Dhul Hijjah is one of the holiest months on the Islamic calendar. Keep reading to learn everything there is to know about the Holy Month of Dhul Hijjah and the significance of the first ten days.
Did you know that 1.8 million Muslims performed the Hajj in 2024 alone? Dhul Hijjah is one of the most sacred times of year for Muslims worldwide.
In this article, we explain its significance, when it will occur in 2025, and share more about the ten days of Arafah.
Dhul Hijjah is an annual observance that falls in the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar, when Muslims make their way to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
The sacred month of Dhul Hijjah is also known as the “month of the pilgrimage.” It is considered one of the four holiest months of the year, along with Muharram, Dhul-Qa’dah, and Rajab.
Once Muslims perform the Hajj pilgrimage – the journey to Mecca – they celebrate Eid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice. Since it is one of the five pillars of Islam, Muslims are expected to perform the Hajj at least once in their lifetime, if they can do so.
The sighting of the moon will determine when Dhul Hijjah starts, but it’s expected to fall on May 28, 2025. Day of Arafah – the ninth day of Dhul Hijjah – is estimated to fall on June 5, 2025, followed by Eid al-Adha, which will fall on June 6, 2025.
The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are considered to be the holiest and most virtuous days of the year – even more so than Ramadan!
In fact, the Holy Quran states that the Prophet Muhammad proclaimed that no righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than those performed during the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. These ten days are also called the “ten days of Arafah.”
This time is when blessings and rewards are multiplied and sins are forgiven. It is also considered a second chance for Muslims to seek spiritual renewal and strengthen their relationship with Allah if they feel their efforts were insufficient during Ramadan.
Muslims commit to increased prayer, fasting, sadaqah (charity), reflection, and seeking forgiveness of sins during the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) is also a sign of increased devotion during this time.
But the most virtuous deed of all is to perform the Hajj pilgrimage, and it is encouraged for those who can do so.
Fasting is especially important on the Day of Arafah (the ninth day), as it is said to increase spiritual redemption and the forgiveness of past and future sins.
Muslims who perform the Hajj stand on the plains of Arafah in Mecca on this day. They fast, worship, and seek atonement for sins.
The Day of Arafah is also significant as it is the day that Allah perfected the religion of Islam, which is why it is considered the holiest day of the year.
On the tenth day, Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice. This day commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim’s ultimate devotion to Allah through the Qurbani (sacrifice) of his son, Ismail. Eid al-Adha signifies the completion of the Hajj at the time of Qurbani.
This is why Eid al-Adha is a time of profound sacrifice and generosity seen through increased charity toward the less fortunate.
Once Eid prayers – called Eid salaah – have taken place on the morning of Eid, the act of qurbani takes place. During Qurbani, an animal is slaughtered to commemorate the Prophet Ibrahim’s sacrifice. The Qurbani meat is split equally into three portions for family, friends, and the less fortunate.
Dhul Hijjah is the ideal time to invest greatly in faith and worship. Muslims can prepare themselves for spiritual renewal and receive increased blessings through fasting, which teaches patience, tolerance, and sacrifice.
Through increased acts of worship – including repentance, charitable giving, good deeds, and prayer – Muslims are washed clean of their sins and prepare for the eternal reward of entering Jannah (paradise).
Dhul Hijjah is a time of increased charity and giving back to the ummah (the Muslim community) to receive multiplied blessings from Allah.
Let’s explore the different ways to show generosity during Dhul Hijjah in 2025 and beyond.
Muslims prioritize giving sadaqah – a voluntary form of charity – during Dhul Hijjah. This means they give out of the goodness of their heart, with no expectation of anything in return.
Give sadaqah in the form of monetary donations, acts of service or kindness, and in-kind donations.
Are you a Muslim charity collecting sadaqah? Learn how you can make it easy for the ummah to give sadaqah faithfully in this blog post.
All Muslims who are able must offer Qurbani to commemorate the ultimate sacrifice of the Prophet Ibrahim and abide by the wishes of Allah. Qurbani of a livestock animal must be divided into three equal parts, with one part being donated to the less fortunate.
Qurbani donations are given to the poor after the Eid call to prayer on Eid al-Adha. Donations can also be given to Islamic organizations that distribute it amongst the poor.
See how this organization collected Qurbani donations using a Donorbox donation form:
Start Fundraising with Donorbox
Qurbani prices will vary from country to country, and even city to city. In some places, a Qurbani donation covers the price of a smaller livestock animal, such as a goat or sheep. In others, the donation covers one-seventh of a larger animal, such as a cow.
You will need to do your research on local Qurbani prices to find one that suits your budget best. If you opt for a cheaper Qurbani price and can increase your share, you are encouraged to do so to receive multiplied blessings from Allah while feeding more of the needy.
Some Islamic charities also include a Qurbani calculator to help you calculate the amount you need to give.
Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam and an obligation of every qualifying Muslim. As a form of sadaqah, zakat assists the less fortunate and also serves as a purification of wealth for Muslims who give it.
