Fasting the First Nine Days of Dhul-Hijjah is Sunnah

The blessed days are here again.  Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allaah than these ten days." The people asked, "Not even Jihaad for the sake of Allaah?" He said, "Not even Jihaad for the sake of Allaah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing."[1] This text and others indicate that these ten days are better than all the other days of the year, with no exceptions, not even the last ten days of Ramadaan. But the last ten nights of Ramadaan are better, because they include Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Power), which is better than a thousand months

It is Sunnah to fast on the first nine days in the month of Dhul-Hijjah because the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to do so. It was narrated from Hunaydah Ibn Khaalid from his wife, that one of the wives of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam)) used to fast on the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah and the day of ‘Ashoora’, and three days each month, the first Monday of the month and two Thursdays.”[2]  Narrated by an-Nasaa’ee, 4/205 and by Aboo Daawood; classed as saheeh by al-Albaanee in Saheeh Abee Daawood, 2/462.

 

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[1] Recorded by al-Bukhaaree

[2] Recorded by an-Nasaa’ee and Aboo Daawood; it was classified saheeh by al-Albaanee in Saheeh Abee Daawood (4/462)