First 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah with Kids: Sunnah Activities + Hajj Lesson

The best Dhul Hijjah activities for kids are the deeds the Sunnah already gives us for these ten days: saying the takbir often, fasting, especially the Day of ‘Arafah (for children old enough), learning about Hajj, taking part in the udhiyah (sacrifice), and going out together for the Eid al-Adha prayer. No crafts, countdowns or new rituals are needed. These are the best days of the whole year, and the deeds that fill them are already set out for us.

When are they in 2027? Dhul Hijjah 1448 is expected to begin around 7 or 8 May 2027, with the Day of ‘Arafah around 15 or 16 May and Eid al-Adha around 16 or 17 May 2027. These are astronomical estimates. The actual dates depend on the sighting of the moon, so follow your local announcement.

Why these ten days matter

Allah swears by them in the Qur’an:

وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ

“And [by] ten nights.” (al-Fajr 89:2). Ibn ‘Abbas and others among the early scholars said these are the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, and Ibn Kathir said this is the correct view.

The Prophet (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 cause of Allah?” He said, “Not even jihad in the cause of Allah, except a man who goes out with himself and his wealth and comes back with nothing.” (at-Tirmidhi 757, graded sahih by al-Albani; the same meaning is in al-Bukhari 969)

How I explain it to my children: “These ten days are like Ramadan’s last ten nights for good deeds. Every good thing we do now is extra beloved to Allah.”

1. The takbir: fill the house with “Allahu akbar”

Saying the takbir is the signature deed of these days. Allah says the pilgrims “mention the name of Allah on known days” (al-Hajj 22:28) and “remember Allah during [specific] numbered days” (al-Baqarah 2:203). Imam al-Bukhari mentions in his Sahih (as a report without its full chain) that Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah used to go out to the marketplace in the ten days saying the takbir, and the people would say the takbir when they heard them.

The wording. Shaykh Ibn Baz gave this as the form of the takbir for both Eids:

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ

Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar, Allahu akbar, wa lillahil-hamd. “Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, none has the right to be worshipped but Allah; Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and to Allah belongs all praise.”

Ibn Baz also mentions saying Allahu akbar three times at the start, and he said that all of these are prescribed. (Ibn Baz, fatwa on the form of the takbir, binbaz.org.sa)

When. From the start of Dhul Hijjah until sunset on the 13th, the takbir can be said at any time: at home, in the car, in the shop. From Fajr on the Day of ‘Arafah until the end of the 13th, it is also said after the obligatory prayers, once the usual post-prayer adhkar are finished. (Ibn Baz, Majmu’ al-Fatawa 13/17)

How. Each person says it on their own. Men and boys raise their voices; women and girls say it more quietly. Do not say it in a chorus led by one voice, where everyone starts and stops together. Shaykh Ibn Baz and the Permanent Committee (al-Lajnah ad-Da’imah) ruled that the collective takbir is an innovation. The people in the market said the takbir each by himself when they heard Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah.

Activities for the takbir:

• Takbir card. Write the takbir in big Arabic letters with the transliteration underneath and stick it by the front door. Say it every time you go in or out.
• Takbir on the move. In the car or on a walk, everyone says it in their own time. Little ones love hearing Dad’s voice carry.
• Count on your fingers. If your child likes to count their dhikr, use their fingers, never beads or a counter.

2. Fasting, and the Day of ‘Arafah

Fasting is among the best of good deeds, so fasting some of these first nine days is a good way to fill them. The fast the Prophet (ﷺ) singled out is the Day of ‘Arafah (the 9th):

“Fasting the Day of ‘Arafah: I hope from Allah that it expiates the year before it and the year after it.” (Muslim 1162)

صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ وَالسَّنَةَ الَّتِي بَعْدَهُ

This fast is for those who are not on Hajj. The pilgrims at ‘Arafah do not fast: the Prophet (ﷺ) drank milk in front of the people there (al-Bukhari 1988). And we don’t fast on the day of Eid or on the days of tashriq (11th to 13th), which the Prophet (ﷺ) called “days of eating and drinking” (Muslim 1141).

For children: fasting is not obligatory on a child, but training them is the way of the Companions. A child who is already practising for Ramadan can try a half day or a full day on ‘Arafah, depending on age and health. Use the same gentle steps as in our guide to teaching children to fast. If your child has any health condition, check with your doctor first, and break the fast at once if they become unwell.

On the Day of ‘Arafah, keep children close to dua. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “There is no day on which Allah frees more servants from the Fire than the Day of ‘Arafah.” (Muslim 1348). After ‘Asr, sit together and let each child make dua in their own words.

3. A Hajj lesson for kids

Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam (al-Bukhari 8), obligatory once in a lifetime on everyone who is able:

فِيهِ آيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ مَقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ۖ وَمَنْ دَخَلَهُ كَانَ آمِنًا ۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا ۚ وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ

”…And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House, for whoever is able to find thereto a way…” (Al ‘Imran 3:97)

Teach the talbiyah, the words the pilgrims say:

لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ

Labbayk Allahumma labbayk, labbayk la sharika laka labbayk, innal-hamda wan-ni’mata laka wal-mulk, la sharika lak. (al-Bukhari 1549)

Explain that it is said by the pilgrims in ihram; at home, our dhikr for these days is the takbir.

