The greatness of Dhu al-Hijja is well established in our religion. The evidences are many, but it suffices to note that the Prophet ﷺ informed us that there are no days in which righteous actions are more beloved to Allah than the first ten days of this month. Allah swears by “The Ten Nights” in Surat al-Fajr, which many scholars hold to refer to the first ten nights of Dhu al-Hijja.
For this reason, many of the learned hold that the first ten days of Dhu al-Hijja are even better than the final ten days of Ramadan — though the last ten nights of Ramadan exceed them in greatness.
وَالْحَاصِلُ أَنَّ أَفْضَلَ الْأَيَّامِ عِنْدَنَا يَوْمُ عَرَفَةَ، ثُمَّ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ، ثُمَّ يَوْمُ عِيدِ الْأَضْحَى، ثُمَّ يَوْمُ عِيدِ الْفِطْرِ
وَأَنَّ أَفْضَلَ اللَّيَالِي لَيْلَةُ الْمَوْلِدِ الشَّرِيفِ، ثُمَّ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ، ثُمَّ لَيْلَةُ الْجُمُعَةِ، ثُمَّ لَيْلَةُ الْإِسْرَاءِ هَذَا بِالنِّسْبَةِ لَنَا
“The upshot is that the most virtuous of days according to us are: the Day of ʿArafah, then Friday, then the Day of ʿĪd al-Aḍḥā (the Festival of Sacrifice), then the Day of ʿĪd al-Fiṭr.
And that the most virtuous of nights are: the night of the noble Mawlid (the Prophet’s birth), then Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree), then the night of Friday (i.e., Thursday night), then the night of the Isrāʾ (the Night Journey) — this being in relation to us.”
The noted Shafi’i scholar, Imam Shirwani, in his hashiya on Ibn Hajar’s Tuhfa.
One should note that the Mawlid night mentioned here is the actual night that the Prophet was born, with the same applying to the night of Isra’ and the Mi’raj – not the commemoration of either every year.
And Allah knows best.
It is good to recollect the surah and its meanings:
By the dawn, and ten nights, and the even and the Odd, and the night when it travels! Is there, in that, an oath for thinking man? — Surat al-Fajr (1–5)
There are differences of opinion about these verses. According to Ibn Abbas (may Allah be well pleased with him and with his father): “the dawn” is the obligatory prayer of daybreak (salat al-subh); “ten nights” refers to the ten special nights at the beginning of Dhu al-Hijja; “the even (al-shaf’)” is the creation (khalq), and “the Odd (al-Watr)” is Allah. Allah knows best; Shaykh Abdal Qadir al-Jilani discusses further interpretations in his Ghunya.
In the Ghunya, Shaykh Abdal Qadir also enumerates what occurred during these ten days across different epochs: how Sayyidina Ibrahim received the title of Khalilullah (the Friend of Allah); how the Ka’aba was constructed during those days; how Sayyidina Musa held intimate conversations (munajat) with Allah; and how the pledge of allegiance (bay’at al-ridwan) was given to our Prophet ﷺ.
Shaykh Abdal Qadir al-Jilani said:
“It has been said that Allah (Exalted is He) will bestow ten charismatic gifts (karamat) upon anyone who treats these Ten Days with all due honor and respect:
- Blessed grace (baraka) in his earthly life
- Increase in his property and wealth
- Safekeeping for his dependents
- The remission (takfir) of his misdeeds
- The multiplication of his good deeds
- The easing of his agonies (sakarat) in the throes of death
- The illumination of his darkness and gloom in the grave
- The favorable weighting of his balance at the Resurrection
- Salvation from the descending layers (darakat) of Hell
- Promotion to the ascending levels (darajat) of Paradise”
May Allah make us of those who receive all of these. Amin.
Actions During the First Ten Days
There are both general and specific actions advised by our scholars during these days and nights. The general ones are clear — all good actions — and the reward for any righteous action may be multiplied seven hundred times. Prayer, fasting, charity, the recitation of litanies, the seeking of knowledge, aiding others, and making du’a to Allah are all encouraged.
Fasting
The Prophet ﷺ said that fasting any one of the first ten days of Dhu al-Hijja is equal to fasting for an entire year. Fasting the Day of Arafa (the 9th of Dhu al-Hijja), the greatest day of the year, is said to wipe away the sins of the previous year and the year to come.
Prayer
It is narrated that standing in prayer during any one of these nights is equal to standing on Laylat al-Qadr.
Qur’anic Recitation
It is strongly recommended to read Surat al-Fajr during the first ten days. It is also narrated that whoever reads Surat al-Ikhlas one thousand times will be granted whatever they ask for.
