Virtues and significance of fasting on Ashura , the 10th of Muharam :

The Day of `Ashura' ( the 10 th of Muharam ) has great virtues . Let us find out why ?

“This is a blessed day. On this day Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy (in Egypt) and so Prophet Musa fasted on this day giving thanks to Allah.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,

Please note Moses is called Musa in Arabic . The Prophet of mercy, Muhammad (peace be upon him ) used to fast the Day of `Ashura' even in Mecca, though he had not yet ordered others to do so, as mentioned in both Bukhari and Muslim. [Bukhari (2002), Muslim (1125)]

Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I never saw Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) so keen to fast any day and give it priority over any other than this day, the day of `Ashura', and this month, meaning Ramadan.” (Al-Bukhari, Hadith 1867) In another hadith we are told that fasting the day of `Ashura' expiates the sins of the previous year as theProphet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Fasting the day of `Ashura' (is of great merits), I hope that Allah will accept it as anexpiation for (the sins committed in) the previous year”(Muslim).

Focusing more on the question ( why should we fast on Ashrura ? , Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, former President of the Islamic Society of North America, states:

Fasting the Day of `Ashura' is not to mourn the martyrdom of imam Husain (may Allah be pleased with him). We deeply respect Imam Husain’s martyrdom,we honor his glorious act of sacrifice for the sake of Islam. He gave us a great example of truth, courage and piety. But we also feel pain and grief in our hearts for his assassination at the hand of some hypocrites who took Islam as a pretext to commit their crime. They fought and killed Allah’s Messenger’s beloved and blessed grandson and his family. This was the most heinous and shameful crime that was committed for the sake of political power. This tragic event took place in the year 61 AH or 680 CE. However, the tradition of `Ashura' fasting is very ancient and it goes back to a long time before imam Husian.

It is reported in the Sahih of Imam Al-Bukhari and other authentic collections of hadith that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions used to fast on the 10th day of Muharram while they were in Makkah (before the hijrah).

It was a day on which people of Makkah used to change the covering (kiswah) of the Ka`bah. Quraysh also used to fast on this day. (Al-Bukhari, hadith 1489 and 1760)

After the hijrah when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came to Madinah, he found that the Jews of Madinah also used to observe this day with fasting. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked them the reason of their fasting on this day. They said, “This is a blessed day. On this day Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy (in Egypt) and so Prophet Musa fasted on this day giving thanks to Allah.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “We have more claim to Musa than you.” He fasted on that day and commanded Muslims to fast on this day. (Al-Bukhari, hadith 1865)

In another report it is mentioned that Jews of Madinah used to hold a feast on this day. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) told his Companions to fast instead. (Al-Bukhari, hadith 1866)

`Ashura' fasting was obligatory (fard) in the beginning. In the second year of hijrah (624 CE) when Allah’s command came that Muslims should fast the whole month of Ramadan, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) then sent someone to announce to people that fasting of `Ashura' had become voluntary (nafl). This indicates that whosoever wishes to fast, may fast and whosoever does not want to fast, there will be no blame on him/her.

Imam At-Tirmidhi mentioned that ibn `Abbas(may Allah be pleased with them both) used to say that we should fast on two days: the 9th and 10th of Muharram to distinguish ourselves from the Jewish community. (At-Tirmidhi)

Ibn`Abbas also quoted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying,“If I live next year, I shall also fast on the 9th day.” (Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, hadith 2002)

There is a great reward in fasting the day of `Ashura'. There are many hadiths that mention its blessings and virtues. It is good to fast on this day, although it is not obligatory.

Allah Almighty knows best.

When the prophet of mercy Muhammad may peace be with him migrated to Medina, and found the People of the Book fasting this day , he ordered the Muslims to fast it, and encouraged it so much that even the children would fast it. Please note it is not mandatory like fasting on Ramadan . We know that it was the tradition of all prophets to fast.

It has been reported in both Bukhari and Muslim from Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him), that, "When the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) reached Medina, he found the Jews fasting the Day of `Ashura', so he asked them, 'What is this day you are fasting?' They said, 'This is a tremendous day. Allah saved prophet Moses known as Musa in Arabic and his people on this day and drowned Pharaoh and his people. Musa fasted it out of thanks, so we fast it too.' The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) said, 'And we are more deserving of Musa than you are.' So he fasted this day, and ordered that it be fasted." [Bukhari (2004) and Muslim (1130)]

At the end of his life, the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) made the determination not to fast this day alone, but with another day [either before or after it]

Ashra inchaallah will be this coming Saturday , its recommended to fast Friday or Sunday along with . May Allah accept our fast , please pray for peace on the whole world especially in the middle east.

Dont let Satan distract you from fasting.

Let us follow the Sunnah of our beloved prophet Muhammad who is foretold in both the old and new testament and the final testament ( The Glorious Quran ).

Muslims are recommended to fast the day of Ashura and another day or two with it as a token of given thanks to Allah who saved Prophet Moses ( Musa in Arabic ) and the people of the book from Pharaoh . We are all one family from Adam and Eve , all prophets are brothers that came to save humanity and restore hope and peace and most importantly guide us so that we may be saved from hellfire and be admitted into paradise by the mercy of Allah .

May Allah give us the wisdom to love , forgive , respect and always be a voice for the truth
and be a mercy to mankind .

The essence of fasting in general is to get closer to your creator , to give thanks to him for all the blessings bestowed on us . To feel how it feel to be hungry and thirsty so that we may be compassionate, kind and giving to those in need for the sake of Allah .

It is worth nothing that prophet Muhammad, the prophet of mercy, is to be found mentioned in the bible provided that we take an unbiased look at the scriptures of our beloved people of the book .

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