Knowledge

Dhul Hijjah
12th Month

Currently it is Dhul Qa’dah in April 2026 and in’sha Allah Dhul Hijjah will start on May 18, 2026 depending upon the moon sighting on prior evening.

Days of This Month:

-8th Dhul Hijjah = Day of Tarwiyah = Pilgrims begin their Hajj journey by traveling to Mina
-9th Dhul Hijjah = Day of Arafah = Pinnacle of Hajj when pilgrims gather at Mount Arafah
-10th Dhul Hijjah = Eid-ul-Adha
-11th, 12th, 13th Dhul Hijjah = Ayyam-ut-Tashreeq = Days of Sun-drying meat = that’s how pilgrims used to preserve meat without refrigerators = Days of eating/not fasting.

Why this is Bari / Bigger Eid?
Because this Eid lasts 4 days (from 10th Dhul Hijjah till Asar of 13th Dhul Hijjah). While Eid Ul Fitr lasts 3 days

Points

Few points related to this month:

-Dhul means holder/possessor and Hijjah means Hajj /Pilgrimage. So it’s the month which possesses Hajj.

-It is the 12th month/Last month and one of 4 holy sacred months in Islam. (Others being 11, 1 and 7). Yes, Ramadan which is 9th month is not among these 4 but carries separate great significance because of fasting.

-Prophet SAW performed Hajj only once in his life and it was in Dhul Hijjah

-Hazrat Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib RA and Hazrat Umar RA accepted Islam in Dhul Hijjah.

-35 AH - Possibly 18th Dhul Hijjah - Hazrat Usman RA was martyred

-Most Sacred = First 10 days of Dhul Hijjah. Most scholars believe that the 10 nights mentioned in Surah Fajr Verse 2 are the first 10 nights of Dhul Hijjah.

-9th Dhul Hijjah - March 6, 632 CE = Prophet SAW gave the final sermon of Khutba-tul-Wada at the Mount Arafah

-It is wajib to recite Takbir (loud by men and silently by women) after every Farz prayer from fajr of 9th Dhul Hijjah to Asar of 13th Dhul Hijjah. Simplest takbir would be Allah-hu-Akbar. But proper one would be: Allah-hu-Akbar, Allah-hu-Akbar, La-illaha-illallahu wallahu Akbar, Allah-hu Akbar, Wa-lillah-il Hamd

-You can offer Udhiya / Qurbani on 10th Dhul Hijjah or donate for someone to do it for you and can donate meat to poor people. There are distinct conditions about the animal for Qurbani.

-If you are going to offer Qurbani, then it is recommended for the head of household to not cut your nails or hair during the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah until Qurbani is done.

-Can fast on first 9 days of Dhul Hijjah with special importance about fasting on Day of Arafah - 9th Dhul Hijjah

-Can try your best to stay away from all kinds of sin during these days and try to do as good deeds as possible.

A good action, how small or insignificant, is still a step towards righteousness and piety. Continue your actions, even if you don’t see the results, your action will never get wasted.

Allah says in the Qur’an:
Surah Hud - Verse 115
“And be patient; Verily, Allah does not waste the reward of good-doers”.