What is the virtue of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, and are they better than Ramadan, day and night?

Scholars differed concerning the superiority of the last ten days of Ramadan and the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. The most balanced opinion is that of Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn al-Qayyim, who stated that the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are superior by day, while the last ten days of Ramadan are superior by night due to the presence of Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree) therein. Furthermore, the nights of the last ten days of Ramadan are superior to the nights of Dhul-Hijjah because the latter's superiority lies in the Day of Sacrifice (Yawm al-Nahr) and the Day of Arafah, while the superiority of the ten days of Ramadan is due to Laylat al-Qadr.

Similarly, the days of the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are superior to the days of the ten days of Ramadan, and the nights of the latter are superior to the nights of the former. The most superior aspect of the latter is Laylat al-Qadr, which enhances its honor, while the enhancement of the former's honor is due to the Day of Arafah.