In Islam, there are multiple significant months that hold key events and Islamic history. Dhul Hijjah is the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar and is one of the most important months. The holy month holds vital events for every Muslim around the world, allowing them to grow spiritually and connect closer to Allah (SWT). This month is one of the four sacred months where fighting and war are strictly forbidden because the holy pilgrimage of Hajj falls within this month, which gave it its name. Due to being a sacred month, Muslims can gain multiplied rewards for good days as they’re more virtuous than when they’re done in any other month of the lunar year.
Dhul Hijjah is the month of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, which the month is named after. This is an important time for Muslims around the world and is very rewarding for everyone who takes on the spiritual journey. Hajj is a religious obligation for all adult Muslims who are financially and physically able to complete it, and is one of the five pillars, meaning that it must be completed at least once in a believer’s lifetime.
But it’s so much more than the pilgrimage. It’s one of the holiest times in Islam and provides Muslims worldwide with the chance to increase their spirituality and get closer to Allah (SWT), while also helping those in desperate need. Eid al-Adha, or the greater Eid, takes place within it and is a time for Muslims to get together with loved ones and the community to reflect, pray, worship and share traditional meals. A part of this celebration is carrying out a specific act of worship where able Muslims sacrifice an animal to Allah (SWT) to show their devotion and obedience to Him and to commemorate the Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his willingness to sacrifice his only son. Qurbani occurs on the first day of Eid after the Eid prayer and continues for the three extra days afterwards (the days of tashreeq).
So, when does Dhul Hijjah start in 2026? The holy month of Dhul Hijjah in 2026 is expected to begin on May 17th, but this is dependent on the sighting of the moon, so the exact date can vary. The first 10 days are expected to run from May 17th until May 26th, and the Day of Arafah that falls on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah is expected to be May 25th.
As for the celebration of Eid al-Adha that falls on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, this is expected to be on May 26th. This means that, as well as the celebrations, Qurbani begins on this day after the Eid prayer and continues during the days of tashreeq, which are the 11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul Hijjah.
All of these dates are dependent on the sighting of the moon, so it’s best to check them closer to the time for a more accurate timeframe.
The first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are the most important of the entire month and the whole Islamic year, as they’re often referred to as the best ten days of the year. This is because these days act as another opportunity for Muslims to strengthen their faith after Ramadan.
Many Islamic scholars determine that these days are very significant because Allah swore by them, which means that, no matter if a Muslim does the Hajj or not, these 10 days should be spent in worship and good deeds. This includes giving to charity to help those in need, strengthening relationships with loved ones and forbidding evil.
The importance of the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah is also shown by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who said:
(Bukhari).
As charity is very important during Dhul Hijjah, especially the first 10 days, it’s vital that you give regularly throughout them to earn rewards and help vulnerable families across the world. Here at House of Giving, we know that giving charity across all of the 10 days can be difficult when also focusing on increasing acts of worship during this time. Life gets busy, people forget, and it’s hard to make the most out of the 10 days. This is why we allow you to automate your Dhul Hijjah donations across the 10 days, so that you can regularly help the needy without worrying about missing a day.
Automate your donations to help struggling families facing unimaginable hardship, hunger, devastation and poverty survive. You can make a meaningful difference from just a click of a button and change countless lives, offering relief, dignity and hope while letting you focus on maximising your acts of worship to earn immense rewards.
The Day of Arafah in Dhul Hijjah is another very important day for both pilgrims and believers who aren’t doing the Hajj. This is the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah and is also known as the Day of Standing because it’s when pilgrims gather at Mount Arafat during the Hajj to worship. Due to this, it’s also a day of mercy and forgiveness for every Muslim, so even if you’re not doing the pilgrimage, everyone should spend time in worship to seek mercy and forgiveness from Allah (SWT). Muslims who aren’t doing the Hajj are also highly encouraged to spend this day fasting as well to earn immense blessings and eradicate their sins for two years.
At House of Giving, we take your donations during the month of Dhul Hijjah to make a meaningful difference to countless lives in need. This month provides immense rewards and blessings for good deeds, and charity is the best way to maximise this. Through your generosity, we can feed a hungry, struggling family, provide water and shelter to communities that cannot access these, and even support education for everyone. Your giving truly helps someone stand on their feet, offering vulnerable communities across the world a brighter, healthier future that takes them away from extreme poverty, hunger and hardship.
Donate this Dhul Hijjah to transform lives and help communities thrive.