There are moments in the Islamic calendar that are not merely dates; they are divine gifts. Opportunities where the gates of mercy are flung open, and the scales of reward are tipped in the believer’s favour. The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are precisely such a moment.
Giving Sadaqah during the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah is among the most virtuous deeds a Muslim can perform. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ confirmed that no days carry greater reward for righteous actions than these ten. Scholars widely hold that voluntary charity given in this period is multiplied in divine weight far beyond what is earned at any other time of year, making even a small donation an extraordinary act of worship.
Allah (SWT) opens Surah Al-Fajr with an oath: “By the dawn, and by the ten nights” (89:1–2). The majority of classical commentators, including Ibn Kathir, Al-Tabari, and Ibn Abbas (RA), identify these “ten nights” as the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. When Allah swears by something in His Book, it is a signal of extraordinary sanctity.
The Prophetic evidence is equally direct. Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” The companions asked, “Not even jihad in the way of Allah?” He said, “Not even jihad in the way of Allah, except for a man who goes out with his life and wealth and does not return with either of them.” — (Sunan Ibn Majah 1727)
This hadith is foundational. It establishes that every righteous deed, prayer, fasting, dhikr, and crucially, Sadaqah, carries a weight in these ten days that surpasses the same deed performed at any other point in the year.
Scholars identify several reasons for the elevated status of these days:
This is one of the most commonly misunderstood distinctions in Islamic giving — and getting it right matters spiritually and practically.
Zakat is the obligatory annual almsgiving, the third pillar of Islam. It is calculated as 2.5% of qualifying wealth held above the Nisab threshold for a full lunar year. It is fard (compulsory), and its recipients are defined in Surah At-Tawbah (9:60). Zakat has fixed rules and is a duty, not a choice.
Sadaqah is a voluntary charity, any act of giving from one’s wealth, time, or even disposition. It is not obligatory, has no fixed minimum or maximum, and can be given at any time, to a broad range of causes. The Prophet ﷺ described Sadaqah expansively: “Every act of goodness is Sadaqah.” — (Sahih Muslim, 1005)
Because Sadaqah is voluntary, it is directly governed by the principle of timed worship. Just as tahajjud is more beloved than a nafl prayer at midday, Sadaqah given during the ten days of Dhul Hijjah is more beloved, and its reward is multiplied, compared to the same act in ordinary days. Zakat carries its own obligation and reward separate from timing; Sadaqah, being voluntary, benefits most dramatically from sacred seasons.
Islamic scholarship recognises a rich spectrum of Sadaqah, all of which carry enhanced reward in these ten days:
The most direct form. Donating money, regardless of the amount, to feed the hungry, provide clean water, support orphans, fund medical care, or assist displaced families. Even £1 given these days sincerely is counted as a weighty deed before Allah.
This is a charity whose benefit extends beyond the giver’s lifetime, building a well, funding a masjid, and supporting an educational programme. The Prophet ﷺ said: “When a person dies, all their deeds end except three: ongoing charity (Sadaqah Jariyah), beneficial knowledge, and a righteous child who prays for them.” — (Sahih Muslim, 1631). Investing in Sadaqah Jariyah during Dhul Hijjah thus earns reward in sacred time and continues to flow long after the ten days end.
Feeding a person in need is one of the most emphasised acts of charity in the Quran and Sunnah. “And they give food, in spite of love for it, to the poor, the orphan, and the captive.” — (Surah Al-Insan, 76:8)
The Prophet ﷺ enumerated acts that carry the weight of Sadaqah: removing harm from a path, smiling at a fellow Muslim, speaking a kind word. These too are elevated in Dhul Hijjah, a reminder that worship in these days is not only for those with wealth to give.
Don’t wait until the last day. Scholars advise setting an intention and allocating a specific sum at the start of Dhul Hijjah. Even £10 split across ten days, one pound per day, becomes a consistent act of worship across the most beloved season.
Al Qulub Trust offers the ability to automate your daily donations across the best 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah. This ensures you don’t miss a single blessed day, even when life is busy. The intention is set, the act is continuous, and the reward by Allah’s grace is uninterrupted.
Rather than one large donation to a single cause, consider spreading your Sadaqah. Support food security in Yemen one day, orphan sponsorship the next, clean water the day after. Each cause represents a different layer of human suffering, and each act of giving is a separate deed recorded by the angels.
The ten days are a season of worship, not just giving. Scholars recommend combining Sadaqah with the recommended fasting of the first nine days and the consistent recitation of Takbir, Tahmid, and Tahlil (Allahu Akbar, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah). Giving charity while in a state of heightened worship deepens the sincerity, and sincerity is what distinguishes a recorded deed from a hollow transaction.
Performing Qurbani is itself an act of charity; its meat is distributed to the poor and needy. If you haven’t yet arranged your sacrifice, this is an integral part of how Muslims give during Dhul Hijjah. Learn everything about the rulings and requirements in our complete Qurbani guide or read about family Qurbani to understand shared sacrifice arrangements.
No. Sadaqah and Zakat are distinct obligations and acts of worship. Paying Zakat at any time fulfils your annual duty; Sadaqah in Dhul Hijjah is an additional, voluntary act that earns amplified reward. Both should be given.
There is no minimum. Islamic scholars are unanimous that even the smallest act of charity, a morsel of food, a kind word, a coin, given with sincere intention carries full spiritual weight before Allah.
Yes. The scholarly consensus permits giving Sadaqah on behalf of those who have passed, and the reward reaches them by Allah’s mercy. Dhul Hijjah is a particularly auspicious time to dedicate such charity to departed parents, spouses, or friends.
Absolutely. The Prophet ﷺ said every good deed is Sadaqah. Visiting the sick, sharing knowledge, offering help to a neighbour, these count. For those with limited financial means, these ten days are still a full opportunity for amplified reward through non-monetary giving.
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