“No deeds are more virtuous during the ten days than the righteous deeds done in them.”
They said, “Not even Jihad in the cause of Allah?”
He said, “Not even Jihad — except for a man who goes out risking his life and wealth and returns with nothing.”

Brief Explanation of the Hadith

Out of Allah’s mercy and kindness toward His servants, He has opened for them seasons of worship and opportunities for righteous deeds, in which they compete in doing good. During these blessed times, good deeds are multiplied, and ranks are elevated.
Among those great seasons and noble gifts are the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, as the Prophet —may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him— said: “There are no deeds more virtuous than those done during these ...” This means that righteous deeds performed during these days surpass all other deeds done at any other time of the year, whether obligatory or voluntary—even jihād in the cause of Allah—except for a man who goes out with his life and wealth and returns with nothing.
The servant, therefore, should take advantage of these days by diligently observing the obligatory acts of worship and drawing closer to Allah through voluntary deeds — such as prayer, remembrance, seeking forgiveness, declaring His oneness, fasting (especially on the Day of ʿArafah), giving charity, reciting the Qur’ān, showing kindness and maintaining family ties, doing good to others, and sending blessings upon the Prophet — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him.
Moreover, refraining from sins during these days carries greater reward than avoiding them at other times, for righteous deeds include both performing acts of obedience and abstaining from acts of disobedience.
When the Prophet—may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him—informed his Companions of this ḥadīth, they were astonished that righteous deeds performed during the first ten days of Dhul-Ḥijjah could be superior to jihād in the path of Allah, since it was well known to them that jihād was the greatest of deeds after the obligatory acts. The Prophet—may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him—clarified to them that righteous deeds in these ten days surpass jihād performed at other times, except in one case: when a person goes forth to fight with his life and wealth and does not return with anything. Such a form of jihād is the only one that exceeds the virtue of righteous deeds in these blessed days.
Some scholars—may Allah have mercy on them—have held that the first ten days of Dhul-Ḥijjah are superior to the last ten days of Ramadān, while the last ten nights of Ramadān are superior because they include Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree). Each of these two seasons, however, possesses its own distinct and significant virtue.
This ḥadīth also highlights the lofty status of martyrdom and striving in the path of Allah, Exalted be He.
Moreover, it indicates that deeds which are ordinarily less virtuous may surpass even the most virtuous deeds when performed in blessed times, due to the multiplied reward granted in those special periods.