Second 10 Days of Ramadan (Dua and Hadith List)

If the first ten days of Ramadan were about opening your heart to Allah's mercy, then the second ten days are about cleaning it.

Deep cleaning.

The kind that removes years of accumulated dust, stains you didn't even know were there, and patterns you've been carrying since childhood.

These are the Ayyamul Maghfirah—the Days of Forgiveness. And they're not here to judge you.

They're here to heal you.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ described Ramadan in three distinct phases, and the middle ten days hold a unique purpose:

1. Days 1-10: Mercy (Rahmah)
2. Days 11-20: Forgiveness (Maghfirah)
3. Days 21-30: Freedom from the Fire (Itq min an-Nar)

You received mercy in the first ten.

Now, in the second ten, it's time to ask for forgiveness.

Not just the surface-level "Astaghfirullah" you say out of habit—but deep, sincere, transformative repentance that changes who you are.

This article will guide you through the second ten days with the most powerful duas and hadith that will help you extract every drop of Allah's forgiveness.

Essential Duas for the Second 10 Days

Hadith That Defines the Second Ten Days

Before we dive into specific practices, let's start with the foundation:

مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ

Translation: "Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven." (Sahih al-Bukhari)

This hadith is one of the greatest promises in Islam.

Notice the two conditions: faith (believing in Allah's promise) and seeking reward (doing it purely for Allah, not for show).

If you fast these ten days with sincere intention and complete trust in Allah's mercy, you're guaranteed forgiveness. Not maybe. Not possibly. Guaranteed.

But here's the thing—forgiveness isn't passive. You have to actively seek it.

Note: here I listed 30 most essential hadith for Ramadan Kareem. You can check this out.

Why the Second 10 Days Are Critical

Ramadan is like a three-stage healing process:

Stage 1 (Days 1-10): Allah pours His mercy on you, opening your heart and making you receptive to change.

Stage 2 (Days 11-20): You take that open heart and bring it to Allah for forgiveness. You acknowledge your mistakes, repent sincerely, and ask Him to wipe your slate clean.

Stage 3 (Days 21-30): With a clean heart, you worship intensely to earn your freedom from Jahannam.

If you skip Stage 2, you can't fully benefit from Stage 3.

Because how can you be freed from the Fire if you haven't dealt with the sins that would send you there in the first place?

The middle ten days are your opportunity to reset. To release the guilt. To let go of the past. To step into the last ten nights with a clean heart and a fresh start.

Essential Hadith for the Second 10 Days Of Ramadan

Hadith 1: Allah's Joy in Your Repentance

لَلَّهُ أَشَدُّ فَرَحًا بِتَوْبَةِ عَبْدِهِ مِنْ أَحَدِكُمْ سَقَطَ عَلَى بَعِيرِهِ وَقَدْ أَضَلَّهُ فِي أَرْضٍ فَلَاةٍ

"Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His servant than one of you would be if he were riding his camel in a barren land, and it ran away from him with his food and drink, and he gave up all hope of ever finding it. Then suddenly he finds it standing right in front of him."

Here is the explanation:

This hadith (Sahih al-Bukhari) reveals something most people don't understand: Allah LOVES when you repent.

Imagine you're lost in the desert.

Your camel—which has all your food, water, and survival gear—runs away. You search for hours, then give up hope. You're going to die.

Then suddenly, you turn around and the camel is right there.

The joy, the relief, the overwhelming gratitude you'd feel in that moment—Allah's joy when you turn back to Him is greater than that.

Let that sink in. Allah isn't reluctantly accepting your repentance. He's overjoyed by it.

So stop thinking you've sinned too much. Stop thinking He won't forgive you.

He's waiting for you to come back—and when you do, He'll welcome you with open arms.

Hadith 2: Seeking Forgiveness 70+ Times a Day

وَاللهِ إِنِّي لَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ فِي الْيَوْمِ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً

"By Allah, I seek Allah's forgiveness and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day."

Here is the explanation:

This is the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ speaking (Sahih al-Bukhari). The man who was sinless. The man whose past and future sins were already forgiven. The best human being to ever live.

And he sought forgiveness over 70 times a day.

If he needed to seek forgiveness that much, where does that leave us?

The second ten days are your time to increase your Istighfar exponentially.

Don't just say it once or twice. Say it 100 times. 200 times. 500 times.

