“There are no days in which the righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah [swt] than these days” meaning the [first] ten days [of Dhul-Hijjah]. They asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah [saws]! Not even jihad in Allah’s Cause?’ He said, ‘Not even jihad in Allah’s Cause.’ He said, ‘Except for a man who goes out, himself and his wealth, and does not return with any of that.’”[17]
Especially the ninth day of ‘Arafah
“Fasting on the day of ‘Arafah I hope from Allah [swt] expiates for the sins of the year before and the year after.”[18]
“A man came to the Prophet [saws] and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! How do you fast?’ The Messenger of Allah [saws] got angry at what he said. When ‘Umar [ra] observed this he said, “We are satisfied with Allah [swt] as our Lord Islam as our religion and Muhammad [saws] as our Prophet. We seek refuge in Allah [swt] from the anger of Allah [swt] and the anger of His Messenger.’ Umar [ra] kept on repeating these words until the anger of the Prophet [saws] receded. He then said, ‘O Messenger of Allah [saws]! What about a person who fasts continuously?’ He said, ‘He is neither fasting nor breaking fast.’ He said, ‘O Messenger of Allah [saws]! What about a person who fasts two days and does not fast one day?’ He said, ‘Is there anybody who can do that?’ He said, ‘O Messenger of Allah [saws]! What about a person who fasts for a day and breaks his fast for a day?’ He said, ‘That is the fast of Dawud [as].’ He said, ‘O Messenger of Allah [saws]! What about a person who fasts for a day and breaks his fast for two days?’ He said, ‘I wish I could do that.’ Then the Messenger of Allah [saws] said, ‘[Fasting] three days from every month and Ramadan to Ramadan this is fasting all the time. And fasting the day of ‘Arafah; I hope from Allah [swt] that it may expiate for [the sins of] the preceding and the following year. And fasting the day of ‘Ashura’; I hope from Allah [swt] that it may atone for the sins of the preceding year.’”[19]
It was narrated from Abu Qatadah Al-Ansari [ra] that the Messenger of Allah [saws] was asked about his fasting, and the Messenger of Allah [saws] got angry. ‘Umar [ra] said, ‘We are pleased with Allah [swt] as our Lord Islam as our religion Muhammad [saws] as our Messenger and with our pledge as our oath of allegiance.’ Then he was asked about fasting all the time. He said, ‘He has neither fasted nor broken his fast.’ Then he was asked about fasting two days and breaking the fast for one day and he said, ‘Who is able to do that?’ Then he was asked about fasting one day and breaking the fast for two days, and he said, ‘Would that Allah [swt] had given us the strength to do that.’ Then he was asked about fasting one day and breaking the fast for one day, and he said, ‘That is the fast of my brother Dawud [as].’ He was asked about fasting on Mondays and he said, ‘That is the day on which I was born and the day on which I was sent or on which Revelation came to me.’ He said, ‘Fasting three days of every month, and one Ramadan till the next is like fasting for a lifetime.’ And he was asked about fasting on the day of ‘Arafah. He said, ‘It expiates for the past and coming years.’ He was asked about the fasting on the day of ‘Ashura’ and he said, ‘It expiates for the past year.’”[20]