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
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
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