Dhul Hijjah for Kids: Hajj, Ibrahim's Story and Eid al-Adha

Dhul Hijjah is the last month of the Islamic year, and its first ten days are some of the most blessed of the whole year. It is the month of Hajj, the story of Prophet Ibrahim and his family, and Eid al-Adha. For children, it is a second chance each year to feel the excitement of a sacred season, only a couple of months after Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.

In 2027, Eid al-Adha is expected around mid-May, so the ten days begin early that month (moon sighting may shift it by a day).

The best ten days

The Prophet ﷺ described these days in a way children can understand: nothing beats them.

Evidence · Hadith

“No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijjah).” The Companions asked, “Not even jihad?” He said, “Not even jihad, except a man who goes out risking himself and his wealth and does not return with any of it.” Narrated by Ibn ʿAbbas (RA).

For a child, put it simply: “For ten days, every good thing we do counts extra. Let’s fill them up!”

The story

Hajj and Eid al-Adha make no sense to a child without the story of Ibrahim, Hajar and Ismail, peace be upon them. Tell it in parts across the ten days, at bedtime or in the car.

Part 1: Hajar trusts Allah (ages 3 and up)

Prophet Ibrahim brought his wife Hajar and their baby Ismail to a dry valley with no people and no water, leaving them a bag of dates and some water. Hajar asked him, “Has Allah told you to do this?” He said yes. And Hajar said, “Then He will not abandon us.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 3364.)

Ibrahim made a dua for them:

Evidence · Qur’an

رَّبَّنَآ إِنِّىٓ أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِى بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِى زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ ٱلْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱجْعَلْ أَفْـِٔدَةًۭ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ تَهْوِىٓ إِلَيْهِمْ وَٱرْزُقْهُم مِّنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ

“Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your sacred House… that they may establish prayer. So make hearts among the people incline toward them and provide for them from the fruits that they might be grateful.”

Part 2: Safa, Marwa and Zamzam

When the water ran out, baby Ismail was thirsty. Hajar ran up the hill of Safa to look for help, then across to the hill of Marwa, seven times. Then she heard a voice, and an angel struck the ground, and water bubbled up: the well of Zamzam. The Prophet ﷺ said that the walking of pilgrims between Safa and Marwa comes from her (Sahih al-Bukhari 3364).

Children love acting this out: two cushions for the hills, seven runs, and a cup of water at the end.

Part 3: Ibrahim and Ismail (ages 6 and up)

Years later, Ibrahim saw in a dream that he was to sacrifice his son. He spoke to Ismail about it, and Ismail answered with trust:

Evidence · Qur’an

فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ ٱلسَّعْىَ قَالَ يَٰبُنَىَّ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰ فِى ٱلْمَنَامِ أَنِّىٓ أَذْبَحُكَ فَٱنظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ ۚ قَالَ يَٰٓأَبَتِ ٱفْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ

“…‘O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think.’ He said, ‘O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast.’”

Evidence · Qur’an

وَفَدَيْنَٰهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍۢ

“And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice.”

For more stories like this one, see our guide to stories of the prophets for kids.

Hajj in simple steps

Allah told Ibrahim to call people to Hajj:

Evidence · Qur’an

وَأَذِّن فِى ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًۭا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍۢ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍۢ

“And proclaim to the people the Hajj; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass.”

A simple “map” for children, which you can draw on a big sheet of paper:

1. Ihram. Pilgrims wear simple clothes (for men, two white cloths) so everyone looks the same, rich or poor.
2. Tawaf. Walking seven times around the Kaaba, the house Ibrahim and Ismail built.
3. Sa’i. Walking seven times between Safa and Marwa, remembering Hajar.
4. Mina. A tent city where pilgrims stay and pray.
5. Arafah. The most important day: standing and making dua from midday to sunset.
6. Muzdalifah. Sleeping under the stars and collecting small pebbles.
7. The Jamarat. Throwing pebbles at stone pillars, to remember rejecting Shaytan’s whispers.
8. Sacrifice, haircut and Eid. Pilgrims sacrifice, cut or shave their hair, and celebrate.

Good deeds for kids

Turn the ten days into a simple family challenge. Ideas by age:

• Ages 3–6: say the takbir (“Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la ilaha illallah…”) at breakfast and in the car; one kind act a day; put a coin in a charity jar each day.
• Ages 7–9: a ten-day good-deed chart; learn one short dua; help prepare Eid gifts for cousins; tidy the masjid shoe rack.
• Ages 10 and up: read the story of Ibrahim in the Qur’an together; plan a charity project; try fasting the Day of Arafah, or part of it, if they want to.

On the Day of Arafah, the Prophet ﷺ was asked about fasting it:

Evidence · Hadith

“It expiates the sins of the preceding year and the coming year.” Narrated by Abu Qatadah (RA).

This is a recommended fast for those not on Hajj. Children are not required to fast before puberty, so for older children it is an invitation, not a rule; younger ones can join in with dua and takbir. See the Islamic calendar for kids for other key days in the year.

Qurbani

The day of Eid al-Adha is the day of sacrifice. The Prophet ﷺ himself sacrificed:

Evidence · Hadith

“The Prophet ﷺ slaughtered two rams, black and white in colour, and I saw him putting his foot on their sides and mentioning Allah’s Name and takbir. Then he slaughtered them with his own hands.” Narrated by Anas (RA).

The meat is shared: the Qur’an says, “So eat of them and feed the miserable and poor” (Al-Hajj 22:28).

For a child who loves animals, honesty and gentleness work best:

• “Muslims thank Allah by sacrificing an animal, like Ibrahim did, and giving the meat to people who need food, as well as family and friends.”
• “Islam teaches us to treat the animal kindly, to keep it calm, to use a sharp knife so it is quick, and to say Allah’s name.”
• “Allah doesn’t need the meat. He wants our hearts to be good and grateful.”

Evidence · Qur’an

لَن يَنَالَ ٱللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَآؤُهَا وَلَٰكِن يَنَالُهُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ مِنكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمْ لِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

“Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you…”

Many families in the UK, Europe, North America and Australia arrange qurbani through a charity, sometimes in another country. Children can help choose where it goes and see photos of the families it feeds. Whether qurbani is obligatory or a strongly recommended sunnah is something the madhhabs differ on; ask a scholar you trust.

Let sensitive children decide how close they want to be. Nobody needs to watch a slaughter to understand its meaning.

For the Eid morning itself, with sunnahs and traditions from Muslim families around the world, see Eid with kids, and for charity ideas, teaching kids sadaqah and generosity.