Litanies and Dhikr
Allah says: “…they remember the name of Allah on well-known days.” The majority of scholars hold that these “well-known days” are the ten days of Dhu al-Hijja. Thus, one should engage abundantly in dhikr during these days.
Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “There are no days greater or more beloved to Allah for righteous deeds than these ten days. So engage in abundant tahlil, takbir, and tahmid in them.”
- Tahlil: La ilaha illAllah
- Takbir: Allahu Akbar
- Tahmid: Alhamdulillah
The following is especially recommended, recited at least 10 times each day:
سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَالحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهِ العَلِيِّ العَظِيمِ
The following litany is advised at least once daily, anytime after Fajr (preferably 10 times). Pause and reflect on the imagery of each line as you recite:
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ عَدَدَ اللَّيَالِي وَالدُّهُورِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ عَدَدَ الأَيَّامِ وَالشُّهُورِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ عَدَدَ أَمْوَاجِ البُحُورِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ عَدَدَ أَضْعَافِ الأُجُورِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ عَدَدَ القَطْرِ وَالمَطَرِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ عَدَدَ أَوْرَاقِ الشَّجَرِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ عَدَدَ الشَّعْرِ وَالوَبَرِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ عَدَدَ الرَّمْلِ وَالحَجَرِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ عَدَدَ الزَّهْرِ وَالثَّمَرِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ عَدَدَ أَنْفَاسِ البَشَرِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ عَدَدَ لَمْحِ العُيُونِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ عَدَدَ مَا كَانَ وَمَا يَكُونُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ تَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ فِي اللَّيْلِ إِذَا عَسْعَسَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ فِي الصُّبْحِ إِذَا تَنَفَّسَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ عَدَدَ الرِّيَاحِ فِي البَرَارِي وَالصُّخُورِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ مِنْ يَوْمِنَا هَذَا إِلَى يَوْمِ يُنْفَخُ فِي الصُّورِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ مِنْ يَوْمِنَا هَذَا إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ
Lā ilāha illa’llāh to the number of nights and ages as they pass, Lā ilāha illa’llāh to the number of days and months, Lā ilāha illa’llāh to the number of waves in the oceans, Lā ilāha illa’llāh as much as rewards are multiplied, Lā ilāha illa’llāh to the number of raindrops, Lā ilāha illa’llāh to the number of leaves on the trees, Lā ilāha illa’llāh to the amount of hair and fur on all creatures, Lā ilāha illa’llāh to the amount of sand and rocks, Lā ilāha illa’llāh to the number of flowers and fruits, Lā ilāha illa’llāh to the number of breaths of mankind, Lā ilāha illa’llāh to the number of blinks of eyes, Lā ilāha illa’llāh to the amount of that which has been and that which will be, Lā ilāha illa’llāh — exalted is He above all they worship alongside Him, Lā ilāha illa’llāh — better than all that they amass of worldly things, Lā ilāha illa’llāh in the night when it darkens, Lā ilāha illa’llāh in the morning when it breathes, Lā ilāha illa’llāh to the number of winds that blow in the deserts and over the rocks, Lā ilāha illa’llāh from this day to the day the Trumpet is blown, Lā ilāha illa’llāh to the number of all created things, Lā ilāha illa’llāh from this day to the Day of Recompense.
Followed by this supplication:
اللَّهُمَّ فَرَجَكَ القَرِيبَ، اللَّهُمَّ سَتْرَكَ الحَصِينَ، اللَّهُمَّ مَعْرُوفَكَ القَدِيمَ، اللَّهُمَّ عَوَائِدَكَ الحَسَنَةَ، اللَّهُمَّ عَطَاءَكَ الحَسَنَ الجَمِيلَ، يَا قَدِيمَ الإِحْسَانِ إِحْسَانُكَ القَدِيمُ، يَا دَائِمَ المَعْرُوفِ مَعْرُوفُكَ الدَّائِمُ
O Allah, grant us Your near relief; O Allah, grant us Your inviolable protection; O Allah, grant us Your ancient beneficence; O Allah, grant us Your beautiful recurring graces; O Allah, grant us Your beautiful and gracious gifts; O Possessor of eternal beneficence, eternal is Your beneficence; O Possessor of everlasting generosity, everlasting is Your generosity.
Also recommended, at least 10 times each day:
حَسْبِيَ اللهُ وَكَفَى، سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ دَعَا، لَيْسَ وَرَاءَ اللهِ مُنْتَهَى، مَنْ تَوَكَّلَ عَلَى اللهِ كَفَاهُ، وَمَنِ اعْتَصَمَ بِاللهِ نَجَا
“Allah is sufficient for me, and He is the best disposer of affairs. Allah hears those who call upon Him. There is no end beyond Allah. Whoever relies on Allah, He will suffice him. And whoever holds fast to Allah will be saved.”
