Hajj, Umrah & EidFrom the masjid's own video, May 16, 2026.
Make a plan for Dhul-Hijjah's best days
“I need to have a concrete plan of what I'm going to do during these 10 days.”
In one sentence
The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are the best and most beloved days of the year to Allah, so every believer should seize this unique opportunity by making a concrete written plan of worship and good deeds before they arrive.
The khutbah in 8 steps
- Opening praise and standard khutbah taqwa verses
- Allah swore by the ten nights (Surah al-Fajr), identified by the sahabah/tabi'een as the ten of Dhul-Hijjah
- Hadith of Ibn Abbas: no deeds better than those done in these days, not even jihad, except the martyr who loses life and wealth
- Hadith of Ibn Umar: increase tahlil, takbir, and tahmid; Surah al-Hajj's 'known days' explained as the ten
- Call to action: write down a concrete day-by-day plan of fasting, Quran, night prayer, and good deeds
- Overcoming self-doubt and laziness (al-Mutanabbi's verse); having himmah and husn al-dhann of Allah
- Motivation from Surah as-Saffat: 'for such a reward let the workers work'
- Second khutbah: ruling that the one sacrificing must not cut hair or nails, then du'a and close
Try this week
Write down a concrete day-by-day plan of worship for the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah rather than relying on intention alone
Increase dhikr: tahlil (la ilaha illa Allah), takbir (Allahu akbar), and tahmid (alhamdulillah)
Fast, read Quran (e.g., at least three juz a day to finish the Quran in the ten days), pray at night, be good to parents, and visit the sick
If intending to offer the udhiyah sacrifice, do not cut hair or clip nails once the ten days begin (applies only to the sacrificer, not family members)
Ask Allah to correct your intention and grant success in worship during these days
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 89:1-2Allah swears by the ten nights; the sahabah and tabi'een identified them as the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, and Allah only swears by something great
Sahih al-BukhariNo days have better deeds than these ten; the companions asked 'not even jihad?' and the Prophet excepted only the man who leaves with his life and wealth and returns to neither
Jami` at-TirmidhiNo days are greater or more beloved to Allah for deeds than these ten, so increase tahlil (la ilaha illa Allah), takbir (Allahu akbar), and tahmid (alhamdulillah)
Quran 22:28With Ibn Abbas's tafsir that the 'specified/known days' are the ten of Dhul-Hijjah, commanding remembrance of Allah in them
Quran 37:50-61The people of Paradise reminisce and declare 'this is the ultimate triumph; for such a reward let the workers work', motivation to put in the work now
Quran 3:102Standard khutbah opening commanding taqwa and upright speech
Quran 4:1Standard khutbah opening commanding taqwa and upright speech
Quran 33:70-71Standard khutbah opening commanding taqwa and upright speech
Sahih MuslimWhoever intends to sacrifice must not cut hair or clip nails once the ten days begin; applies only to the sacrificer, not the whole family
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“does not cost you anything to engage in the remembrance of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala”
“I need to have a concrete plan of what I'm going to do during these 10 days”
“so I have to put in the work and if I don't put in the work during days like and nights like Ramadan”
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