Hajj, Umrah & EidFrom the masjid's own video, May 23, 2026.

Seize the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah

In one sentence

The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are the most virtuous days of the year, so believers should seize them with increased dhikr, layered acts of worship, fasting the Day of Arafah, and sincere dua.

The khutbah in 8 steps

  1. Opening praise and standard khutbah taqwa exhortation with Quranic verses
  2. Quran and hadith proofs for the superiority of the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah (Surah al-Fajr, Ibn Umar hadith)
  3. Scholarly explanation (Ibn Hajar, Shinqiti) of why these days are uniquely virtuous: all pillars of worship can be performed in them
  4. The Prophet's recommendation to increase tahlil, takbir, and tasbih, with reflections on the meaning and sequence of these adhkar
  5. Call to layer good deeds beyond the minimum: congregational prayer, rawatib, tahajjud, Quran, and broad categories of sadaqah
  6. Story of Zayn al-Abidin's secret charity and the etiquette of hidden deeds
  7. Practical close: fast the Day of Arafah (Tuesday), its reward of two years' forgiveness, best dua of Arafah, and Ibrahim ibn Adham's humble supplication
  8. Closing dua for the ummah and congregation
Try this week
Increase in tahlil (la ilaha illa Allah), takbir (Allahu Akbar), tahmid (alhamdulillah), and tasbih (subhanAllah) throughout the ten days
Pray the five daily prayers in congregation, then add the rawatib sunnah prayers, Duha, tahajjud, witr, and other nawafil
Increase Quran recitation and give sadaqah in its many forms: feeding others, helping people to their rides, initiating salam, enjoining good
Fast the Day of Arafah (Tuesday) if not performing Hajj, for expiation of two years of minor sins; those on Hajj should not fast but focus on dua
Make extensive dua on Arafah, especially 'la ilaha illa Allah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulk wa lahul-hamd wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir', approaching Allah with humility
Raise the level of fasting by leaving what Allah prohibited, not merely food and drink
Give charity discreetly, following the example of Zayn al-Abidin
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 89:1-4Allah's oath by the dawn and the ten nights cited as proof of the virtue of the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah
Quran 2:203Command to remember Allah in the appointed days, tied to dhikr in these ten days
Musnad AhmadCore proof text establishing the virtue of the days and the specific recommended adhkar
Sahih al-BukhariUsed to encourage subhanAllah wa bihamdihi and subhanAllah al-adheem
Surah 25Used to link night worship with generosity and fear of the hellfire
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“there are no days in the sight of Allah that have more virtue nor are righteous deeds more beloved to Allah than these days”
ICD · Davis, CA
Play from 12:39
“In order to open that lock, that key has to have certain grooves or teeth we say.”
ICD · Davis, CA
Play from 13:31
“So similarly, if there is a key to al-jannah, you must make sure that the grooves and the teeth of your key, la ilaha illallah, match that.”
ICD · Davis, CA
Play from 13:37