Dhul Hijjah is a chance to draw near
“The truly successful person is the one who seizes the opportunity in these days.”
The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are an unparalleled opportunity to draw near to Allah through repentance, worship, remembrance, fasting, especially on Arafah, and repairing relationships before the opportunity passes.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Calls believers to fear Allah and evaluate what they are preparing for the Hereafter.
- Explains the exceptional virtue of the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.
- Urges repentance, restoring others' rights, prayer, dhikr, Quran recitation, charity, family ties, and kindness.
- Encourages fasting during these days, especially the Day of Arafah.
- Recommends abundant supplication, praise, tahlil, and blessings upon the Prophet.
- Closes with prayers for accepted worship, pilgrims, deceased parents, and Muslims worldwide.
In the khateeb's words
“the truly successful person is the one who seizes the opportunity in these days invest their moments in obedience and does not waste even a single second”
“for when a sacred season departs it becomes only a memory and when life itself passes it becomes but just a trace”
“fasting on the day of arafah i hope from Allah that it expires the sins of the year before it and the year after”
“let us invest every moment of that day in supplication that we may attain from Allah the abundance of His generosity”
For the dinner table
The khutbah teaches that the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are a special chance to draw close to Allah. We are encouraged to repent, repair wrongs, pray, remember Allah, read Quran, give charity, honor parents, keep family ties, and show kindness. We should fast whatever days we can, especially Arafah, and fill that day with supplication and the words la ilaha illallah. The speaker reminds us that these opportunities pass quickly, so we should use our health and free time before they are gone. He closes by praying for accepted worship, the pilgrims, deceased parents, and all Muslims.
- Which action from the khutbah could we practice together during the ten days?
- What does it mean to restore someone's rights if we have wronged them?
- How can we make the Day of Arafah a day of focused prayer and remembrance?
More on Hajj, Umrah & Eid
Perhaps the real test of Umrah comes after we come home.31:13Worcester Islamic Center · Worcester, MA · Sep 5, 2026What Ihram teaches after Umrah