The Day of Arafa (9th of Dhu al-Hijja)
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The best prayer is the prayer of the Day of Arafa. The best thing which I and the Prophets before me have said is:”
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ المُلْكُ وَلَهُ الحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
“There is no deity save Allah alone. He has no partners. To Him belongs the dominion and all praise, and He has power over all things.”
Another narration adds:
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ فِي قَلْبِي نُورًا وَفِي سَمْعِي نُورًا وَفِي بَصَرِي نُورًا، اللَّهُمَّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي
“O Allah, place light in my heart, my hearing and my sight. O Allah, bring tranquility to my heart and give me ease in my affair.”
Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the supplication the Prophet ﷺ made most on the Day of Arafa was:
اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الحَمْدُ كَالَّذِي نَقُولُ وَخَيْرًا مِمَّا نَقُولُ، اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي، وَإِلَيْكَ مَآبِي، وَلَكَ رَبِّ تُرَاثِي، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ القَبْرِ، وَوَسْوَسَةِ الصَّدْرِ، وَشَتَاتِ الأَمْرِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا تَجِيءُ بِهِ الرِّيحُ
“O Allah, to You belongs all praise, as we praise You and better than that. O Allah, my prayer, worship, life and death are for You, and to You is my return. And to you, my Lord, belongs what I leave behind. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave, the whispering of the devil, and from my affairs being in disarray. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the evil which the wind carries.”
Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (may Allah have mercy on him) includes a series of supplications for the Day of Arafa in his Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din, which is available for download (see below). The full Arabic text and translation follows here:
وَالدُّعَاءُ الْمَأْثُورُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَعَنِ السَّلَفِ فِي يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ أَوْلَى مَا يَدْعُو بِهِ، فَلْيَقُلْ: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ، وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ، وَهُوَ حَيٌّ لَا يَمُوتُ، بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ.
The supplications transmitted from the Messenger of God ﷺ, and from the pious predecessors, for the Day of ʿArafah are the most worthy to be recited. Let him say: There is no god but God, alone, with no partner. To Him belongs all dominion, and to Him belongs all praise. He gives life and causes death, and He is the Ever-Living who never dies. In His hand is all good, and He has power over all things.
اللَّهُمَّ؛ اجْعَلْ فِي قَلْبِي نُورًا، وَفِي سَمْعِي نُورًا، وَفِي بَصَرِي نُورًا، وَفِي لِسَانِي نُورًا، اللَّهُمَّ؛ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي، وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي.
O God, place light in my heart, light in my hearing, light in my sight, and light in my tongue. O God, expand my breast for me, and make my affairs easy for me.
وَلْيَقُلْ: اللَّهُمَّ، رَبَّ الْحَمْدِ؛ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ كَمَا نَقُولُ، وَخَيْرًا مِمَّا نَقُولُ، لَكَ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي، وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي، وَإِلَيْكَ مَآبِي، وَإِلَيْكَ ثَوَابِي، اللَّهُمَّ؛ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَسَاوِسِ الصَّدْرِ، وَشَتَاتِ الْأَمْرِ، وَعَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ، اللَّهُمَّ؛ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا يَلِجُّ فِي اللَّيْلِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَا يَلِجُّ فِي النَّهَارِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَا تَهُبُّ بِهِ الرِّيَاحُ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ بَوَائِقِ الدَّهْرِ.
And let him say: O God, Lord of all praise — to You is all praise as we say, and better than what we say. Yours is my prayer and my worship, my life and my death, and to You is my return, and to You is my reward. O God, I seek refuge in You from the whisperings of the chest, the scattering of affairs, and the torment of the grave. O God, I seek refuge in You from the evil of what penetrates in the night, and the evil of what penetrates in the day, and the evil of what the winds carry, and the evil of the calamities of time.
اللَّهُمَّ؛ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ تَحَوُّلِ عَافِيَتِكَ، وَفَجْأَةِ نِقْمَتِكَ، وَجَمِيعِ سَخَطِكَ.
O God, I seek refuge in You from the transformation of Your well-being, the sudden onset of Your punishment, and all of Your wrath.
