Hajj, Umrah & EidFrom the masjid's own video, May 15, 2026.

Dhul-Hijjah’s first ten days bring special reward

“There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these 10 days.”

The khateeb, at 11:04

In one sentence

The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are an exceptional opportunity to earn Allah’s love through repentance, obligatory worship, remembrance, fasting, supplication, and sacrifice.

The khutbah in 6 steps

  1. Exhorts listeners to practice taqwa and prepare to return to Allah.
  2. Uses a historical campaign against the Romans to illustrate sacrifice and commitment.
  3. Explains the special virtue of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
  4. Recommends repentance, obligatory prayers, Hajj, dhikr, takbir, supplication, fasting Arafah, and qurban.
  5. Uses the story of Imam Ahmad and a baker to illustrate constant remembrance.
  6. Concludes by urging listeners to seize May 18, 27 and closes with supplication and prayer.
Try this week
Repent sincerely before the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
Maintain the five daily prayers and other obligatory worship.
Increase dhikr and takbir, including phrases such as Subhanallah and Allahu Akbar.
Make frequent dua, especially on the Day of Arafah.
Fast on the Day of Arafah.
Offer qurban if financially capable, with one sacrifice per family presented as sufficient.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 24Used to encourage repentance as a path to success.
Surah 22Used to connect the phrase “known days” with the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“there are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these 10 days.”
IMAAM Center · Silver Spring, MD
Play from 11:04
“every du'a that I make, Allah granted to me, except one. He said, I keep on making du'a that I want to meet, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal.”
IMAAM Center · Silver Spring, MD
Play from 20:30
“Prepare yourself to do a lot of good deeds during the first 10 days of Zulhijjah. Between May 18 to May 27.”
IMAAM Center · Silver Spring, MD
Play from 24:19
“Take advantage of five before five. You youth before your old age. You health before your sickness. You wealth before your poverty.”
IMAAM Center · Silver Spring, MD
Play from 24:38
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah reminds us that the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are a special opportunity to draw close to Allah. We should begin with repentance, protect the obligatory prayers, remember Allah often, make dua, fast the Day of Arafah, and offer qurban if we are able. A story about Imam Ahmad and a baker shows how steady remembrance can accompany ordinary work and lead to answered prayers. The message is to use our youth, health, wealth, free time, and life for good before those gifts change.

  1. What is one good deed you would like to do during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah?
  2. How can we remember Allah during ordinary chores or schoolwork?
  3. Which blessing, health, time, wealth, or youth, should we use more wisely?