Hajj, step by step (as the Prophet ﷺ did it, from Jabir’s hadith, Muslim 1218):

Then link it back to the story of Prophet Ibrahim: the Ka’bah he and Isma’il built, and Hajar’s seven runs between Safa and Marwah. Children understand Hajj far better when they know whose footsteps the pilgrims are following.

And give them something to hope for: “The reward of an accepted Hajj is nothing less than Paradise.” (al-Bukhari 1773)

4. The udhiyah (Eid sacrifice)

Allah says: “So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone]” (al-Kawthar 108:2), and:

لَنْ يَنَالَ اللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَاؤُهَا وَلَٰكِنْ يَنَالُهُ التَّقْوَىٰ مِنْكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمْ لِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

“Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you…” (al-Hajj 22:37)

The Prophet (ﷺ) sacrificed two rams with his own hand, saying Allah’s name and the takbir (al-Bukhari 5565; Muslim 1966). The sacrifice is done after the Eid prayer, not before (al-Bukhari 5545).

Hair and nails. Whoever intends to sacrifice does not cut his hair or nails from the start of Dhul Hijjah “until he has sacrificed” (Muslim 1977). The hadith is about the one who is sacrificing. Talk about it with your children so they understand why Dad, or whoever is sacrificing, is waiting.

How children can take part:

• Talk about why. Explain that the udhiyah is for Allah alone, following the way of Ibrahim.
• Kindness to the animal. Teach the hadith: “Allah has prescribed excellence in everything… let one of you sharpen his blade and spare the animal suffering” (Muslim 1955). Children can bring water and food for the animal.
• Watching. Older children who are ready can watch respectfully from a distance. Don’t push a sensitive younger child.
• Sharing the meat. “So eat of them and feed the miserable and poor” (al-Hajj 22:28). Children can help pack and deliver portions to neighbours and to people in need.

5. Eid al-Adha

• Don’t eat before the prayer. The Prophet (ﷺ) did not eat on the day of al-Adha until he had prayed (at-Tirmidhi 542, graded sahih by al-Albani). Breakfast can come after, from the udhiyah meat if you have it.
• Everyone goes out. Umm ‘Atiyyah said they were ordered to bring out even the young girls to the Eid prayer (al-Bukhari 974). Take the little ones.
• Takbir on the way. Each person on their own, as above.
• Days of eating, drinking and remembering Allah. The 11th to 13th are for family, good food and dhikr (Muslim 1141). Keep the takbir going until sunset on the 13th.

For the full Eid morning routine, see our Eid activities for kids, the Sunnah way. The same Sunnahs of ghusl, good clothes and taking a different route home apply to both Eids.

What to avoid

• No invented practices. There are no special prayers, special nights or set numbers of rak’ahs for these days. Stick to what is narrated.
• No group takbir in unison. Each person says it on their own.
• No countdown calendars or decorations for the ten days. Keep the focus on the deeds themselves.
• No music or instrumental nasheeds, and no cartoons, even “Islamic” ones.

A simple daily checklist (not a countdown)

Print this page or copy it onto paper. Each day, tick what your child did:

• Said the takbir (at home, in the car, after prayer)
• Prayed on time
• Read or listened to some Qur’an
• Did one kind deed or gave some sadaqah
• Made one dua for someone else
• (Older children) Fasted, or part of the day

Our free good deeds tracker works well for this too, and the Islamic calendar printable helps children see where Dhul Hijjah falls in the year.

Activities by age

Ages 3 to 5: Learn the takbir by heart. Tell the story of Hajar and Zamzam. Help put out food for the udhiyah animal, or help pack meat bags.

Ages 6 to 8: Learn the talbiyah. Draw a Hajj map with places and arrows only (Mina, ‘Arafah, Muzdalifah, the Jamarat, the Ka’bah) and trace the route day by day. Try a half-day fast on ‘Arafah if they are ready.

Ages 9 to 12: Read al-Hajj 22:26-37 in translation together. Fast the Day of ‘Arafah if they are able. Let them take charge of the meat deliveries and keep a list of who received what.

Frequently asked questions

What should kids do in the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah? Say the takbir often, pray on time, read Qur’an, give charity, fast if they are old enough (especially the Day of ‘Arafah), learn about Hajj and Ibrahim, and take part in the udhiyah and Eid al-Adha.

Should children fast the Day of ‘Arafah? It is not obligatory for children, but it is good to train them gently, as the Companions trained their children to fast. Judge by age and health, and speak to your doctor if your child has a medical condition.

What is the takbir for Dhul Hijjah? Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar, Allahu akbar, wa lillahil-hamd. It is said from the start of Dhul Hijjah until sunset on the 13th, by each person on their own.

Do children have to avoid cutting their hair and nails? The hadith (Muslim 1977) is about the person who intends to make the sacrifice. Our children understand it as something the one sacrificing does.

When is Dhul Hijjah 2027? It is expected to begin around 7 or 8 May 2027, with Eid al-Adha around 16 or 17 May 2027. These dates are estimates and depend on the moon sighting.

May Allah accept from us and from our children in these blessed days. Ameen.