اللَّهُمَّ؛ اهْدِنِي بِالْهُدَى، وَاغْفِرْ لِي فِي الْآخِرَةِ وَالْأُولَى، يَا خَيْرَ مَقْصُودٍ، وَأَيْسَرَ مَنْزُولٍ عَلَيْهِ، وَأَكْرَمَ مَسْؤُولٍ مَا لَدَيْهِ؛ أَعْطِنِي الْعَشِيَّةَ أَفْضَلَ مَا تُعْطِي أَحَدًا مِنْ خَلْقِكَ وَحُجَّاجِ بَيْتِكَ، يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ، اللَّهُمَّ؛ يَا رَفِيعَ الدَّرَجَاتِ، وَمُنَزِّلَ الْبَرَكَاتِ، وَيَا فَاطِرَ الْأَرَضِينَ وَالسَّمَاوَاتِ؛ ضَجَّتْ إِلَيْكَ الْأَصْوَاتُ بِصُنُوفِ اللُّغَاتِ يَسْأَلُونَكَ الْحَاجَاتِ، وَحَاجَتِي إِلَيْكَ أَلَّا تَنْسَانِي فِي دَارِ الْبِلَى إِذَا نَسِيَنِي أَهْلُ الدُّنْيَا.
O God, guide me with true guidance, and forgive me in the Hereafter and in this present life. O best of those sought, O easiest of those upon whom one alights, O most generous of those who have something to give — grant me this evening the best of what You give to any of Your creation and the pilgrims of Your House. O Most Merciful of the merciful! O God, O Exalter of ranks, O Sender-down of blessings, O Creator of the earths and the heavens — voices have clamored to You in all manner of tongues, asking You for their needs, and my need of You is that You do not forget me in the abode of decay when the people of this world have forgotten me.
اللَّهُمَّ؛ إِنَّكَ تَسْمَعُ كَلَامِي، وَتَرَى مَكَانِي، وَتَعْلَمُ سِرِّي وَعَلَانِيَتِي، وَلَا يَخْفَى عَلَيْكَ شَيْءٌ مِنْ أَمْرِي، أَنَا الْبَائِسُ الْفَقِيرُ، الْمُسْتَغِيثُ الْمُسْتَجِيرُ، الْوَجِلُ الْمُشْفِقُ الْمُعْتَرِفُ بِذَنْبِهِ، أَسْأَلُكَ مَسْأَلَةَ الْمِسْكِينِ، وَأَبْتَهِلُ إِلَيْكَ ابْتِهَالَ الْمُذْنِبِ الذَّلِيلِ، وَأَدْعُوكَ دُعَاءَ الْخَائِفِ الضَّرِيرِ، دُعَاءَ مَنْ خَضَعَتْ لَكَ رَقَبَتُهُ، وَفَاضَتْ لَكَ عَبْرَتُهُ، وَذَلَّ لَكَ جَسَدُهُ، وَرَغِمَ لَكَ أَنْفُهُ، اللَّهُمَّ؛ لَا تَجْعَلْنِي بِدُعَائِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًّا، وَكُنْ بِي رَؤُوفًا رَحِيمًا، يَا خَيْرَ الْمَسْؤُولِينَ، وَأَكْرَمَ الْمُعْطِينَ.
O God, You hear my words, You see my place, You know my secret and my open deeds, and nothing of my affairs is hidden from You. I am the wretched, the poor, the one crying for help, the one seeking refuge, the fearful, the anxious, the one who confesses his sin. I ask You with the asking of the destitute, I implore You with the imploring of the sinful and humbled, and I call upon You with the call of the fearful and afflicted — the call of one whose neck has bowed before You, whose tears have overflowed for You, whose body has been humbled before You, and whose face has been cast down before You. O God, do not make me wretched through my supplication to You, my Lord, and be gentle and merciful to me, O Best of those asked and Most Generous of those who give.
إِلَهِي؛ مَنْ مَدَحَ إِلَيْكَ نَفْسَهُ . . فَإِنِّي لَائِمٌ لِنَفْسِي.
My God — while others praise themselves before You — I can only blame myself.
إِلَهِي؛ أَخْرَسَتِ الْمَعَاصِي لِسَانِي، فَمَا لِي وَسِيلَةٌ مِنْ عَمَلٍ، وَلَا شَفِيعٌ سِوَى الْأَمَلِ.
My God, sins have silenced my tongue. I have no means through any deed, and no intercessor save hope.
إِلَهِي؛ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ أَنَّ ذُنُوبِي لَمْ تُبْقِ لِي عِنْدَكَ جَاهًا، وَلَا لِلِاعْتِذَارِ وَجْهًا، وَلَكِنَّكَ أَكْرَمُ الْأَكْرَمِينَ.
My God, I know that my sins have left me with no standing before You and no grounds for excuse — yet You are the Most Generous of the generous.
إِلَهِي؛ إِنْ لَمْ أَكُ أَهْلًا أَنْ أَبْلُغَ رَحْمَتَكَ . . فَإِنَّ رَحْمَتَكَ أَهْلٌ أَنْ تَبْلُغَنِي، رَحْمَتُكَ وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ، وَأَنَا شَيْءٌ.
