Ruling on singling out ‘Ashoora for fasting

Is it permissible to fast ‘Aashoora’ only without fasting the day before or the day after?
Praise be to Allaah.

Shaykh al Islam [Ibn Taymiyah] said: Fasting the day of ‘Ashoora’ is expiation for one year, and it is not makrooh to single out this day for fasting.
Al Fataawa al Kubra, part 5.

In Tuhfat al Muhtaaj by Ibn Hajar al Haythami it says: There is nothing wrong with fasting ‘Aashoora’ on its own. Part 3, Baab Sawm al Tatawwu’.

The Standing Committee was asked this question and replied as follows:

It is permissible to fast the day of ‘Aashoora’ on its own, but it is better to fast the day before it or the day after it. This is the Sunnah that is proven from the Prophet (salla Allaho 3alayhi wasallam), as he said, “If I am still alive next year, I will certainly fast the ninth.” Narrated by Muslim, 1134.

Ibn ‘Abbaas (radiyAllaho 3anh) said: He meant, along with the tenth.

And Allaah is the Source of strength.

Al Lajnah al Daa’imah li’l Buhooth al ‘Ilmiyyah wa’l Ifta’, 11/401.

Islam Q&A

Recommendation to fast Taasoo’a’ with ‘Aashoorah

I want to fast ‘Aashoora’ this year, but some people told me that the Sunnah is to fast the day before as well (Taasoo’a’). Is there any report that this was the teaching of the Prophet (salla Allaho 3alayhi wasallam)?

Praise be to Allaah.

‘Abd Allaah ibn ‘Abbaas (radiyAllaho 3anh) said: When the Messenger of Allaah (salla Allaho 3alayhi wasallam) fasted on the day of ‘Aashoora and told the people to fast, they said, “O Messenger of Allaah, this is a day that is venerated by the Jews and Christians.” The Messenger of Allaah (salla Allaho 3alayhi wasallam) said, “Next year, if Allaah wills, we will fast on the ninth day.” But by the time the following year came, the Messenger of Allaah (salla Allaho 3alayhi wasallam) had passed away.

Narrated by Muslim, 1916.

Al Shaafa’i and his companions, Ahmad, Ishaaq and others said: It is mustahabb [recommended] to fast both the ninth and the tenth, because the Prophet (salla Allaho 3alayhi wasallam) fasted the tenth and intended to fast the ninth.

Based on this, there are different ways of fasting ‘Aashoora’, the least of which is to fast the tenth only, but it is better to fast the ninth as well. The more one fasts in Muharram, the better.

If one were to ask, what is the wisdom behind fasting the ninth as well as the tenth? The answer is:

Al Nawawi (ra7imahullah) said: The scholars among our companions and others said that there are several reasons for recommending fasting on the ninth day (Tasoo’a’):

1 – The intention behind it is to be different from the Jews who limit their fasting to the tenth day. This was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas.

2 – The intention was to join the fast of ‘Aashoora’ to another day, just as it is not allowed to fast on a Friday on its own [but it is allowed if one fasts the day before or the day after as well].

3 – The idea is to be on the safe side and make sure one is fasting on the tenth, in case the moon sighting was not accurate and what people think is the ninth is actually the tenth.

The strongest of these reasons is in order to be different from the People of the Book. Shaykh al Islam Ibn Taymiyah said: The Prophet (salla Allaho 3alayhi wasallam) forbade resembling the People of the Book in many ahaadeeth. For example, he said concerning ‘Aashoora’: “If I live until next year I will certainly fast the ninth.” Al Fataawa al Kubra, part 6.

Ibn Hajar (ra7imahullah) said, commenting on the hadeeth “If I live until next year I will certainly fast the ninth”:

His concern to fast the ninth may be understood as meaning that he would not limit himself to that, rather that he would add it to the tenth, either to be on the safe side, or to be different from the Jews and Christians, which is more likely to be correct; this is what may be understood from some of the reports narrated by Muslim.”

From Fath al Baari, 4/245.

Islam Q&A

The virtue of fasting ‘Aashoorah

I heard that fasting the day of ‘Ashoora’ expiates for the past year, is this true?

Does it expiate for everything, even major sins? What is the reason for venerating this day?

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly:

Fasting the day of ‘Aashoora’ does expiate for the past year, because the Prophet (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) said: “Fasting the day of ‘Arafah I hope Allaah will expiate thereby for the year before it and the year after it, and fasting the day of ‘Aashoora’ I hope Allaah will expiate thereby for the year that came before it.” Narrated by Muslim, 1162. This is by the bounty that Allaah bestows upon us, whereby fasting one day expiates for the sins of a whole year. And Allaah is the Owner of great bounty.

