The Days When Good Deeds Are Most Beloved to Allah

Khutbah on the Virtues of Dhul Hijjah and Arafah

Arabic verses and Hadith shown first, followed by clear English translation

Praise of Allah and Testimony

الحمد لله الحمد لله الذي خلق السماوات والارض وجعل الظلمات والنور ثم الذين كفروا بربهم يعدلون

All praise is due to Allah the One who created the heavens and the earth and made darkness and light yet those who disbelieve equate others with their Lord.

الحمد لله الذي انزل على عبده الكتاب ولم يجعل له عوجا

All praise is due to Allah who sent down upon His servant the Book and placed no crookedness therein.

الحمد لله الذي له ما في السماوات وما في الارض وله الحمد في الاخره وهو الحكيم الخبير

All praise is due to Allah to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth and to Him belongs all praise in the Hereafter. He is the All Wise the All Aware.

الحمد لله اولا واخرا وظاهرا وباطنا الحمد لله على آلائه العظيمة ونعمه الجسيمة سبحانه وتعالى

All praise is due to Allah at the beginning and at the end outwardly and inwardly. All praise to Allah for His great signs and immense favors. Exalted is He.

I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone without partner and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger His chosen one and intimate friend the best of those who prayed and fasted and performed the pilgrimage to the Sacred House. May the best prayers and purest peace be upon him until the Day of Standing.

اللهم صل وسلم على نبينا محمد صلاة وسلاما دائمين باقيين إلى يوم الدين

O Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad prayers and peace that endure until the Day of Judgment.

Reminder of Accountability

Fear Allah O Muslims. We are on our way to our Lord. We will stand before Him and be questioned about our deeds.

وَيَحْمِلُ عَرْشَ رَبِّكَ فَوْقَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ ثَمَانِيَةٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ تُعْرَضُونَ لَا تَخْفَى مِنكُمْ خَافِيَةٌ

On that Day eight will bear the Throne of your Lord above them. On that Day you will be presented no secret of yours will be hidden.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلْتَنظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

O you who believe fear Allah and let every soul look to what it has sent forth for tomorrow and fear Allah. Indeed Allah is All Aware of what you do.

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّ زَلْزَلَةَ السَّاعَةِ شَيْءٌ عَظِيمٌ يَوْمَ تَرَوْنَهَا تَذْهَلُ كُلُّ مُرْضِعَةٍ عَمَّا أَرْضَعَتْ وَتَضَعُ كُلُّ ذَاتِ حَمْلٍ حَمْلَهَا وَتَرَى النَّاسَ سُكَارَى وَمَا هُم بِسُكَارَى وَلَكِنَّ عَذَابَ اللَّهِ شَدِيدٌ

O mankind fear your Lord. Indeed the earthquake of the Hour is a terrible thing. On the Day you see it every nursing mother will forget her nursing and every pregnant woman will deliver her load and you will see the people as if intoxicated though they are not intoxicated but the punishment of Allah is severe.

Virtues of the First Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah

ما من أيام العمل الصالح فيهن أحب إلى الله من هذه الأيام يعني أيام العشر

There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these days meaning the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.

The companions asked Not even jihad in the way of Allah. He said Not even jihad in the way of Allah except for a man who goes out with his life and wealth and returns with nothing.

فأكثروا فيهن من التهليل والتكبير والتحميد

So increase in them the saying of La ilaha illa Allah Allahu Akbar and Alhamdulillah.

1
Perform many righteous deeds in these days. Their reward surpasses other times.
2
Increase in tahlil takbir and tahmid. These are from the greatest forms of remembrance.
3
Remember that actions with wide benefit are of high rank such as striving for Allah teaching knowledge and charity.

Reflection The best personal voluntary act is prayer. Keep your nights and days alive with worship in these blessed days.

Virtue of the Day of Arafah

خير الدعاء دعاء يوم عرفة وخير ما قلت أنا والنبيون من قبلي لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير

The best supplication is the supplication on the Day of Arafah and the best of what I and the Prophets before me have said is There is no god but Allah alone without partner. To Him belongs the dominion and all praise and He has power over all things.

أحتسب على الله أن يكفر السنة التي قبله والسنة التي بعده

I expect from Allah that fasting on the Day of Arafah will expiate the sins of the year before and the year after.

1
Fast the Day of Arafah if you are not performing Hajj. Its reward covers two years by the grace of Allah.
2
Fill the day with tahlil and abundant supplication.

Sacrifice on Eid al Adha

وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًا لِيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ

For every nation We appointed rites so that they may mention the name of Allah over what He has provided them of livestock.

The Prophet sacrificed two horned rams and said It is the Sunnah of your father Ibrahim. For every hair there is a good deed and for every fiber of wool a good deed. Offer it with a content heart.

Common questions

Should I stand in prayer and remembrance during these nights

Yes. From the pious predecessors comes the advice to keep lamps lit in the first ten nights of Dhul Hijjah as a sign to pray at night and remember Allah.

How can I plan Qur’an reading in these days

Set a daily portion after each obligatory prayer. One juz after each prayer equals five a day. Add extra time in the mosque to increase your recitation according to your ability.

When should I fast Arafah

Fast the ninth of Dhul Hijjah if you are not a pilgrim. The Prophet stated it expiates the past year and the coming year.

Closing supplication

O Allah help us to remember You to thank You and to worship You with excellence. Grant us success in these blessed days.

أقول ما تسمعون وأستغفر الله لي ولكم ولسائر المسلمين من كل ذنب فاستغفروه إنه هو الغفور الرحيم

I say what you hear and I seek forgiveness from Allah for myself and for you and for all Muslims from every sin. Seek His forgiveness for He is the Most Forgiving the Most Merciful.