My God, if I am not worthy to reach Your mercy — then Your mercy is surely worthy to reach me. Your mercy encompasses all things, and I am a thing.
إِلَهِي؛ إِنَّ ذُنُوبِي وَإِنْ كَانَتْ عِظَامًا، وَلَكِنَّهَا صِغَارٌ فِي جَنْبِ عَفْوِكَ؛ فَاغْفِرْهَا لِي يَا كَرِيمُ.
My God, even if my sins were great, they are small beside the vastness of Your pardon — so forgive them for me, O Generous One.
إِلَهِي؛ أَنْتَ أَنْتَ، وَأَنَا أَنَا، أَنَا الْعَوَّادُ إِلَى الذُّنُوبِ، وَأَنْتَ الْعَوَّادُ إِلَى الْمَغْفِرَةِ.
My God, You are You, and I am I. I am the one who returns again and again to sins, and You are the One who returns again and again to forgiveness.
إِلَهِي؛ إِنْ كُنْتَ لَا تَرْحَمُ إِلَّا أَهْلَ طَاعَتِكَ . . فَإِلَى مَنْ يَفْزَعُ الْمُذْنِبُونَ؟!
My God, if You only show mercy to those who obey You — then to whom do sinners turn in their distress?!
إِلَهِي؛ تَجَنَّبْتُ عَنْ طَاعَتِكَ عَمْدًا، وَتَوَجَّهْتُ إِلَى مَعْصِيَتِكَ قَصْدًا، فَسُبْحَانَكَ مَا أَعْظَمَ حُجَّتَكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَكْرَمَ عَفْوَكَ عَنِّي، فَبِوُجُوبِ حُجَّتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَانْقِطَاعِ حُجَّتِي عَنْكَ، وَفَقْرِي إِلَيْكَ، وَغِنَاكَ عَنِّي . . إِلَّا غَفَرْتَ لِي.
My God, I deliberately turned away from obeying You, and deliberately directed myself toward disobeying You. Glorified are You — how great is Your proof against me, and how noble is Your pardon of me! By the strength of Your proof against me, the collapse of my own proof before You, my poverty toward You, and Your self-sufficiency from me — will You not forgive me?!
يَا خَيْرَ مَنْ دَعَاهُ دَاعٍ، وَأَفْضَلَ مَنْ رَجَاهُ رَاجٍ؛ بِحُرْمَةِ الْإِسْلَامِ، وَبِذِمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ أَتَوَسَّلُ إِلَيْكَ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي جَمِيعَ ذُنُوبِي، وَاصْرِفْنِي مِنْ مَوْقِفِي هَذَا مَقْضِيَّ الْحَوَائِجِ، وَهَبْ لِي مَا سَأَلْتُ، وَحَقِّقْ رَجَائِي فِيمَا تَمَنَّيْتُ.
O Best of those whom a caller calls upon, and Most Excellent of those in whom a hoper places hope — by the sanctity of Islam and by the covenant of Muḥammad, peace be upon him, I seek intercession before You. So forgive me all of my sins, and turn me away from this standing with my needs fulfilled, and grant me what I have asked for, and realize my hope in what I have desired.
إِلَهِي؛ دَعَوْتُكَ بِالدُّعَاءِ الَّذِي عَلَّمْتَنِيهِ، فَلَا تَحْرِمْنِي الرَّجَاءَ الَّذِي عَرَّفْتَنِيهِ.
My God, I have called upon You with the supplication You taught me — so do not deprive me of the hope You made known to me.
إِلَهِي؛ مَا أَنْتَ صَانِعُ الْعَشِيَّةَ بِعَبْدٍ مُقِرٍّ لَكَ بِذَنْبِهِ، خَاشِعٍ لَكَ بِذُلِّهِ، مُسْتَكِينٍ بِجُرْمِهِ، مُتَضَرِّعٍ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ، تَائِبٍ إِلَيْكَ مِنِ اقْتِرَافِهِ، مُسْتَغْفِرٍ لَكَ مِنْ ظُلْمِهِ، مُبْتَهِلٍ إِلَيْكَ فِي الْعَفْوِ عَنْهُ، طَالِبٍ إِلَيْكَ فِي نَجَاحِ حَوَائِجِهِ، رَاجٍ إِلَيْكَ فِي مَوْقِفِهِ مَعَ كَثْرَةِ ذُنُوبِهِ؟! فَيَا مَلْجَأَ كُلِّ حَيٍّ، وَوَلِيَّ كُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ؛ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ . . فَبِرَحْمَتِكَ يَفُوزُ، وَمَنْ أَسَاءَ . . فَبِخَطِيئَتِهِ يَهْلِكُ.
