27.04.2026
Every year, as the Islamic calendar turns toward its final month, Muslims around the world feel the shift. Dhul Hijjah is not just a date on a calendar — it is the month of Hajj, the month of the Feast of Sacrifice, and the month the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ described as containing the most beloved days to Allah for righteous deeds. In 2026, it begins around Monday, May 18, and Eid al-Adha falls on Tuesday, May 27. All dates are subject to moon sighting confirmation.
The First Ten Days: The Most Virtuous of the Year
The month opens with ten days unlike any other in the Islamic calendar. The Prophet ﷺ said: "There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days." (Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith 969) Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah wrote that these ten days — combining the virtue of the day and the night — surpass even the last ten nights of Ramadan for the reward of daytime deeds.
From May 18, when the crescent of Dhul Hijjah is sighted, the month's spiritual weight begins immediately. These first nine days before Eid al-Adha are a window for fasting, extra prayer, dhikr, Quran recitation, and giving in charity. If you intend to give Qurbani this year, the tradition is to stop cutting your hair and nails from the 1st of Dhul Hijjah until your sacrifice has been completed — a practice established in Sahih Muslim (hadith 1977).
The 8th of Dhul Hijjah — Sunday, May 25: Yawm al-Tarwiyah
The 8th of Dhul Hijjah is known as Yawm al-Tarwiyah — the Day of Watering. It is the day pilgrims performing Hajj leave Makkah and travel to the valley of Mina, where they spend the night in prayer and preparation. For the millions of Muslims not on Hajj this year, it is a day of personal preparation — a moment to turn inward as the greatest day of the year draws close.
The 9th of Dhul Hijjah — Monday, May 26: The Day of Arafah
No day in the Islamic year carries more spiritual weight than this one. On the plain of Arafah, outside Makkah, hundreds of thousands of Hajj pilgrims stand in supplication from midday until sunset — an act the Prophet ﷺ described as the heart of Hajj itself: "Hajj is Arafah." (Sunan al-Nasa'i)
For Muslims who are not performing Hajj, the Day of Arafah is a day of fasting, dua, and dhikr. The Prophet ﷺ was asked about fasting on this day and said it "expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year." (Sahih Muslim, hadith 1162) No other voluntary fast in the year carries this reward. Spend the afternoon — from after Dhuhr until Maghrib — in sincere supplication, mirroring the pilgrims on the plain.
The Day of Arafah is also the last day to ensure your Qurbani is arranged. The sacrifice window opens the following morning, after the Eid prayer — so May 26 is the day to confirm your donation if giving through a charity.
The Day of Arafah is tomorrow’s sacrifice made meaningful. Give your Qurbani before Eid al-Adha arrives — your sacrifice reaches a family who needs it on the Feast of Sacrifice.
The 10th of Dhul Hijjah — Tuesday, May 27: Eid al-Adha
Eid al-Adha — the Feast of Sacrifice, Eid ul-Adha, the Big Eid — begins the morning after Arafah. It commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim's (AS) willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail (AS) in obedience to Allah, and the divine mercy that replaced Ismail with a ram at the last moment. Every year on this day, Muslims across the world honour that act of submission through Qurbani — the sacrifice of a livestock animal whose meat is shared with family, neighbours, and those in need.
The day begins with ghusl, wearing your best clothes, and attending the Eid prayer. After the prayer, the Qurbani sacrifice window opens. Do not fast on Eid al-Adha — fasting on this day is prohibited. The Takbeer fills the air from the moment Fajr breaks on the Day of Arafah and continues through the 13th: "Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa lillahil hamd."
The 11th–13th of Dhul Hijjah — May 28–30: The Days of Tashreeq
Eid al-Adha does not end on the 10th. The celebration extends through the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul Hijjah — the Days of Tashreeq. The Qurbani sacrifice window remains open through sunset on May 30, so those who were unable to give on Eid day can still complete their sacrifice. Fasting is prohibited on all three days — these are days of eating, remembrance, and community.
For Hajj pilgrims, the Days of Tashreeq involve the stoning of the Jamarat in Mina and, for most, the completion of the major Hajj rites. For Muslims at home, they are days to visit family, give generously, and continue the Takbeer after every prayer until Asr on the 13th.
Dhul Hijjah 2026 and Qurbani
For Muslims in the United States, giving Qurbani through a charity is the most widely practised route — and it is fully valid. Scholars across all four major schools permit appointing a trusted agent (wakeel) to perform the sacrifice on your behalf in a country where the need is greatest. Human Appeal carries out Qurbani in 41 countries after the Eid prayer on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, distributing fresh meat to families who may have no other source of protein during Eid al-Adha. In 2025, over 1.17 million people were reached through the programme.
The sacrifice window in 2026 runs from after Eid prayer on May 27 through sunset on May 30. Donations can be made in advance — Human Appeal will carry out the sacrifice on your behalf at the correct time, in the correct manner, in whichever of its 41 programme countries your Qurbani is assigned.
Sources
Quran: Surah Al-Fajr (89:1–2) — classical commentators identify the "ten nights" as the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. Sahih al-Bukhari: Hadith 969 — the Prophet ﷺ on the virtue of righteous deeds in the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.
Sahih Muslim: Hadith 1162 — fasting on the Day of Arafah expiates the sins of two years. Hadith 1977 — refraining from cutting hair and nails for the one giving Qurbani. Sunan al-Nasa'i:"Hajj is Arafah" — authenticated by Sheikh al-Albani. Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah: Zad al-Ma'ad — on the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah being the greatest days for worship.
