Dhul Hijjah 2027 is expected to begin on Friday, May 7, 2027, which makes the Day of Arafah Saturday, May 15 and Eid al Adha Sunday, May 16. This is the twelfth and final month of the Hijri year 1448 AH, the month of Hajj and Qurbani, and the month that opens with the ten days the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, described as the days in which righteous deeds are most beloved to Allah. The crescent will be sought on the evening of Thursday, May 6, and every date below stays subject to that sighting.
The first ten days carry an unusual weight in Islamic practice. Allah swears an oath by them in the Quran, the day of Arafah sits inside them, and the reward for fasting a single one of those days is described in terms no other voluntary fast matches. Yet most Muslims outside Hajj plan nothing for them. The day by day calendar below fixes each Islamic date to a 2027 Gregorian date so the fasting days, the Qurbani window, the takbir and the giving can be scheduled before the month arrives.
Dhul Hijjah 2027 Key Dates
| Event | Islamic date | Expected 2027 date |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomical new moon | Conjunction | Thursday, May 6, 10:59 UTC |
| First day of Dhul Hijjah | 1 Dhul Hijjah 1448 | Friday, May 7 |
| First ten days begin | 1 to 10 Dhul Hijjah | Friday, May 7 to Sunday, May 16 |
| Day of Tarwiyah, Hajj begins | 8 Dhul Hijjah | Friday, May 14 |
| Day of Arafah | 9 Dhul Hijjah | Saturday, May 15 |
| Eid al Adha, first day of Qurbani | 10 Dhul Hijjah | Sunday, May 16 |
| Days of Tashriq | 11 to 13 Dhul Hijjah | Monday, May 17 to Wednesday, May 19 |
| Qurbani window closes | Sunset, 13 Dhul Hijjah | Wednesday, May 19 |
| Islamic New Year, 1449 AH | 1 Muharram | Sunday, June 6 |
Eid al Adha falls on a Sunday in 2027, and the Day of Arafah on a Saturday. For families in the United States this is the easiest configuration in years. Both the fast and the Eid prayer land on a weekend, with no leave required.
Why the Crescent Is Sought on May 6
Conjunction occurs on Thursday, May 6, 2027 at 10:59 UTC. That places the moon between the earth and the sun in the morning, Makkah time.
By sunset over Makkah that same evening, the moon is roughly five hours old. A crescent that young cannot be seen by eye or by telescope anywhere on earth. The Umm al Qura calendar, which governs the Hajj schedule, does not require visibility. Its criterion is that conjunction occurs before sunset in Makkah and that the moon sets after the sun. Both conditions hold on May 6, so the Umm al Qura calendar places 1 Dhul Hijjah on Friday, May 7.
Countries that require a confirmed naked eye sighting will look on the evening of Friday, May 7 instead, and may begin the month on Saturday, May 8. This is why Eid al Adha is sometimes observed a day later in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh than in Saudi Arabia.
North America is a different case. The Fiqh Council of North America uses calculation for most months, but for Eid al Adha it follows the announcement of the Hajj authorities in Makkah, because the Eid is tied to the day the pilgrims stand at Arafah. American masjids should therefore observe Eid al Adha on Sunday, May 16, 2027 alongside Saudi Arabia. The same lunar year opened with Ramadan beginning on February 8, calculated from the same sequence of conjunctions.
Dhul Hijjah 2027 Day by Day Calendar
Each Islamic date begins at maghrib on the evening before the Gregorian date shown.
| Dhul Hijjah | 2027 date | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fri, May 7 | Ten blessed days begin. Qurbani intention set. Stop cutting hair and nails |
| 2 | Sat, May 8 | Voluntary fasting, dhikr, extra charity |
| 3 | Sun, May 9 | Voluntary fasting, dhikr, extra charity |
| 4 | Mon, May 10 | Voluntary fasting, dhikr, extra charity |
| 5 | Tue, May 11 | Voluntary fasting, dhikr, extra charity |
| 6 | Wed, May 12 | Voluntary fasting, dhikr, extra charity |
| 7 | Thu, May 13 | Pilgrims arrive in Makkah, ihram prepared |
| 8 | Fri, May 14 | Day of Tarwiyah. Pilgrims travel to Mina |
| 9 | Sat, May 15 | Day of Arafah. Standing at Arafah. Fast for those not on Hajj. Takbir al Tashriq begins at Fajr |
| 10 | Sun, May 16 | Eid al Adha. Eid prayer, stoning of Jamarat al Aqabah, Qurbani begins after the prayer |
| 11 | Mon, May 17 | First day of Tashriq. Qurbani continues. Fasting not permitted |
| 12 | Tue, May 18 | Second day of Tashriq. Pilgrims who hasten may leave Mina |
| 13 | Wed, May 19 | Third day of Tashriq. Qurbani window closes at sunset. Takbir ends after Asr |
| 14 | Thu, May 20 | Meat distribution and reporting continues |
| 15 | Fri, May 21 | Ordinary days of the month resume |
| 16 to 20 | Sat, May 22 to Wed, May 26 | Monday and Thursday fasts resume for those who keep them |
| 21 to 25 | Thu, May 27 to Mon, May 31 | White days of the month fall on 13, 14 and 15, already passed |
| 26 to 29 | Tue, June 1 to Fri, June 4 | Final week of 1448 AH |
| 30 | Sat, June 5 | Last day of the Hijri year |
Dhul Hijjah 1448 is projected to run thirty days, which places 1 Muharram 1449 on Sunday, June 6, 2027.