My God, what will You do this evening with a servant who acknowledges his sins before You, who is humbled before You in his lowliness, who is subdued by his guilt, who pleads to You out of what he has done, who repents to You from his transgressions, who seeks Your forgiveness for his wrongdoing, who implores You for pardon, who asks You for the success of his needs, and who hopes in You at his station despite the multitude of his sins?! O refuge of every living being, O guardian of every believer — whoever has done good shall triumph by Your mercy, and whoever has done evil shall perish by his sin.
اللَّهُمَّ؛ إِلَيْكَ خَرَجْنَا، وَبِفِنَائِكَ أَنَخْنَا، وَإِيَّاكَ أَمَّلْنَا، وَمَا عِنْدَكَ طَلَبْنَا، وَلِإِحْسَانِكَ تَعَرَّضْنَا، وَرَحْمَتَكَ رَجَوْنَا، وَمِنْ عَذَابِكَ أَشْفَقْنَا، وَإِلَيْكَ بِأَثْقَالِ الذُّنُوبِ هَرَبْنَا، وَلِبَيْتِكَ الْحَرَامَ حَجَجْنَا، يَا مَنْ يَمْلِكُ حَوَائِجَ السَّائِلِينَ، وَيَعْلَمُ ضَمَائِرَ الصَّامِتِينَ، يَا مَنْ لَيْسَ مَعَهُ رَبٌّ يُدْعَى، وَيَا مَنْ لَيْسَ فَوْقَهُ خَالِقٌ يُخْشَى، وَيَا مَنْ لَيْسَ لَهُ وَزِيرٌ يُؤْتَى، وَلَا حَاجِبٌ يُرْشَى، يَا مَنْ لَا يَزْدَادُ عَلَى كَثْرَةِ السُّؤَالِ إِلَّا كَرَمًا وَجُودًا، وَعَلَى كَثْرَةِ الْحَوَائِجِ إِلَّا تَفَضُّلًا وَإِحْسَانًا.
O God, to You we have come forth, in Your courtyard we have made our abode, in You alone we have placed our hopes, and what is with You we have sought. We have exposed ourselves to Your benevolence, hoped in Your mercy, feared Your punishment, fled to You burdened with the weight of sins, and made pilgrimage to Your Sacred House. O You who possesses the needs of all those who ask, and who knows the innermost thoughts of the silent — O You beside whom there is no other Lord to be called upon, O You above whom there is no Creator to be feared, O You who has no minister to be approached and no doorkeeper to be bribed — O You who only increases in generosity and munificence the more He is asked, and only increases in grace and goodness the more needs are brought to Him.
اللَّهُمَّ؛ إِنَّكَ جَعَلْتَ لِكُلِّ ضَيْفٍ قِرَى، وَنَحْنُ أَضْيَافُكَ؛ فَاجْعَلْ قِرَانَا مِنْكَ الْجَنَّةَ.
O God, You have prepared hospitality for every guest, and we are Your guests — so make our hospitality from You be Paradise.
اللَّهُمَّ؛ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ وَفْدٍ جَائِزَةً، وَلِكُلِّ زَائِرٍ كَرَامَةً، وَلِكُلِّ سَائِلٍ عَطِيَّةً، وَلِكُلِّ رَاجٍ ثَوَابًا، وَلِكُلِّ مُلْتَمِسٍ جَزَاءً، وَلِكُلِّ مُسْتَرْحَمٍ عِنْدَكَ رَحْمَةً، وَلِكُلِّ رَاغِبٍ إِلَيْكَ زُلْفَى، وَلِكُلِّ مُتَوَسِّلٍ إِلَيْكَ عَفْوًا، وَقَدْ وَفَدْنَا إِلَى بَيْتِكَ الْحَرَامِ، وَوَقَفْنَا بِهَذِهِ الْمَشَاعِرِ الْعِظَامِ وَشَهِدْنَا هَذِهِ الْمَشَاهِدَ الْكِرَامَ؛ رَجَاءً لِمَا عِنْدَكَ، فَلَا تُخَيِّبْ رَجَاءَنَا.
O God, for every delegation there is a gift, for every visitor there is an honor, for every petitioner there is a grant, for every hoper there is a reward, for every seeker there is recompense, for every one who seeks mercy from You there is mercy, for every one who draws near to You there is closeness, and for every one who seeks intercession with You there is forgiveness. We have come to Your Sacred House, we have stood at these great sacred sites, and we have witnessed these noble stations — hoping for what is with You, so do not disappoint our hope.
