Dhul Hijjah 2026

 

Key Dates, the 10 Blessed Days, Hajj, Eid al-Adha and Spiritual Practices

Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH begins on Monday, May 18, 2026, based on astronomical calculations. It is the twelfth and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar, one of the four sacred months, and the most spiritually significant month of the year. It hosts the Hajj pilgrimage, the Day of Arafah, Eid al-Adha, and the ten most blessed days in Islam.

What is Dhul Hijjah?

Dhul Hijjah is the twelfth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Its name means "the month of pilgrimage" — a direct reference to Hajj, which is performed during its first thirteen days. It follows Dhul Qadah and is one of the four sacred months in Islam mentioned in the Quran: "The number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve (in a year) — so ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are sacred: that is the straight usage." (Quran 9:36 — Yusuf Ali)

Its significance rests on three pillars. First, it is a sacred month in which sins are graver and good deeds carry greater weight. Second, it contains the ten most blessed days of the entire year, as confirmed by the Prophet ﷺ. Third, it holds a connection to the prophets — some scholars of Tafsir hold that the ten nights Allah swore by in Surah al-Fajr ("By the dawn. And by ten nights." — Quran 89:1-2) are specifically the first ten nights of Dhul Hijjah.

There is also a lesser-known dimension: some scholars of Tafsir hold that the ten days by which Allah completed His covenant with Musa ﷺ — "And We made an appointment with Moses for thirty nights and perfected them by [the addition of] ten" (Quran 7:142) — were the ten days of Dhul Hijjah, making this month blessed across prophetic traditions.

Dhul Hijjah 2026 Key Dates

Based on astronomical calculations, Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH begins on Monday, May 18, 2026. Official dates depend on moon sighting and may shift by one day depending on your country's religious authority.

Note: These dates are based on astronomical calculations. Official confirmation depends on moon sighting in each country.

The 10 Blessed Days of Dhul Hijjah

The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are not just blessed — they are, according to the Prophet ﷺ, the best days of the entire year. He said: "There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than on these days," referring to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. They said: "O Messenger of Allah, not even Jihad in the cause of Allah?" He said: "Not even Jihad in the cause of Allah, except that of a man who goes out (to Jihad) with his self and his property but returns with none of them." (Bukhari)

Allah Himself swore by them in the Quran. The early generations of Muslims treated these days as one of three great seasons of worship — alongside the last ten nights of Ramadan and the first ten days of Muharram. What makes these ten days uniquely powerful is that all the major acts of worship converge in them simultaneously: prayer, fasting, charity, pilgrimage, remembrance, and sacrifice — something that does not happen at any other time of year.

As Allah says: "And your Lord creates what He wills and chooses." (Quran 28:68) — just as He chose certain prophets over others and certain places over others, He chose these days over all other days.

Spiritual Action Plan for the Ten Days

Knowing the virtue of these days is not enough — what matters is what you do with them. Here are five concrete practices to structure your ten days:

1. Complete a Reading of the Quran

Read three juz (parts) per day to complete the Quran in ten days. You can divide it into half a juz before each of the five prayers and half a juz after — that is five juz per day if you want to complete it twice. Every letter carries ten hasanat, and in these blessed days the reward is multiplied further.

2. Give Every Prayer Its Due

Begin preparing ten minutes before the adhan. Renew your wudu, walk to the mosque, repeat the adhan, pray the Sunnah before the obligatory prayer, and extend your sujud with personal supplication. Between adhan and iqamah, no dua is rejected. Read more about the virtue of praying on time.

3. Fill Every Moment with Dhikr

The Prophet ﷺ said: "In these ten days, increase your Tahleel, Tahmeed, Tasbeeh and Takbeer." (Tabarani). Say SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar while walking, eating, working — at every moment. These are the Baqiyat al-Salihat: the lasting righteous deeds.

4. Fast the Nine Days

The Prophet ﷺ used to fast the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah. Fasting the Day of Arafah alone expiates two years of sins. If you cannot fast all nine, prioritise the Day of Arafah above all others.

5. Give in Charity

Some scholars consider charity the best deed in these days, because Allah wanted them to be days of joy for everyone — no one should go hungry or unserved. Give what you can, and give it early in the ten days.

Takbeer of Dhul Hijjah

One of the most visible acts of worship during Dhul Hijjah is the Takbeer — the glorification of Allah. Umar ibn al-Khattab and Abu Hurairah used to go out to the markets during these ten days and raise their voices with Takbeer until the whole marketplace echoed with it.

