Guide · Islamic Calendar

Dhikr for special days: a calendar of adhkar through the year.

The Islamic year has its peaks — days and seasons where worship is multiplied and certain dhikr is emphasised. This is a quick calendar of them: what to say on each, the authentic source, and an honest note where a popular practice has no firm basis. Through all of them, your daily morning, evening and after-salah adhkar remain the foundation.

Every Friday — Jumu'ah

The best day of the week. Increase salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ ("Increase your salawat upon me on the day of Jumu'ah" — Abu Dawud, sahih), recite Surah al-Kahf, and seek the hour of acceptance in the last part of the day after Asr.

→ Full Friday dhikr guide with references

Ramadan — the month of the Quran

Increase istighfar, SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, and Quran. In the last ten nights, the Laylatul Qadr dua takes over: Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa fa'fu 'anni (Tirmidhi, sahih).

→ Ramadan dhikr (30-day guide) · first 10 days · last 10 nights

First 10 days of Dhul Hijjah

The greatest days of the year for deeds. The Prophet ﷺ told us to increase the tahlil, takbir and tahmid — La ilaha illa Allah, Allahu Akbar, Alhamdulillah (Ahmad, sahih).

→ Dhul Hijjah, Arafah & Eid dhikr with references

The Day of Arafah (9th Dhul Hijjah)

The best day for dua in the year. The best words to say:

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ La ilaha illa Allah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamd, wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir. — "The best dua is the dua of the Day of Arafah…" (Tirmidhi 3585)

Eid al-Fitr & Eid al-Adha — the takbir

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la ilaha illa Allah, wallahu akbar, Allahu akbar, wa lillahil-hamd. — Wording reported from Ibn Mas'ud (RA)

On Eid al-Adha it continues as the Tashreeq takbir after every fard prayer until Asr on the 13th of Dhul Hijjah.

Muharram & the Day of Ashura (10th Muharram)

Here we should be careful and clear. The established Sunnah of Muharram — the sacred month — and of Ashura is fasting:

"Fasting the Day of Ashura — I hope that Allah will expiate by it the year that came before it." — Sahih Muslim 1162

It is recommended to fast the 9th and 10th together. However, there is no authentic, specific "dhikr of Ashura" or dua to be recited a fixed number of times for protection through the year — the versions widely shared each Muharram have no reliable basis in the Sunnah. The way to honour Ashura is to fast it, make sincere dua, and keep your normal daily dhikr — not to add an unestablished ritual to it. Being faithful to what is authentic is the worship.

A note on the night of mid-Sha'ban (Shab e Barat)

Similarly, the reports of a specific fixed dhikr or set number of rak'ahs for the night of mid-Sha'ban are weak or unauthenticated. There is no harm in general night prayer and dua — as on any night — but it should not be singled out with invented counts or rituals. When in doubt, return to what is firmly established.

The foundation under all of them

None of these special-day adhkar replace the daily ones — they sit on top of them. The Muslim who keeps the morning and evening adhkar, the after-salah dhikr, and a daily count of the best dhikr is the one ready to make the most of every blessed season when it comes.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need different dhikr for every occasion?

No — the daily adhkar are the core, and you simply increase a particular emphasis on each blessed day (more salawat on Friday, more takbir in Dhul Hijjah, more istighfar in Ramadan). The phrases are mostly the same; the season changes which you lean into.

How do I avoid unauthentic "special day" practices?

Stick to what is reported in the authentic books — Bukhari, Muslim, and the Sunan with reliable gradings. If a practice prescribes a precise count "for a guaranteed reward" but you can't trace it to an authentic source, leave it; the established acts are more than enough.

Further reading

• Friday dhikr: the sunnah adhkar of Jumu'ah
• Dhul Hijjah, Arafah & Eid dhikr
• Ramadan dhikr: the full 30-day guide
• The best dhikr to say: 10 most powerful adhkar