Which is MORE beneficial: First 10 days of Dhul Hijjah OR last 10 days of Ramadhan?

Sheikh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله was asked

(as mentioned by Ibnul Qayyim رحمه الله):

Question: Which is MORE virtuous & beneficial, the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah or the last 10 days of Ramadhan?

Answer: The 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are more virtuous than the last 10 days of Ramadhan, and the last 10 nights of Ramadaan are more virtuous than the last 10 nights of Dhul Hijjah.

Thereafter, his illustrious student and great scholar Ibnul Qayyim رحمه الله commented on this verdict and said,

“And if the intelligent and noble one was to reflect upon this answer, he would find it satisfactory and sufficient. For indeed there are no days (in the year) more beloved to Allaah that righteous actions are done within them than the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah, since within them are the days of Ara’faah (9th day of Dhul Hijjah) and the day of Nahr (10th day) and the day of Tarwiyah (8th day). As for the 10 nights of Ramadhan they are the nights of revitalization which the Messenger صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم used to be up and awake within them all, and within it is a night which is better than a 1000 months. So, whoever answers without such an elaboration then he is incapable to prove his statement with authentic evidences.”

[Taken from the book Bada’ee Al-Fawaaid of Ibnul Qayyim, under the chapter, ‘The preference between Aa’isha & Faatimah’]

Footnotes:

Day of an-Nahr: Means the day of slaughtering 

As for the meanings of ‘the day of Ara’faah’ and ‘the day of Tarwiyah’ then they are mentioned by the Faqeeh Ibnu Qudaamah al-Maqdisee (may Allaah have mercy upon him) mentions in his monumental book in fiqh called ‘Al-Mughni’ which is in accordance to the Hanbali madh-hab.

“As for the day of Arafat then it is the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah and it is called so because the standing at (i.e. the place) Ara’faah takes place on this day. It us stated that it was also called the day of Ara’faah because Prophet Ibraaheem عليه السلام saw in a dream on the night of Tarwiyah that he was ordered to slaughter his son. So the next morning he awoke ‘yatarowee’ (i.e. thinking to himself): 'Was it a revelation from Allaah or was it just a dream?' So, this day was called the day of Tarwiyah (deliberation) so when the 2nd night came to pass he had the same dream so when he awoke the morning after, he knew it was from Allaah so it was called the day of Ara’faah (i.e. the day he knew).”

[Taken from ‘Al-Mughni’ Kitaabu Siyaam chapter: 'That which is recommended from the days to fast']