The Words of Takbeer

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illa Allah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa lillahi al-hamd

It is also permissible to say simply: Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar — both are authentic.

Two Types of Takbeer

Unrestricted Takbeer (Mutlaq): from the 1st of Dhul Hijjah (May 18) until the end of the Days of Tashreeq (May 30), at any time of day or night, in any state.

Restricted Takbeer (Muqayyad): after every obligatory prayer, from Fajr of the Day of Arafah (May 26) until Asr of the 13th of Dhul Hijjah (May 30).

The Day of Arafah

The Day of Arafah is the 9th of Dhul Hijjah — Monday, May 26, 2026. It is the pinnacle of Hajj and one of the greatest days in the Islamic year. On this day, Allah descends to the lowest heaven and boasts to His angels of the worshippers gathered at Arafah, saying: "Allah boasts about the people of ‘Arafah to the dwellers of heaven, saying, ‘Just look at My slaves! They have come to Me with disheveled hair and covered in dust.’"

Sufyan al-Thawri, when asked who was in the worst state among those gathered at Arafah, replied: "The one who thinks Allah has not forgiven him." And the Shaytan has never been seen more humiliated than on the Day of Arafah — witnessing the mercy descend and the sins erased.

Best Dua of the Day

The Prophet ﷺ said: "The best supplication is the supplication of the Day of Arafah, and the best of what I and the prophets before me have said is: La ilaha illa Allah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul mulku wa lahul hamd, wa huwa ala kulli shay'in qadir." (Tirmidhi and Ahmad)

"There is none worthy of worship but Allah alone, He has no partner, His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is powerful over all things."

Fasting the Day of Arafah

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Fasting on the day of Arafah is an expiation for the preceding year and the following year." (Muslim).

This is for those not performing Hajj — pilgrims do not fast on this day so they have the strength for worship and supplication at Arafah.

The Post-Fajr Session

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, then sits remembering Allah until the sun rises, then prays two rakats, will have a reward like that of a complete Hajj and Umrah." (Tirmidhi). For those who could not make Hajj this year, this is a doorway of immense reward. Learn more about the virtue of Fajr prayer and when Fajr time ends to plan accordingly. For accurate prayer times in Makkah, see prayer times in Makkah and prayer times in Madinah.

Hajj — A Journey of the Heart

Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam, obligatory once in a lifetime for every Muslim who is physically and financially able. But at its core, Hajj is more than a physical journey — it is a journey of the soul. The scholars say it best: it is a journey of hearts, not bodies. Its ultimate purpose is for the pilgrim to return as pure as the day they were born.

When the pilgrim removes their regular clothes and dons the white ihram, all distinctions disappear — no nationality, no class, no status. Rich and poor stand together before one God. This is the living embodiment of Tawheed.

Hajj 2026 — Key Rituals

• 8 Dhul Hijjah (May 25): Yawm al-Tarwiya — pilgrims travel to Mina
• 9 Dhul Hijjah (May 26): Standing at Arafah — the pillar of Hajj
• Night of 9/10: Overnight at Muzdalifah, collecting pebbles
• 10 Dhul Hijjah (May 27): Stoning of Jamarat, Udhiya, shaving/cutting hair, Tawaf al-Ifadah
• 11–13 Dhul Hijjah: Days of Tashreeq — stoning the three Jamarat, staying in Mina

Eid al-Adha 2026

Eid al-Adha falls on Tuesday, May 27, 2026 (10 Dhul Hijjah). It is the Greater Eid — the Festival of Sacrifice — commemorating the trial of Ibrahim ﷺ and Allah's mercy in ransoming his son Ismail. If there is one word that captures it: it is the Eid of Tawheed.

The Prophet ﷺ said: "The greatest day before Allah is the Day of Sacrifice, then the day of Al-Qarr." (Abu Dawud and Ahmad). Yawm al-Qarr is the 11th of Dhul Hijjah, when pilgrims rest in Mina.

Eid Practices

• Perform ghusl and wear your best clothes
• Do not eat before the Eid prayer — eat from the Udhiya after
• Attend the Eid prayer in congregation early in the morning
• Perform the Udhiya as soon as possible after the prayer
• Strengthen family ties and visit relatives
• Ensure no neighbour or community member goes without

The Days of Tashreeq (May 28–30) are an extension of the Eid celebration. The Prophet ﷺ said: "The days of Tashreeq are days of eating, drinking and remembrance of Allah." (Ibn Majah). Fasting is forbidden during these days.

