Can we fast all ten days of Dhu’l Hijja? 

[Given that the 10th day is Eid, one can only fast the first nine days…]

Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

There is disagreement of the ulema about this. The position of the Hanafi school is that, yes, it is permitted and recommended to fast the first nine days of Dhu’l Hijja if one can.

However, it would be better not to fast all the days if one somehow thought that this was legally necessary or binding; or if it would impose physical hardship or difficulty, because a small amount of supererogatory (nafl) works performed with longing, sincerity, love, and thankfulness are better than mountains of stale works; or if it would lead to non-fulfillment of the rights of others, such as contractual commitments or family duties.

And Allah alone gives success.

Faraz Rabbani