Let it become your default response to everything—when you wake up, when you're waiting, when you're walking, when you're cooking.

Your tongue should be constantly seeking His forgiveness.

Hadith 3: The Master of Seeking Forgiveness (Sayyidul Istighfar)

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَىٰ عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي، فَاغْفِرْ لِي، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ

"O Allah, You are my Lord. There is no god but You. You created me, and I am Your servant. I am trying my best to keep my covenant with You and to live in hope of Your promise. I seek refuge in You from the evil I have done. I acknowledge Your blessings upon me, and I acknowledge my sins. Forgive me, for no one forgives sins except You."

Here is the explanation:

The Prophet ﷺ said, "Whoever says this with firm conviction in the evening and dies that night will enter Paradise, and whoever says it with firm conviction in the morning and dies that day will enter Paradise" (Sahih al-Bukhari).

This is the most powerful dua of repentance in Islam.

Memorize it. Say it every morning and evening during these ten days. Say it in Arabic if you can, or in translation if you can't.

It acknowledges five critical truths:

1. Allah is your only Lord
2. You are His servant (not independent, not self-sufficient)
3. You're trying your best to obey Him
4. You recognize the evil you've done
5. You acknowledge His blessings despite your sins

This dua is complete.

It's comprehensive. It's transformative. Make it your daily companion.

Hadith 4: No Sin Too Great for Allah's Mercy

قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

"Say: 'O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'"

Here is the explanation:

This is Allah speaking directly in the Quran (Surah Az-Zumar 39:53), but the Prophet ﷺ would quote it often.

Notice the language: "who have transgressed against themselves." That's you. That's me. That's all of us.

And Allah is saying: Do not despair. I forgive ALL sins.

Not some. Not most. All.

Murder. Theft. Zina. Drinking. Lying. Cheating. Backbiting. Years of missed prayers. Decades of disobedience.

If you turn back to Allah with sincere repentance, He will forgive it all. Every. Single. Thing.

So stop carrying the weight of your past. Bring it to Allah in these ten days, and let Him wash it away.

Hadith 5: The Night Prayer and Forgiveness

مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا، غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ

"Whoever stands in prayer during Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven."

Here is the explanation:

This hadith (Sahih al-Bukhari) is about Qiyam al-Layl—night prayer, including Taraweeh.

The second ten days are when you should increase your night prayers.

Don't just pray Taraweeh mechanically.

Pray it with presence. With focus. With tears, if they come.

And if you can, wake up for Tahajjud in the last third of the night. That's when Allah descends to the lowest heaven and says, "Is there anyone seeking forgiveness? I will forgive them."

Make those nights count.

Action Plan for the Second 10 Days

Here's a simple daily routine to maximize forgiveness:

Morning (After Fajr):

✅ Say Sayyidul Istighfar (the Master of Seeking Forgiveness)
✅ Say Astaghfirullah 100 times
✅ Read 4 pages of Quran, reflecting on verses about forgiveness

Throughout the Day:

✅ Every time you make a mistake—big or small—immediately say Astaghfirullah
✅ Before every Salah, make a short dua asking for forgiveness
✅ Avoid backbiting, lying, and gossip at all costs

Before Iftar (The Golden 15 Minutes):

✅ Make a list of specific sins you want forgiven
✅ Go through the list one by one, asking Allah to forgive each
✅ Ask Him to remove the guilt and shame you carry

After Maghrib:

✅ Pray Taraweeh with full focus
✅ Stay for the dua at the end
✅ Make personal duas after Witr

Before Sleeping:

✅ Recite the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah
✅ Say Astaghfirullah 100 times
✅ Ask Allah to forgive you if you die tonight

Final Thoughts: Don't Waste the Second 10 Days

The first ten days gave you mercy.

The second ten give you forgiveness. But you have to take it.

Allah isn't going to force you to repent. He's not going to automatically erase your sins. You have to ask.

You have to turn to Him. You have to acknowledge your mistakes and commit to changing.

These ten days are your window. After this, the last ten nights begin—and those are about earning your freedom from the Fire. But how can you be freed if you haven't been forgiven first?

So don't waste these days scrolling, watching, or distracting yourself. Use them to clean your heart. To release the past. To step into the last ten nights with a fresh start.

Because when Ramadan ends, you want to walk away knowing that Allah has forgiven you.

Completely. Totally. 

Without a trace of the past holding you back.