“Deeds are presented (to Allah) on Mondays and Thursdays, and I love that my deeds be presented while I am fasting.”

Narrated by al-Tirmidhī (no. 747), from the ḥadīth of Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him).
Authenticated in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ (no. 2959) and Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb wa-l-Tarhīb (no. 1041).

Brief Explanation of the Hadith

Fasting is among the most eminent acts of worship and among those with the greatest impact in purifying souls, restraining desires, and elevating ranks. The Sacred Law has singled out certain times with additional virtue, among them Monday and Thursday.
In this ḥadīth, the Prophet—may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him—says: “Deeds are presented on Monday and Thursday.” The meaning is that the deeds of the servants, whether good or evil, are presented before Allah, the Exalted—not for the purpose of inquiry, for Allah is All-Knowing of everything, but rather for the purpose of arranging recompense, in the form of forgiveness, an increase in reward, an elevation of ranks, or accountability for shortcomings.
And the Prophet’s statement—may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him—“So I love that my deeds be presented while I am fasting” contains an explanation of the reason for his consistency in fasting: namely, that his deeds are presented to Allah, the Exalted, while he is in a state of worship and obedience, seeking an increase in acceptance and an elevation in rank.
He was specified in wishing that his deeds be presented while he was fasting due to the additional sincerity found in fasting, for it is an act of worship that is purely between the servant and his Lord. Moreover, the servant does not know at which hour his deeds are presented before his Lord, so he chose fasting because it encompasses the entire day, and because it is an act of worship that can be combined with all other deeds, unlike other forms of worship.
The presentation of deeds is not limited to these two days alone. Rather, the deeds of the servants are raised in stages: the deeds of the night are raised during the day, and the deeds of the day are raised during the night. Then the deeds of the week are gathered and presented on Monday and Thursday. Thereafter, the deeds of the entire year are raised in the month of Shaʿbān. Thus, the raising of deeds continues throughout the course of one’s lifetime, until, when the appointed term comes to an end, the deeds of the entire lifetime are raised and the record is folded. It is as though the deeds are presented in successive stages: daily, weekly, annually, and finally at the conclusion of one’s appointed term.
In the ḥadīth there is an indication of proper etiquette with Allah, the Exalted. For the servant feels a sense of modesty that his deeds be presented before his Lord while he persists in disobedience or falls short in fulfilling His rights. How much more so when this occurs during a virtuous time and in a virtuous state. For this reason, the early generations used to venerate these days, striving in them through obedience and exercising caution against sins.