إِلَهَنَا؛ تَابَعْتَ النِّعَمَ حَتَّى اطْمَأَنَّتِ الْأَنْفُسُ بِتَتَابُعِ نِعَمِكَ، وَأَظْهَرْتَ الْعِبَرَ حَتَّى نَطَقَتِ الصَّوَامِتُ بِحُجَّتِكَ، وَظَاهَرْتَ الْمِنَنَ حَتَّى اعْتَرَفَ أَوْلِيَاؤُكَ بِالتَّقْصِيرِ عَنْ حَقِّكَ، وَأَظْهَرْتَ الْآيَاتِ حَتَّى أَفْصَحَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرَضُونَ بِأَدِلَّتِكَ، وَقَهَرْتَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ حَتَّى خَضَعَ كُلُّ شَيْءٍ لِعِزَّتِكَ، وَعَنَتِ الْوُجُوهُ لِعَظَمَتِكَ، إِذَا أَسَاءَ عِبَادُكَ . . حَلُمْتَ وَأَمْهَلْتَ، وَإِذَا أَحْسَنُوا . . تَفَضَّلْتَ وَقَبِلْتَ، وَإِذَا عَصَوْا . . سَتَرْتَ، وَإِذَا أَذْنَبُوا . . عَفَوْتَ وَغَفَرْتَ، وَإِذَا دَعَوْنَا . . سَمِعْتَ، وَإِذَا نَادَيْنَا . . أَجَبْتَ، وَإِذَا أَقْبَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ . . قَرَّبْتَنَا إِلَيْكَ . . وَإِذَا تَوَلَّيْنَا عَنْكَ . . دَعَوْتَ!
Our God — You have followed blessing with blessing until souls grew tranquil in the continuity of Your bounties. You have manifested signs until the mute creation spoke of Your proof. You have multiplied Your favors until Your own close friends confessed their falling short of what is Your due. You have revealed Your verses until the heavens and the earths proclaimed Your evidences. You have overpowered with Your might until all things bowed to Your glory, and faces submitted in humility before Your greatness. When Your servants did wrong — You were forbearing and gave respite. When they did good — You bestowed more and accepted. When they disobeyed — You covered them. When they sinned — You pardoned and forgave. When we called — You heard. When we cried out — You answered. When we turned toward You — You drew us near. And when we turned away from You — You called us back!
إِلَهَنَا؛ إِنَّكَ قُلْتَ فِي كِتَابِكَ الْمُبِينِ، لِمُحَمَّدٍ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ: ﴿قُل لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِن يَنتَهُوا يُغْفَرْ لَهُم مَّا قَدْ سَلَفَ﴾، فَأَرْضَاكَ الْإِقْرَارُ بِكَلِمَةِ التَّوْحِيدِ بَعْدَ الْجُحُودِ، وَإِنَّا نَشْهَدُ لَكَ بِالتَّوْحِيدِ مُخْبِتِينَ، وَلِمُحَمَّدٍ بِالرِّسَالَةِ مُخْلِصِينَ؛ فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا بِهَذِهِ الشَّهَادَةِ سَوَالِفَ الْإِجْرَامِ، وَلَا تَجْعَلْ حَظَّنَا فِيهِ أَنْقَصَ مِنْ حَظِّ مَنْ دَخَلَ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ.
Our God — You have said in Your clear Book, to Muḥammad, the Seal of the Prophets: “Say to those who have disbelieved: if they desist, what has already passed will be forgiven for them.” Your acceptance of the profession of divine oneness after denial sufficed You. We bear witness to Your oneness with full humility, and to Muḥammad’s messengership with full sincerity — so by this testimony, forgive us our past crimes, and do not make our share from it less than the share of those who entered Islam.
إِلَهَنَا؛ إِنَّكَ أَحْبَبْتَ التَّقَرُّبَ إِلَيْكَ بِعِتْقِ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُنَا، وَنَحْنُ عَبِيدُكَ، وَأَنْتَ أَوْلَى بِالتَّفَضُّلِ؛ فَأَعْتِقْنَا، وَإِنَّكَ أَمَرْتَنَا أَنْ نَتَصَدَّقَ عَلَى فُقَرَائِنَا، وَنَحْنُ فُقَرَاؤُكَ، وَأَنْتَ أَحَقُّ بِالتَّطَوُّلِ؛ فَتَصَدَّقْ عَلَيْنَا، وَوَصَّيْنَا بِالْعَفْوِ عَمَّنْ ظَلَمَنَا، وَقَدْ ظَلَمْنَا أَنْفُسَنَا، وَأَنْتَ أَحَقُّ بِالْكَرَمِ؛ فَاعْفُ عَنَّا.
Our God — You have loved that people draw near to You by freeing those their right hands possess, and we are Your servants, and You are most deserving of bestowing favor — so free us. You have commanded us to give charity to those among us who are poor, and we are poor before You, and You are most deserving of generosity — so give charity to us. You have commanded us to pardon those who have wronged us, and we have wronged our own souls, and You are most deserving of noble generosity — so pardon us.