Udhiya — The Sacrifice

Udhiya (also called Qurbani) is the ritual animal sacrifice performed after the Eid prayer. It is a Sunnah Mu'akkadah — a strongly confirmed practice — for every adult Muslim who possesses the nisab. Allah says: "Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you." (Quran 22:37)

For those who intend to sacrifice: it is recommended not to cut hair or nails from the 1st of Dhul Hijjah until after the sacrifice. The Maliki, Hanafi and majority of Madinah scholars consider this recommended rather than obligatory, based on the hadith of Aisha in Bukhari and Muslim that the Prophet ﷺ — while sending his Hady — would not refrain from anything permitted to him.

For those who cannot afford Udhiya: the Sharia is built on capacity. "Fear Allah as much as you are able." (Quran 64:16). There is no sin on the one who cannot. Sharing in a sacrifice is permissible — up to seven people may share one cow or camel.

For Those Not Making Hajj

The blessings of Dhul Hijjah are not reserved for pilgrims in Makkah. Every Muslim has access to a full programme of worship from their home:

One important note on sincerity: Hajj and Udhiya do not automatically erase sins a person continues to commit. Repentance is the prerequisite. The Prophet ﷺ warned that a Hajj performed with unlawful money is rejected at the moment of ihram. All acts of worship benefit the sincere penitent — not the one who persists in wrongdoing.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Dhul Hijjah 2026 start?

Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH is expected to start on Monday, May 18, 2026, based on astronomical calculations. The official start depends on moon sighting and may shift by one day.

What are the best deeds in Dhul Hijjah?

Fasting the Day of Arafah, abundant Takbeer and Dhikr, reading the Quran, giving charity, the post-Fajr session, and performing Udhiya. All are confirmed by the Quran and authentic Sunnah.

Is fasting allowed in Dhul Hijjah?

Yes. Fasting the first nine days is recommended. The Day of Eid (10 Dhul Hijjah) and the three Days of Tashreeq (11–13) are forbidden to fast. Fasting the Day of Arafah is especially recommended for non-pilgrims.

When is Eid al-Adha 2026?

Tuesday, May 27, 2026 (10 Dhul Hijjah), based on astronomical calculations. May shift by one day depending on official moon sighting.

What is the Day of Arafah?

The 9th of Dhul Hijjah — May 26, 2026. The greatest day of Hajj and one of the most blessed days in the Islamic year. Fasting it expiates sins of two years for those not performing Hajj.

Can I cut my hair and nails in the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah?

There is a scholarly difference of opinion. Ahmad and the Dhahiriyya hold it forbidden for those intending Udhiya. The Maliki, Hanafi and majority of Madinah scholars consider it only disliked or permissible. The matter has room for flexibility.

What is the Takbeer formula for Dhul Hijjah?

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illa Allah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa lillahi al-hamd. The unrestricted Takbeer is said at any time from the 1st of Dhul Hijjah. The restricted Takbeer is said after each obligatory prayer from Fajr of Arafah Day until Asr of the 13th.

When does the restricted Takbeer start in 2026?

From Fajr of Monday, May 26, 2026 (Day of Arafah) until Asr of Friday, May 30, 2026 (13 Dhul Hijjah).

Does Udhiya automatically forgive sins?

No. Sincere repentance is a prerequisite for the acceptance of deeds. Udhiya and Hajj benefit the sincere penitent — not someone who continues committing sins without repentance.

Is Dhul Hijjah one of the sacred months?

Yes. It is one of the four sacred months mentioned in Quran 9:36, alongside Muharram, Rajab and Dhul Qi'dah.

Sources

• Prayer Times in Makkah — Masjidbox
• Prayer Times in Madinah — Masjidbox
• Hadith: "There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than on these days" — Encyclopedia of Hadith
• Hadith: Fasting on the Day of Arafah — Sunnah.com
• Hadith: Post-Fajr session — reward of Hajj and Umrah — Sunnah.com
• Hadith: Increase Tahleel, Tahmeed, Tasbeeh and Takbeer — Dorar
• Hadith: The Day of Sacrifice is the greatest day — Dorar
• Hadith: Days of Tashreeq are days of eating, drinking and dhikr — Sunnah.com
• Hadith: Best supplication is on the Day of Arafah — Sunnah.com
• Quran 89:1-2 — "By the dawn. And by the ten nights."
• Quran 9:36 — The four sacred months
• Quran 7:142 — Thirty nights and ten
• Quran 22:37 — "Their meat will not reach Allah..."
• Quran 64:16 — "Fear Allah as much as you are able."