Zakat and zakat al-fitr differ based on when they are due, who is eligible to pay it, and how they are calculated. For zakat, if your wealth exceeds the nisab threshold (based on the market value of gold) within one lunar year, you must give away 2.5% of your excess wealth to the less fortunate.
You can donate your zakat to a trustworthy Muslim charity.
Bonus resource: Use our zakat calculator to work out how much you need to give!
Mosque crowdfunding is an incredibly popular way to collect donations that help the ummah. But you can also use crowdfunding campaigns to raise funds to fulfill your obligation to perform the Hajj pilgrimage – especially if you face financial constraints.
Lean on your family, friends, and the ummah to collect funds through a customizable crowdfunding campaign hosted for free on Donorbox. Include your moving fundraising story plus visuals that inspire generosity. And, add a goal meter to showcase what you need to reach your revenue goal.
There are many ways to engage your supporters and keep the momentum going! Provide social proof and spotlight top supporters with a virtual donor wall, which boosts donations! Your supporters can also share your campaign on social media using the social sharing buttons on your page, helping you reach a wider network.
Want to learn more? Read our blog post on starting a crowdfunding page.
Launch Your Crowdfunding Campaign
Many Islamic charities make it easy for the ummah to give back faithfully by accepting donations online or in person. Here are some ways to get started!
Make giving easy this Dhul Hijjah with an online donation form that allows your supporters to give with their preferred payment method.
Set designations so donors can easily give whichever kind of charity they would like – whether it’s zakat, Qurbani, or something else, the way this masjid did.
Customize your donation form to match your organization’s branding and automatically send a receipt to show donors your gratitude immediately.
Plus, add up to four donation intervals to your donation form – one time, daily, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annual. Recurring donors provide sustainable support for your mission. Daily giving is especially popular during the 10 Days of Arafah, too!
Giving during Dhul Hijjah brings multiplied blessings – and helps someone understand the significance of Arafah. Provide your supporters with an easy way to repeat their gifts in just a couple of clicks.
With Donorbox QuickDonate™, any donor can give again simply by logging in to their Donor Portal, selecting their last gift, and repeating it. This streamlines the process for them while bringing in more donations to support the neediest in your community.
Tip: Through the Donor Portal, donors can also pause, change, or cancel their recurring donation. Be sure to educate your donors about this feature to help them feel empowered to set up recurring donations!
In-person fundraising events are a wonderful way to encourage charitable giving during the Holy Month of Dhul Hijjah in 2025. Host a fundraising event to boost donations that enable the less fortunate to join in on the Eid al-Adha celebrations.
Leverage a powerful event ticketing software that allows you to promote your Eid event to the ummah and sell tickets online. With Donorbox Events, create a brand-aligned event form, include numerous ticket tiers, leverage promo codes to boost sales, and more.
Maximize the planning process by collecting donor information during purchase, assigning individual tickets to attendees, offering multiple payment methods, streamlining guest check-in, and more. Plus, Donorbox Events automatically generates tax-deductible amounts when you provide the fair-market value, with tax receipts sent directly to donors. This minimizes your workload so you can focus on what matters – creating an engaging and successful event!
Bonus resource: Discover the nine simple steps to planning a successful event (with a free checklist!) here.
Take your in-person fundraising event or Friday prayers to the next level with a donation kiosk that allows you to accept cashless donations when the ummah feels most moved to give. Donors can give using their credit/debit cards, smartphones, and even smartwatches. Place your giving kiosk at the entry and exit points of your mosque, making giving easy and convenient.
Donorbox Live™ Kiosk allows you to turn your iPad, Android tablet, or NFC-enabled Android smartphone into a powerful donation kiosk. Include donation designations like Qurbani, sadaqah, and zakat to make it easy for the ummah to indicate where their donation should go.
This ensures optimal convenience for the ummah and amplifies your donation potential, allowing you to help more people in return.
Check out how the Islamic Center of Passaic County used Donorbox Live to raise over $40,000!
Dhul Hijjah is an important time of spiritual renewal and worship. It’s also a time of increased charity and good deeds.
As the ummah partakes in Dhul Hijjah in 2025, it’s important for Islamic organizations to streamline the process of giving back with convenient online and in-person fundraising solutions.
Donorbox has helped more than 100,000 organizations – including Islamic organizations – raise a collective $3 billion and counting. From brand-aligned donation forms to peer-to-peer and crowdfunding, events, and in-person fundraising solutions, our powerful fundraising features make it easy to raise donations and fulfill your mission.
Sign up today to start fundraising in minutes!
For more helpful articles to accelerate your Islamic fundraising efforts, head over to our Nonprofit Blog and YouTube channel. Sign up for our monthly newsletter for exclusive insights that fuel fundraising sent directly to your inbox.
Subscribe to our e-newsletter to receive the latest blogs, news, and more in your inbox.
Jamy-Lee Holt