رَبَّنَا؛ اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا أَنْتَ مَوْلَانَا. رَبَّنَا، آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً، وَقِنَا بِرَحْمَتِكَ عَذَابَ النَّارِ.
Our Lord, forgive us and have mercy on us — You are our Master. Our Lord, give us in this world what is good, and in the Hereafter what is good, and protect us by Your mercy from the torment of the Fire.
Al-Ghazali also mentioned the supplication of al-Khidr (peace be upon him) as being:
يَا مَنْ لَا يَشْغَلُهُ شَأْنٌ عَنْ شَأْنٍ، يَا مَنْ لَا يَشْغَلُهُ سَمْعٌ عَنْ سَمْعٍ، وَلَا تَشْتَبِهُ عَلَيْهِ الْأَصْوَاتُ، يَا مَنْ لَا تُغَلِّطُهُ الْمَسَائِلُ، وَلَا تَخْتَلِفُ عَلَيْهِ اللُّغَاتُ، يَا مَنْ لَا يُبْرِمُهُ إِلْحَاحُ الْمُلِحِّينَ، وَلَا تُضْجِرُهُ مَسْأَلَةُ السَّائِلِينَ؛ أَذِقْنَا بَرْدَ عَفْوِكَ وَحَلَاوَةَ رَحْمَتِكَ.
O You whom no matter distracts from another matter, O You whom no listening distracts from another listening, and for whom sounds do not become confused — O You who are never confounded by questions, and for whom languages do not differ — O You who is never wearied by the insistence of the persistent, nor annoyed by the requests of those who ask — let us taste the coolness of Your pardon and the sweetness of Your mercy.
Al-Ghazali then recommended that one should then supplicate with whatever comes to them, and seek forgiveness for themself, their parents, and all believing men and women. He encouraged that one be persistent in supplication and hold their requests to be great in magnitude — for nothing is too great for God, the Exalted.
The Night of Eid and the Sunnahs of Eid al-Adha
Takbirat
There are two types of takbirat during the period around Eid al-Adha: unrestricted and restricted.
Unrestricted takbirat are sunnah to recite from Maghrib on the night before Eid al-Adha until the imam begins the Eid prayer.
Restricted takbirat: In the Shafi’i school, it is mandub to engage in takbirat from the dawn prayer of the 9th of Dhu al-Hijja until the afternoon prayer of the 13th. These are recited after obligatory or sunnah prayers. One of the recommended forms, followed by salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ, is:
اللهُ أَكبرُ اللهُ أَكبرُ اللهُ أَكبر، لا إله إلا الله، الله أكبر الله أكبر ولِلَّهِ الحَمْد
اللهُ أَكبرُ اللهُ أَكبرُ اللهُ أَكبر، لا إله إلا الله، الله أكبر الله أكبر ولِلَّهِ الحَمْد
اللهُ أَكبرُ اللهُ أَكبرُ اللهُ أَكبر، لا إله إلا الله، الله أكبر الله أكبر ولِلَّهِ الحَمْد
الله أكبرُ كَبيرا والحمدُ لله كثيرا وسُبْحانَ اللهِ بُكْرَةً وأَصيلاَ
لا إله إلا الله وَحْدَه صَدَقَ وَعْدَه ونَصَرَ عَبْدَه وأَعَزَّ جُنْدَه وهَزَمَ الأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَه
لا إله إلا الله وَ لا نَعْبُدُ إلا إِيَّاهُ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الكافِرون
اللهُمَّ صلِّ على سَيِّدِنا محمد
وعلى آلِ سَيِّدِنا محمد
وعلى أَصْحابِ سَيِّدِنا محمد
وعلى أَنْصَارِ سَيِّدِنا محمد
وعلى أَزْواجِ سَيِّدِنا محمد
وعلى ذُرِّيِّةِ سَيِّدِنا محمد
وسلِّمْ تَسْليماً كثيراً
The Night Before Eid
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “There are five nights on which du’a is not rejected: the first night of Rajab, the fifteenth night of Sha’ban, Thursday night, the night before Eid al-Fitr, and the night before Eid al-Adha.”
Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) used to spend four nights in worship: the first night of Rajab, the nights before the two Eids, and the 15th night of Sha’ban.
It is mentioned in hadith that if someone gives life to the nights before the two Eids, Allah will give life to his heart on the day when hearts die. What is primarily meant is safety on the Day of Judgment — though even in this life, the majority of hearts are dead, starved of Allah’s remembrance and heedless of the return to Him.
May Allah make us of those whose hearts are made alive.