There are many references of Dhul Hijjah and Hajj in the Quran and Sunnah, due to their importance in Islam. From requirements to virtues to history, join us for a quick overview of these many references!

What is Dhul Hijjah?

Dhul Hijjah is the Hijri calendar's 12th and final month. In the calendar, it is one of four sacred or holy months. The others are Muharram, Rajab, and Dhul Qa'dah. During these months, Allah's SWT bounties are multiplied, and so are opportunities to earn rewards.

Since the Hijri calendar is shorter than the Gregorian calendar, Dhul Hijjah occurs at different times of the year. This year, Dhul Hijjah began on the evening of July 10, 2021.

Dhul Hijjah is regarded as one of the holiest months in the Islamic calendar. In this month of increased spirituality, two highly unique, interrelated rituals take place: Hajj and Eid ul Adha, both of which are done to please Allah SWT and grow closer to Him.

The Islamic sacred rituals of Hajj commence on the eighth day of Dhul Hijjah at al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and finish on the twelfth (or thirteenth) day, which also corresponds with the end of Eid ul-Adha which lasts three days.

The annual Hajj pilgrimage concludes with Eid al-Adha. Eid ul-Adha is the most important of Islam's two Eids. It is a reminder and a celebration of Prophet Ibrahim's (PBUH) total submission to Allah SWT through his willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail (PBUH), in order to carry out Allah's SWT commands that he witnessed in his dreams.

Reference of Dhul Hijjah in the Quran and Sunnah

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to educate his companions about the virtues of the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah. 

Narrated Ibn Abbas: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah)." Then some companions of the Prophet said, "Not even Jihad?" He replied, "Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah's sake) and does not return with any of those things." (Tirmidhi)

Dhul Hijjah isn't mentioned by name in the Quran. However, scholars explained that some verses refer to this month specifically. According to Ibn Abbas, the verse "Remember Allah during the well-known days" from Surah Al Baqarah relates to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, as related by Bukhari.

Also, when Allah SWT swore by 10 days in the Holy Quran, scholars explained it to be the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah: 

وَالْفَجْر وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ

"By the Dawn; By the ten nights" (Surah Al-Fajr, 89:1-2)

Dhul Hijjah was also mentioned among the four Holy months in the Quran:

إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِندَ اللَّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ

"Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months [in a year], so was it ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them, four are sacred [ i.e. the 1st, the 7th, and the 11th months of the Islamic calendar.]" (Surah At-Tawbah, 9:36)

What is Hajj in Islam?

Hajj is the most significant pilgrimage in Mecca. It is the fifth pillar of Islam. Hajj is a religious requirement that all Muslims must complete at least once in their lifetime if they have the financial and physical resources to do so.

Allah SWT commanded Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to declare Hajj to the people, and they would come to you on foot or on camels from every remote area.

As a result, Muslims from all over the world gather together in the name of Allah SWT every year to revive the Hajj rites, following in the early paths of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his followers.

Allah SWT emphasized the importance of Hajj in terms of rewards. Our Prophet (PBUH) explained to his companions that, "He who came to this House (the Ka'bah) (with the intention in performing Hajj) without speaking or committing indecencies, would return (free from sin) as on the day his mother bore him." (Muslim)

Every year, pilgrims travel to Mecca for Hajj for five days during the month of Dhul Hijjah. Before landing at Mecca, pilgrims cleanse themselves with ablutions and prayer. Men next put on two seamless white robes, which signify human equality as well as ritual cleanliness. Women wear modest clothes that draw no attention. They thus enter the sacred state of ihram.

Check out and download our Hajj Map here to see the route of the pilgrims!

Pilgrims first arrive in Mecca to conduct Tawaf (circumambulation) around the Kaaba reciting Azkar. The pilgrims will then normally leave to spend the day at Mina's tent city, where they will stay until the next morning praying and reading the Quran.

Pilgrims assemble in the Arafah mount on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah to spend Arafah Day, the climax of Hajj. Then, as the sun begins to set, pilgrims head towards Muzdalifah, where they will spend the night. They then return to Mina to conduct the first "rami," which involves tossing seven stones at the Jamarat pillars.

Finally, pilgrims arrive in Mecca to conduct the back-and-forth walk (Sa'i) between Safa and Marwa, followed by the last Tawaf of the Kaaba, known as the Farewell Tawaf at Masjid al-Haram.

References of Hajj in the Quran and Sunnah

Hajj in the Quran

There are numerous references to Hajj in the Quran, whether by name or by mentioning some of the rites, rituals, virtues or history of this pilgrimage. Some of these references are mentioned below:

وَأَذِّن فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ

"And proclaim to the people the Hajj [pilgrimage]; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass" (Surah al-Hajj, 22:27)

In the following ayah, Allah SWT lists the things that are forbidden in order for Hajj to be performed correctly, emphasizing that Allah knows every good we do during this period:

الْحَجُّ أَشْهُرٌ مَّعْلُومَاتٌ ۚ فَمَن فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ الْحَجَّ فَلَا رَفَثَ وَلَا فُسُوقَ وَلَا جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ ۗ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ يَعْلَمْهُ اللَّهُ

"Hajj is [during] well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of ihram], there is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj. And whatever good you do – Allah knows it." (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:197)

Here, Allah SWT states that whoever enters the place of Ibrahim (Maqam Ibrahim, PBUH) around the Kaaba is safe and secure due to Allah's divine protection. And anyone who is capable of going must submit.

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

"In it are clear signs [such as] the standing place of Ibrahim. And whoever enters it shall be safe. And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House – for whoever is able to find thereto away. But whoever disbelieves – then indeed, Allah is free from the need of the worlds." (Surah Aali-'Imraan)

Hajj in the Ahadith

Hajj was also immensely mentioned in ahadith. As reported of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):

"One who comes to this House for Hajj and avoids all lewdness and sins, he returns as he was on the day his mother gave birth to him." (Bukhari and Muslim)

This Hadith below also indicates that attending Hajj will wipe away all of your sins, no matter how great or minor they were before Hajj:

"O Amr! Do you not know that embracing Islam washes away all sins committed before it (during disbelief)? And that migration (Hijrah) washes away all sins committed before it. And that Hajj wipes out all sins committed before it" (Muslim)

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) told us of the ultimate virtue of Hajj, which, when accepted, has no less of a reward than Paradise!

Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said: "'Umrah is an expiation for the time between it and the previous 'Umrah, and an accepted Hajj has no less a reward than Paradise." (Al-Bukhaari, Muslim)

May Allah SWT accept the Hajj of all pilgrims who are currently performing it and allow us all to visit His House for Hajj very soon, ameen!