The Prophet (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) used to be very keen to make sure he fasted on the day of ‘Aashoora’ because of its great status. It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas (radiyAllaho 3anh) said: I never saw the Prophet (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) so keen to make sure he fasted any day and preferring it over another except this day, the day of ‘Ashoora’, and this month – meaning Ramadaan. Narrated by al Bukhaari, 1867.

What is meant by being keen to make sure he fasted it is so as to earn its reward.

Secondly:

With regard to the reason why the Prophet (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) fasted on the day of ‘Aashoora’ and urged the people to do likewise is mentioned in the hadeeth narrated by al Bukhaari (1865) from Ibn ‘Abbaas (radiyAllaho 3anh), who said: The Prophet (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) came to Madeenah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of ‘Ashoora’. He said, “What is this?” They said, “This is a good day, this is the day when Allaah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy and Moosa fasted on this day.” He said, “We have closer to Moosa than you.” So he fasted on this day and told the people to fast.

The words “this is a good day” – according to a version narrated by Muslim, “This is a great day when Allaah saved Moosa and his people and drowned Pharaoh and his people.”

The words “so Moosa fasted on this day” – Muslim added in his report: “In gratitude to Allaah, so that is we fast on this day.”

According to another version narrated by al Bukhaari, “So we fast it out of respect for it.”

The words “and told the people to fast” – according to another version narrated by al Bukhaari, “He said to his companions, ‘You are closer to Moosa than them, so fast this day.”

Thirdly:

The expiation of sins that is achieved by fasting ‘Ashoora’ refers to minor sins; with regard to major sins, they need separate repentance.

Al Nawawi (ra7imahullah) said:

Fasting the day of ‘Arafaah expiates for all minor sins, in other words this brings forgiveness for all sins except for major sins.

Then he said:

Fasting the day of ‘Arafaah is an expiation for two years, and the day of ‘Aashoora is an expiation for one year, and if a person’s Ameen coincides with the Ameen of the angels, his previous sins will be forgiven… Each of the things mentioned may bring expiation. If he does something that expiates for minor sins he will be expiated, and if there are no minor or major sins, it will be recorded for him as good deeds and he will rise in status thereby… If there is one or more major sins and no minor sins, we hope that it will reduce his major sins. Al Majmoo’ Sharh al Muhadhdhab, part 6.

Shaykh al Islam Ibn Taymiyah (ra7imahullah) said: The expiation of purification, prayer, and fasting Ramadaan, ‘Arafah and ‘Aashoora’ applies to minor sins only. Al Fataawa al Kubra, part 5.

Islam Q&A

The virtue of observing naafil fasts in the month of Mu7arram

Is it Sunnah to observe a lot of naafil [supererogatory] fasts in the month of Muharram? Is there anything special about this month compared with other months?

Praise be to Allaah.

The month of Muharram is the first month of the Arabic year, and it is one of the four sacred months of Allaah. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, the number of months with Allaah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allaah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred (i.e. the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein”

[al Tawbah 9:36]

al Bukhaari (3167) and Muslim (1679) narrated from Abu Bakrah (radiyAllaho 3anh) that the Prophet (salla Allaho 3alayhi wasallam) said: “The division of time has turned to its original form which was current the day Allaah created the heavens and earth. The year consists of twelve months of which four are sacred: three consecutive months, Dhu’l Qa’dah, Dhu’l Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab of Mudar which comes between Jumada and Sha’baan.”

It was proven from the Prophet (salla Allaho 3alayhi wasallam) that the best fasting after Ramadaan is fasting in the month of Muharram. It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (radiyAllaho 3anh) said: The Messenger of Allaah (salla Allaho 3alayhi wasallam) said: “The best fasting after Ramadaan is the month of Allaah Muharram, and the best prayer after the obligatory prayer is prayer at night.” Narrated by Muslim, 1163.

With regard to the phrase “the month of Allaah”, mentioning the month in conjunction with Allaah is a sign of its great status. Al Qaari said: it seems that what is meant is all of the month of Muharram.

But it was proven that the Prophet (salla Allaho 3alayhi wasallam) did not fast any month in full apart from Ramadaan, so this hadeeth is to be understood as meaning that it is it is encouraged to fast a lot in the month of Muharram, not to fast the whole month.

And Allaah knows best.

Islam Q&A