One Ummah News - 9 May 2025
Did you know the First Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah can bring you BIGGER rewards than Ramadan? The Prophetﷺ called them Allah’sﷻ most beloved days! This article explores the unique blessings of both sacred months.
When Allahﷻ Himself swears by something in the Qur’an, do we dare treat it as ordinary?
Have you ever wondered which time of the year is the best to earn the mercy and forgiveness of Allahﷻ? If so, you’re not alone. Many of us strive to seek out those precious moments when Allah’sﷻ infinite mercy descends, and when our deeds are multiplied beyond measure.
For every Muslim believer who dreams of being close to Allahﷻ, the Islamic calendar presents two unique opportunities like no other: Ramadan, the month of fasting and mercy, and Dhul Hijjah, the first ten days of which are the best ten days of the entire year.
Both seasons overflow with divine blessings, forgiveness, and opportunities to draw closer to our Creator. But do they offer the same kind of reward? How do their virtues differ? Understanding their distinct honours helps us appreciate and maximise the gifts Allahﷻ has bestowed upon us.
Ramadan is unique—an entire month enclosed in divine mercy, where “the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of the Hell-Fire are closed, and the devils are chained." (Bukhari). It is a month of spiritual renewal, during which we purify our hearts through fasting, prayer, and reflection.
Its significance will forever be linked to the revelation of the book of Allahﷻ: "Ramadan is the month in which the Qur’an was revealed as a guide for humanity…" (2:185).
Among Ramadan’s greatest blessings is Laylatul Qadr, the Night of Power—better than a thousand months. Worship on this single night outweighs worship done over 83 years, SubhanAllah! Yet, while Ramadan is the most blessed month, the Prophetﷺ declared that the best ten days belong to Dhul Hijjah.
While Ramadan is the best month, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ specifically designated the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah as the best days of the entire year for performing good deeds: "There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days." (Bukhari). Any deeds performed during this period carry extraordinary weight and favour in the sight of Allahﷻ.
If Ramadan is the month of mercy, Dhul Hijjah is the month of divine opportunities, surpassing Ramadan, Muharram, Rajab, and Dhul Qa’dah in virtue.
But why?
Dhul Hijjah's first ten days offer us a concentrated burst of opportunity that amplifies the value of our actions.
Ramadan is a month of total spiritual transformation—its nights filled with Taraweeh, its days filled with fasting, and its last ten nights with Laylatul Qadr, which is better than a thousand months (97:3).
The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are Allah’sﷻ favourite days for deeds—where every SubhanAllah, every Sadaqah, every act of obedience is more beloved to Him than at any other time (besides Laylatul Qadr).
So, which period is ‘more rewarding’? The most accurate understanding is that they are both uniquely supreme, but in different aspects:
Ramadan: Excels as the best month, characterised by sustained mercy, the obligation of fasting, and containing the single best night (Laylatul Qadr). It's a period focused on spiritual training and purification.
Dhul Hijjah (First Ten Days): Excels as the best days of the year, where righteous deeds are most beloved to Allahﷻ than any other time, encompassing the profound rituals of Hajj and the best day (Day of Arafah). It's a period focused on maximising high-value actions.
The nights of Ramadan (especially the last ten) hold greater virtue than those of Dhul Hijjah, primarily due to Laylatul Qadr. The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah hold greater virtue than the days of Ramadan (and all other days). They are not rivals but complementary seasons of immense blessing, offering distinct pathways to earn Allah'sﷻ pleasure.
Just as we eagerly prepare for Ramadan, we should approach the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah with similar intention and determination. Here are some tips to catch the blessings within:
Click here for an in-depth guide to maximise your Dhul Hijjah, highlighting ten ways to elevate your deeds.
The truth is, both Ramadan and Dhul Hijjah are unparalleled in their blessings, but in different ways. While Ramadan is the ultimate month of mercy, the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the best days of the Dunya.
Ramadan transforms us; Dhul Hijjah elevates us. And together, they form the ultimate equation for success in this life and the next. So ask yourself:
Allahﷻ doesn’t just love these days—He chooses them. Don’t let these days slip away with their blessings. The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second-best time is now.
May we be granted the ability to maximise these days, purify our hearts, and elevate our ranks in Jannah. Ameen.
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Jazakum Allah Khair.