The First Ten Days and Why They Rank Above Ramadan’s Days
Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said there are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten. The companions asked whether this included jihad in the path of Allah. He answered that it did, except for a man who went out with his wealth and his life and returned with neither (Sahih al Bukhari).
Allah also swears by them in the Quran. The oath in Surah Al Fajr, by the dawn and by the ten nights, is understood by the majority of commentators, including Ibn Abbas, to refer to the first ten of Dhul Hijjah.
Scholars draw a careful distinction here. The days of Dhul Hijjah are the best days of the year. The nights of the last ten of Ramadan are the best nights, because Laylatul Qadr is among them. The two virtues do not compete. Each covers a different half of the day.
Four acts fill these ten days:
- Fasting on any of the first nine days, with the ninth carrying the greatest reward.
- Takbir, tahlil and tahmid said aloud and often, which was the practice of Ibn Umar and Abu Hurayrah in the marketplaces of Madinah.
- Charity, since a deed done in these days weighs more than the same deed done outside them.
- Qurbani, the sacrifice offered on the tenth and the three days after it.
Fasting in Dhul Hijjah 2027
Fasting is recommended on any of the first nine days, which run from Friday, May 7 to Saturday, May 15, 2027.
The ninth day carries the specific promise. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said that fasting the Day of Arafah expiates the sins of the year before it and the year after it (Sahih Muslim). In 2027 that fast falls on Saturday, May 15.
Two rules are often missed:
- Pilgrims at Arafah do not fast. The Prophet stood at Arafah without fasting so that he would have the strength for dua. The fast is for those not performing Hajj.
- Fasting is forbidden on Eid al Adha and the three days of Tashriq. That covers Sunday, May 16 through Wednesday, May 19, 2027. These are days of eating, drinking and remembrance of Allah.
Muslims in North America should follow the Saudi announcement when deciding which day to fast for Arafah, since the fast is tied to the day the pilgrims stand on the plain.
Hair and Nails From the First of the Month
Umm Salamah reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, instructed that whoever intends to offer a sacrifice should not remove anything from their hair or nails once the ten days begin, until the sacrifice is performed (Sahih Muslim).
The ruling applies from Friday, May 7, 2027 until your animal is slaughtered. Practical points that come up every year:
- The instruction is directed at the person offering the Qurbani, not at the whole household.
- Most scholars treat it as strongly recommended rather than obligatory, and a lapse does not invalidate the sacrifice.
- If your charity performs the Qurbani on your behalf, the restriction lifts once that sacrifice is carried out, not once you make the donation.
- Trimming for a medical reason or removing something that causes harm is permitted.
Qurbani Timing in 2027
The Qurbani is valid only inside a fixed window. It opens after the Eid prayer on 10 Dhul Hijjah and closes at sunset on 13 Dhul Hijjah.
| Qurbani detail | Ruling | 2027 timing |
|---|---|---|
| Earliest valid time | After the Eid prayer, not before it | Sunday, May 16 |
| Latest valid time | Before sunset on the third day of Tashriq | Wednesday, May 19 |
| Total days available | Four | May 16 to May 19 |
| Distribution of meat | Traditionally in thirds, for household, relatives and the poor | Same window |
An animal slaughtered before the Eid prayer counts as ordinary meat, not as Qurbani. This is the single most common error, and it is why charities set donation deadlines several days before Eid. Orders placed on May 15 give a field team time to buy, slaughter and distribute inside the window. Orders placed on the morning of May 16 often do not.
Takbir al Tashriq
The takbir said after every obligatory prayer begins at Fajr on the Day of Arafah and continues until Asr on the last day of Tashriq. In 2027 that is Fajr on Saturday, May 15 through Asr on Wednesday, May 19, covering twenty three prayers.
