First Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah 2027: Dates, Fasting, Dhikr
The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah 1448 run 7–16 May 2027: fasting days 1–9, takbir and dhikr, Arafah, udhiyah and the hair-and-nails view.
This guide explains common views and sources. It is not a fatwa. For your own situation, ask a scholar or imam you trust.
The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the days of Hajj, of Arafah and of Eid al-Adha, and the hadith places them above every other set of days in the year. In 1448 AH they are expected on Friday 7 May to Sunday 16 May 2027 (Umm al-Qura); where the month begins a day later, 8–17 May. The actual date depends on moon sighting or the local authority and may differ by a day. The Hijri converter gives the live date.
Why these days
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said there are no days in which good deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days. The companions asked, not even jihad in the way of Allah? He said, not even that, except a man who goes out with himself and his wealth and returns with neither (Bukhari 969).
Many commentators understand the oath "by the dawn and the ten nights" at the start of Surah al-Fajr (89:1–2) as referring to these ten days, and the Qur'an's instruction to mention the name of Allah on "known days" (22:28) is also widely explained as the days of Dhul Hijjah.
Unlike Ramadan, there is no obligatory act in these days for the non-pilgrim; the opportunity is open and the deeds are the ordinary ones, done more and done better.
What to do: the main acts
1. Fasting days 1–9
Fasting the first nine days is recommended; the 10th, Eid, is forbidden. The 9th, the Day of Arafah, expiates the year before and the year after (Muslim 1162) and is the one day to keep if you keep only one.
Expected dates:
| Dhul Hijjah | 2027 | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fri 7 May | Begin the unrestricted takbir |
| 2 | Sat 8 May | |
| 3 | Sun 9 May | |
| 4 | Mon 10 May | Also a Monday fast |
| 5 | Tue 11 May | |
| 6 | Wed 12 May | |
| 7 | Thu 13 May | Also a Thursday fast |
| 8 | Fri 14 May | Day of tarwiyah; Hajj begins |
| 9 | Sat 15 May | Arafah: fast; restricted takbir from Fajr |
| 10 | Sun 16 May | Eid al-Adha: no fasting; sacrifice after the prayer |
Mid-May fasts run about 17–18 hours in northern Europe and 11–12 in the southern hemisphere; check prayer times. If nine days is too many, a realistic target for a working week is 4 (Monday), 7 (Thursday), 8 and 9.
2. Takbir, tahlil and tahmid
Say "Allahu akbar", "la ilaha illallah" and "al-hamdu lillah" often during these days, openly. Ibn Umar and Abu Hurayrah used to go to the market in the ten days saying the takbir, and people would join them (reported in Sahih al-Bukhari). A common form: "Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar, Allahu akbar, wa lillahi al-hamd."
Two kinds of takbir run through the period:
- Unrestricted: any time, from 1 Dhul Hijjah until the end of the days of tashreeq (Wednesday 19 May 2027).
- Restricted: after each obligatory prayer, from Fajr on Arafah (Saturday 15 May) until Asr on 13 Dhul Hijjah (Wednesday 19 May), in the majority view.
If you already keep the dhikr after salah, the restricted takbir simply goes at the front of it for those five days.
3. The Day of Arafah
Saturday 15 May 2027. Fast, and give the afternoon to dua. The Arafah guide has the dhikr of Arafah and an afternoon plan.
4. The udhiyah
If you intend to offer the sacrifice, arrange it in the first days: a local butcher, a masjid scheme or a charity. The sacrifice is slaughtered after the Eid prayer on the 10th, on the 11th and 12th, and in some schools the 13th. Who should offer it, and the views on whether it is wajib or sunnah, are in the Eid al-Adha guide.
Hair and nails. A hadith in Sahih Muslim states that one who intends to sacrifice should not take from hair or nails from the beginning of Dhul Hijjah until the sacrifice is done. Hanbalis treat it as prohibited, Shafi'is and Malikis as disliked, and Hanafis as not required. In 2027 the window is from the evening of Thursday 6 May until your animal is slaughtered. If you cut by mistake, there is no penalty in any school. For your own situation, ask a scholar you trust.
5. The ordinary deeds, increased
The hadith does not name special acts; it says good deeds. So:
- Qur'an: a juz' a day over the ten days is a third of the Qur'an; even a page a day counts.
- Charity: a daily small amount; many people give their Eid charity in these days.
- Night prayer: a few rak'ahs after Isha or before Fajr.
- Repentance, keeping ties with family, patience at work.
A day-by-day plan
| Day | Date | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fri 7 May | Jumu'ah; set intentions; arrange the udhiyah; begin takbir; first fast if you can |
| 2–3 | Sat 8 – Sun 9 May | Weekend: fast both days; Qur'an in the morning |
| 4 | Mon 10 May | Fast (Monday); charity |
| 5–6 | Tue 11 – Wed 12 May | Fast if able; dhikr on the commute |
| 7 | Thu 13 May | Fast (Thursday); prepare Arafah suhoor |
| 8 | Fri 14 May | Fast; Jumu'ah; al-Kahf; early night |
| 9 | Sat 15 May | Arafah: fast, afternoon dua, restricted takbir begins |
| 10 | Sun 16 May | Eid prayer, sacrifice, family; no fasting |
| 11–13 | Mon 17 – Wed 19 May | Tashreeq: eat, remember Allah, takbir after prayers; sacrifice continues; no fasting |
If the date differs in your country
A one-day shift moves everything: Arafah to Sunday 16 May and Eid to Monday 17 May. Follow the date announced where you live, as the moon-sighting guide explains. The question of fasting Arafah on the Saudi date or the local date is a known difference among scholars; ask one you trust.
After the ten days
The 13th of Dhul Hijjah is a tashreeq day, so the white days of this month are adjusted (many fast 14–16, Thursday 20 to Saturday 22 May). Three weeks later the Hijri year ends; the Islamic New Year 1449 is expected on Sunday 6 June 2027. The Islamic calendar 2027 lays out the full year.
Useful tools
Questions and answers
When are the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah in 2027?
1 Dhul Hijjah 1448 is expected on Friday 7 May 2027, so the ten days run Friday 7 to Sunday 16 May, with Arafah on Saturday 15 May and Eid al-Adha on Sunday 16 May. The actual dates depend on moon sighting or the local authority and may differ by a day.
Are these days better than the last ten nights of Ramadan?
Many scholars say the days of Dhul Hijjah are the best days of the year and the last ten nights of Ramadan are the best nights. The hadith (Bukhari 969) speaks of deeds in these days being more beloved to Allah than in any other days.
Should I fast all nine days?
It is recommended, not required. Fast what you can; the 9th (Arafah) is the most important. Fasting on the 10th, Eid, is forbidden.
I do not intend to sacrifice. Does the hair-and-nails rule apply to me?
No. The hadith applies to the one who intends to offer the udhiyah. Some scholars extend it to household members in the Hanbali view; most do not.
What dhikr is specific to these days?
The takbir (Allahu akbar), tahlil (la ilaha illallah) and tahmid (al-hamdu lillah), said often and openly. The companions used to say the takbir in the market during these days, as reported in Sahih al-Bukhari.
Sources
- Sahih al-Bukhari 969
- Sahih Muslim 1162
- Qur'an 89:1–2
- Qur'an 22:28
- Sahih Muslim (no cutting hair or nails for the one who intends to sacrifice)