Fasting on the Day of ‘Ashura’ expiates the Sins of the preceding Year.

When the Day of Judgment comes, we will without doubt all desire to steer clear from our sins and wish that we had done more good deeds that would be a cause for removal of our bad deeds.

Of much interest to us Muslims these days should be the fasting the 9th and the 10th of Muharram. The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said about the voluntary fasting on the Day of ‘Aashoraa:

“It expiates the sins of the preceding year.” [Saheeh Muslim]

Ibn ‘Abbas, radhiallahu ‘anhu, reported: “The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, came to al-Madeenah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of ‘Aashooraa. He asked them about that. They replied, “This is a good day, the day on which Allah rescued Baani Israaeel from their enemy. So Moosa observed fast on this day.” The Prophet said, “We have more claim over Moosa than you.” So the Prophet, observed fast on that day and ordered (the Muslims) to observe fast (on that day).” [Saheeh al-Bukhari, Muslim]

Ibn ‘Abbas also reported, “The Messenger of Allah fasted on the day of ‘Aashooraa and ordered the people to fast on it. The people said, “O Messenger of Allah, it is a day that the Jews and Christians honor.” The Prophet, said, “When the following year comes - Allah willing - we shall fast on the ninth.” The death of the Prophet, came before the following year.” [Saheeh Muslim, Abu Dawood.]

So it is recommended to fast on the 10th of Muharram and the 9th along with it as well.

Qadi ibn Rushd says in that the scholars disagreed whether the fast is to be done on the 9th or the 10th of Muharram based on the above traditions [Bidayat ul Mujtahid]. And I have found a recommendation to fast on both days in various books, such as al-Hindees “Mukhtasar al-Ahkaam al-Fiqhiyyah”, Jameel Zenos “The Pillars of Islam and Iman”, and Dr. Jaafar Sheikh Idris “The Fast.”

As for the wisdom behind this fast, the following is stated in the Mukhtasar version of Ibn ul Qayyims “Zaad ul-Ma`aad” “The day of `Aashooraa was the day when Moosa and his men got freedom from the hands of the Pharaoh and it was in the sacred memory of this great event that the Muslims observed voluntary fasting. The idea underlying this is to stress the affinity amongst the messengers of Allah and to show that religious devotion is a constant flow from one generation to another. The Prophet, came not to abrogate all the earlier religious practices but to codify and preserve them for all times to come in ideal forms.”

Some sayings reported from the Salaf that can serve as an encouragement to do good deeds:

Taubah ibn Samat used to take account of himself and is reported to have counted the number of days in his life at the age of 60. He found there were 21,500 days and

shrieked: “What will happen to me if I meet the King with 21,500 sins? What will happen if there are 10,000 sins in each day?”

Al-Hasan al-Basri would say, “From the signs that one has drowned in sins is lack of delight in fasting in the day and praying through the night.”

Alqamah ibn Qais asked Abu Nu‘aim - who was a devouted worshipper - why he was hard on his body. “I want this body to be comfortable later on,” he replied.

Of Al-Ahnaf ibn Qays it is reported that he was once told: You are an aged elder; Fasting would enfeeble you.” But he replied: “By this I am making ready for a long journey.

Obedience to Allah, Glorified is He, is easier to endure than His punishment.” Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets and Chief of the Messengers, and upon all his family and companions.

Allah’s sacred month of Muharram is a blessed and important month.It is the first month of the Hijrah calendar and is one of the four sacred months concerning which Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, the number of months with Allah is 12 months (in a year), so it was ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth of them, four are sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein…” [al-Tawbah 9:36]

Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The year is 12 months of which four are sacred, the three consecutive months of Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab Mudar which comes between Jumaada and Sha’baan.” (Reportedby al-Bukhaari, 2958).

Muharram is so called because it is a sacred (muharram) month and to confirm its sanctity.

Allah’s words (interpretation of the meaning): “so wrong not yourselves therein…” mean do not wrong yourselves in these sacred months, because sin in these months is worse than in other months.

It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas said that this phrase (so wrong not yourselves therein…) referred to all the months, then these four were singled out and made sacred, so that sin in these months is more serious and good deedsbring a greater reward.

Qutaadah said concerning this phrase (so wrong not yourselves therein…) that wrongdoing during the sacred months is more serious and more sinful that wrongdoing at any other time. Wrongdoing at any time is a serious matter, but Allah gives more weight to whichever of His commands He will. Allah has chosen certain ones of His creation. He has chosen from among the angels Messengers and from among mankind Messengers. He chose from among speech the remembrance of Him (dhikr). He chose from among the earth the mosques, from among the months Ramadaan and the sacred months, from among the days Friday and from among the nights, Laylat al-Qadr, so venerate that which Allah has told us to venerate. People of understanding and wisdom venerate the things that Allah has told us to venerate. (Summarized from the Tafseer of IbnKatheer, may Allah have mercy on him. Tafseer of Surat al-Tawbah, aayah 36).

The Virtue of observing more naafil fasts during Muharram.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘The best of fasting after Ramadan is fasting Allah’s month of Muharram.’” (reported byMuslim, 1982).

The phrase “Allah’s month”, connecting the name of the month to the name of Allah in a genitive grammatical structure, signifies the importanceof the month. Al-Qaari said: “The apparent meaning is all of the month of Muharram.” But it was proven that the Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allah be uponhim) never fasted any whole month apart from Ramadan, so this hadeeth is probably meant to encourage increasing one’s fasting during Muharram, without meaning that one should fast for the entire month.

It was reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah beupon him) used to fast more in Sha’baan. It is likely that the virtue of Muharram was not revealed to him until the end of his life, before he was able to fast during this month. (Sharh al-Nawawi ‘ala Saheeh Muslim).

The merit of fasting on 10th Muharram. Hazrat Ibn Abbas (R.A.A.) says that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) himself observed the fast on the day of Ashoura (tenth day of Muharram) and he exhorted others to fast on that day. (Sahih Bukhari & Sahih Muslim).

Culled from www.Islam.com