The general takbir, said at any time during the ten days rather than after prayers, begins at maghrib on Thursday, May 6, when the month enters.
Hajj 1448 Timeline
For the roughly two million pilgrims expected in Makkah, the rites follow the same fixed dates every year.
| Day | 2027 date | Rites |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Dhul Hijjah | Fri, May 14 | Ihram assumed, travel to Mina, day and night in prayer |
| 9 Dhul Hijjah | Sat, May 15 | Standing at Arafah until sunset, then Muzdalifah overnight |
| 10 Dhul Hijjah | Sun, May 16 | Stoning of Jamarat al Aqabah, sacrifice, shaving, Tawaf al Ifadah |
| 11 and 12 Dhul Hijjah | Mon and Tue, May 17 to 18 | Stoning of all three Jamarat, nights spent in Mina |
| 13 Dhul Hijjah | Wed, May 19 | Final stoning for those who did not depart early |
| Departure | After the rites | Tawaf al Wada before leaving Makkah |
Hajj registration for American pilgrims runs through the Nusuk platform and typically opens months before the season. Confirm current requirements with your licensed operator rather than relying on last year’s timeline.
Giving in the Ten Days
A deed weighs more in these ten days than the same deed weighs outside them, and charity is a deed. That principle is the reason many donors move their annual giving into this window rather than spreading it evenly.
Three approaches suit the month:
Daily Sadaqah across the ten days. Small amounts given on each of the ten days keeps the giving consistent, which is the quality the Prophet, peace be upon him, praised most.
Qurbani. One share feeds a family that may eat meat only once or twice a year. Confirm with any organisation that the slaughter falls inside the May 16 to May 19 window and that you receive proof of delivery.
A project that outlasts the month. Building a water well or funding a school keeps earning long after the meat is eaten. This is the form of giving most often chosen on behalf of a deceased parent, since the reward continues to reach them.
MWA Charity has served vulnerable communities since 2012 as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit, EIN 83-0841269, working in Uganda, India and Pakistan. Donors receive photos and videos of the specific project they funded, including the depth and location of the well they built. Before giving anywhere, check the EIN, read the most recent financial statement and ask whether the organisation sends proof of delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Dhul Hijjah 2027 start?
Dhul Hijjah 1448 AH is expected to begin on Friday, May 7, 2027, based on the Umm al Qura calendar. The crescent will be sought on the evening of Thursday, May 6, and countries that rely on physical sighting may begin the month a day later.
When is Eid al Adha 2027?
Eid al Adha 2027 is expected on Sunday, May 16, 2027, corresponding to 10 Dhul Hijjah 1448 AH. Muslims in North America follow the Makkah announcement for this Eid, so American masjids should observe it on the same day as Saudi Arabia.
When is the Day of Arafah 2027?
The Day of Arafah falls on 9 Dhul Hijjah, expected to be Saturday, May 15, 2027. Pilgrims stand on the plain of Arafah from after Dhuhr until sunset, and Muslims who are not on Hajj fast that day.
What is the reward for fasting on the Day of Arafah?
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said that fasting the Day of Arafah expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year. This applies to minor sins and to those not performing Hajj, since pilgrims at Arafah do not fast.
Which days of Dhul Hijjah 2027 can I fast?
Fasting is recommended on any of the first nine days, from Friday, May 7 to Saturday, May 15, 2027. Fasting is forbidden on Eid al Adha and the three days of Tashriq, which run from Sunday, May 16 to Wednesday, May 19.
When can Qurbani be performed in 2027?
Qurbani is valid from after the Eid prayer on Sunday, May 16 until sunset on Wednesday, May 19, 2027. An animal slaughtered before the Eid prayer does not count as Qurbani, so donations should be placed several days in advance.
Do I have to stop cutting my hair and nails in Dhul Hijjah?
Anyone intending to offer a Qurbani is instructed to leave their hair and nails from the start of the month until the sacrifice is complete, which in 2027 means from Friday, May 7. Most scholars treat this as strongly recommended, and a lapse does not invalidate the sacrifice.
Are the ten days of Dhul Hijjah better than the last ten of Ramadan?
The days of Dhul Hijjah are considered the best days of the year, while the nights of the last ten of Ramadan are the best nights because Laylatul Qadr falls among them. Scholars treat the two as complementary rather than competing.
When does the Islamic new year 1449 begin?
Dhul Hijjah 1448 is projected to run thirty days, ending Saturday, June 5, 2027, which places 1 Muharram 1449 on Sunday, June 6, 2027. The date remains subject to the sighting of the Muharram crescent.
