Use Dhul-Hijjah's sacred days for worship
“The most important part of Eid is to bring happiness and pleasure to the children and to the weak among us and to make them feel special.”
The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are exceptionally sacred, and Muslims should use them for worship, gratitude, charity, and protecting and supporting the Ummah when urgent needs take priority over personal ritual travel.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Establishes the sacred status of Dhul-Hijjah's first ten days through Qur'an and hadith.
- Explains the special virtues of Arafah, Eid al-Adha, and the days of sacrifice.
- Recommends fasting, extra prayer, takbir, remembrance, and charity during the ten days.
- Defends celebrating Eid as gratitude and as a way to bring joy to children and the vulnerable.
- Uses the Prophet's seerah, Hudaybiyyah, the Conquest, Mu'tah, and Tabuk, to prioritize communal defense over personal Hajj.
- Applies that principle to Bosnia, Gaza, Yemen, Kashmir, and South Sudan, urging relief over repeat pilgrimage when necessary.
In the khateeb's words
“Eid is a ta'ah. It's like prayer. It's like siyam. It's like everything else.”
“The most important part of Eid is to bring happiness and pleasure to the children and to the weak among us and to make them feel special.”
For the dinner table
The khateeb taught that the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are among the most honored days of the year, filled with opportunities for prayer, fasting, remembrance, pilgrimage, and charity. He especially highlighted Arafah, encouraging fasting, extra prayer, and asking Allah for forgiveness. He reminded families that Eid is an act of gratitude and a chance to bring happiness to children and people who are vulnerable, even while we grieve for suffering Muslims. He also urged the community to use its resources wisely, saying that urgent protection and relief for Muslims can take priority over repeating a personal pilgrimage. At home, families can mark the ten days with takbir, generosity, and conversations about how worship should make us more compassionate and responsible.
- Which act of worship would you like to practice during the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah?
- How can our family make Eid joyful for someone who is feeling left out or struggling?
- What does it mean to use our resources responsibly when other people urgently need help?
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