Fasting on the day of Ashura – the 10th of Muharram- is of great merits in Islam

Fasting on the day of Ashura – the 10th of Muharram- is of great merits in Islam

The Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

“No servant (of Allah, the Most High) fasts one day in the Path of Allah, except that Allah, the Most High, removes his face from the Fire because of it (the distance of travelling) seventy years.”

Bukhari and Muslim

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The Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allahu ‘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”

Muslim

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The Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

“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”

Muslim

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FAST TWO DAYS, INSTEAD OF ONLY THE 10TH (EITHER 9 & 10 OR 10 & 11):

Ibn 'Abbas R.A said:
When the Prophet (Salla-Allahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) on the day of 'Ashurah and commanded us to fast on it, they (i.e. Companions) said: Messenger of Allah, this is a day which is considered great by Jews and Christians ? The Messenger of Allah said: When the next year comes, we shall fast on the 9th of Muharram. But the next year the Messenger of Allah Salla-Allahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam breathed his last.

Sunan Abi Dawud

Ibn Abbas R.A reported that,

“When the prophet (peace be upon him) fasted on the day of Ashura and commanded that it should be observed as a fast, they (his companions) said to him: Messenger of Allah, it is a day which the Jews and Christians hold in high esteem. Thereupon the messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “When the next year comes, Allah willing, we would observe fast on the 9th” (meaning 9th & 10th). But the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) died before the advent of the next year”

Muslim

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“Concerning the day of Ashura, it is not obligatory upon you to fast on it as I do. Whoever wishes may fast and whoever does not wish to is not obliged to do so”

Bukhari & Muslim

Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta ‘ala) says:

Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve 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-Taubah 9:36

The Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

“The year is twelve months of which four are sacred, the three consecutive months of Dhul-Qadah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab, which comes between Jumada and Shaban”

Bukhari

The Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

“The best of fasting after Ramadan is fasting Allah’s month of Muharram”

Muslim