hard, repeatedly, until it becomes easy.

The spirit of sacrifice is not about losing something. It is about gaining something far greater. Ibrahim AS “lost” his son in the moment of intention, but Allah returned him with honour. Hajir RA “lost” her home and comfort, but Allah gave her Zamzam and a nation. You will not lose by sacrificing for Allah. You will only gain.