Fasting on the Day of Ashura
Some of the best days for a Muslim to observe voluntary fasts are the 9th and 10th of Muharram, the Islamic month we are in now, and the 9th of Muharram will fall on tomorrow, Wednesday 14th November.
The word Ashura means simply tenth in Arabic; hence the name of the remembrance, literally translated, means “the tenth day”. The Day of Ashura is on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the climax of the Remembrance of Muharram. The tenth day of Muharram is called Yaumul- ‘Ashura, meaning, ‘the tenth day’, and it is a day of voluntary fasting.
The virtues of fasting on these day are spoken of often in the Hadith, and as Muslims trying to observe the sunnah it is best, though optional that we also observe fasting on these days.
The Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) was asked about fasting on the Day of Ashura(10th of Muharram). He answered: “It atones for the sins of the preceding year.”
Reported by Muslim
“Fasting the day of Ashura (is of great merits). I hope that Allah will accept it as an expiation for (the sins committed in) the previous year.”
Reported by Muslim
It is reported in Saheeh al-Bukharee,
when Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa-sallam) came to Madeenah, he saw the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. He said: ‘What is this?’ They said: ‘This is the day when Allaah saved Moosa from drowning, so we fast on this day.’ Then he said: “We have more right to Moosa than you.” So he (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa-sallam) fasted on this day and advised the Muslims to do the same.
Also, Ibn Abbas (radhi Allaahu anhu) narrated: “When Allah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa-sallam) observed the fast of the day of Ashura and ordered (the Sahabah) to fast, they said: “O Messenger of Allaah! It is a day revered by Jews and Christians.” Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa-sallam) said: “The coming year, if Allah wills, we will fast on the ninth (also). But the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) died before the advent of the next year ”
Saheeh Muslim, vol: 1, p: 359
Ibn Abbas (radhi Allaahu anhu) also reported: “I never saw the Prophet more keen to fast on any day other than the day of Ashura and any month than the month of Ramadan.”
Saheeh al-Bukharee
The phrase ‘more keen’ of Ibn Abbas (radhi Allaahu anhu) indicates that the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa-sallam) looked forward to fast on the day of Ashura in order to earn the reward for doing so, he Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa-sallam): “Fasting the day of Ashura, I hope will be an expiation of sins for the year before.”
Saheeh Muslim v: 1, p: 368
Thus, the day of Ashura is mercy from Allah and an opportunity for one to get his sins forgiven. It is recommended for the Muslim Ummah to fast both the tenth and the ninth of Muharram since Allah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa-sallam) fasted the tenth and intended to fast the ninth.
Ahmad said: If there is confusion about the beginning of the month, one should fast for three days, to be sure of fasting on the ninth and tenth days.
Al-Mughni by Ibn Qudamah, Part 3; Al-Siyam; Ashura.
December 15, 2010 at 10:28 pm
Hazrat Ibn Abbas (Radiyallahu ‘anh) reports that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) arrived in Madinah and found the Jews observing fast on the day of ‘Ashura… They said: “It is the day of great (significance) when Allah delivered Hazrat Musa (‘Alaihis-Salaam) and his people and drowned Pharoah and his people, and Sayyidina Musa (‘Alaihis-Salaam) observed fast out of gratitude. And we also observe it.” The Holy Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) responded: “We have more right, and we have closer connection with Sayyidina Musa (‘Alaihis-Salaam) than you have”; so Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) observed fast (on the day of ‘Ashura) and gave us orders to observe it. [Sahih Bukhari and Muslim]
You tell me that our prophet( SAW) toke our pratice from JEWISH people nou from GOD, what insult for our prophet (SAW)
December 16, 2010 at 8:15 am
First of all this hadith is Sahih, i.e it is actually an act of kufr akbar to reject it so be very careful of your statements.
Secondly, there were some parts of the actions and beliefs of the previous people of the scripture which was correct, we know which parts because they would be practiced by the Prophet Muhammad (saws).
So yes the Jews today are a people who Allah has said he is angry with due to their many sins, but in the past they were a people who followed Allah’s commands but then went astray.
Thirdly we should remember the Prophets (as) did not out of their own desires, so where Rasoolullah (saws) did something or said something it is correct, as otherwise Allah would have corrected him with revelation.
Lets not forget that the Quresh were Mushrikeen, their beliefs and practices far worse than the Jews. So as the practice of wearing an imamah from the Quresh should it not be followed or is it from Allah because it was the practice taken up by Rasoolullah (saws)?
One of the names of the Wahi given by Allah is Al-Furqan, the criterion because we judge by it on whether matters are right or wrong so we judge whether something is right or wrong based upon Quran and sunnah, not our own desires and likes and dislikes.