All Praise is due to Allah alone. May Allah shower Peace and Blessings upon His final Messenger Muhammed (ﷺ) and upon the Family of Muhammad (ﷺ) and His Companions!
Muharram is the first month amongst the Islamic months. This is one of the four holy months mentioned in the Quran.
Allah states the following in the Quran:
إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِندَ اللَّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ ۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ (التوبة : 36)
“Surely, the number of months according to Allah is twelve (as written) in the Book of Allah on the day. He created the heavens and the Earth, of which there are Four Sacred Months. That is the right faith. So, do not wrong yourself therein.” (Surah 09 Verse 36)
While Muharram is a month of Allah, it is very special to fast during it.
The following Hadith clarifies this:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ، بَعْدَ رَمَضَانَ، شَهْرُ اللهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ، وَأَفْضَلُ الصَّلَاةِ، بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ، صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ. (صحيح مسلم : 1163)
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
“The most excellent fast after Ramadan is Allah’s month. Al-Muharram, and the most excellent prayer after what is prescribed is prayer during the night.” (Saheeh Muslim: 1163)
The tenth day of the month of Muharram is known as Ashura. This is the day that Prophet Musa (PBUH) was saved by Allah from the atrocities of the Pharoah (Fir-Aun) and his army. Prophet Musa (PBUH), as a gratitude towards Allah, has fasted on this day.
The Prophet (ﷺ) too has fasted on this day and has instructed the companions also to fast on this day. Hence, it is a Sunnah to fast on the day of Ashura.
The following Hadiths clarify this:
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا، قَالَ: قَدِمَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ المَدِينَةَ فَرَأَى اليَهُودَ تَصُومُ يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ، فَقَالَ: «مَا هَذَا؟»، قَالُوا: هَذَا يَوْمٌ صَالِحٌ هَذَا يَوْمٌ نَجَّى اللَّهُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ مِنْ عَدُوِّهِمْ، فَصَامَهُ مُوسَى، قَالَ: «فَأَنَا أَحَقُّ بِمُوسَى مِنْكُمْ»، فَصَامَهُ، وَأَمَرَ بِصِيَامِهِ . (صحيح البخاري: 2004)
Narrated by Ibn `Abbas (Allah be pleased with him):
“The Prophet (ﷺ) came to Medina and saw the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. He asked them about that. They replied, “This is a good day, the day on which Allah rescued Bani Israel from their enemy. So, Moses fasted this day.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “We have more claim over Moses than you.” So, the Prophet fasted on that day and ordered (the Muslims) to fast (on that day).” (Saheeh Bukhari: 2004)
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا، قَالَ: «مَا رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَتَحَرَّى صِيَامَ يَوْمٍ فَضَّلَهُ عَلَى غَيْرِهِ إِلَّا هَذَا اليَوْمَ، يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ، وَهَذَا الشَّهْرَ يَعْنِي شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ» (رواه البخاري: 2006 )
Narrated by Ibn `Abbas (Allah be pleased with him):
“I never saw the Prophet (ﷺ) seeking to fast on a day that he favored more than another except this day, the day of ‘Ashura’, and this month, meaning the month of Ramadan.” (Saheeh Bukhari: 2006)
The benefits of the Aa’shura fasting is such it serves as a compensation for the sins of the past year. The following Hadith clarifies this:
عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ رضي الله عنه، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ، إِنِّي أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ. (سنن الترمذي : 752)
Abu Qatadah (radhiallahu ‘anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “And fasting on the Day of Ashura, for indeed I anticipate that Allah will expiate (the sins of) the year before it.” (Sunan Tirmidhi: 752).
It is a Sunnah to fast on the 09th day along with the 10th day of Muharram.
(وَ) يُسْتَحَبُّ (صَوْمُ عَاشُورَاءَ) وَهُوَ عَاشِرُ الْمُحَرَّمِ (مَعَ تَاسُوعَاءَ) وَهُوَ تَاسِعُهُ «قَالَ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ وَقَالَ لَئِنْ عِشْت إلَى قَابِلٍ لَأَصُومَنَّ التَّاسِعَ فَمَاتَ قَبْلَهُ» رَوَاهُمَا مُسْلِمٌ وَإِنَّمَا لَمْ يُحِبَّ صَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ لِخَبَرِ الصَّحِيحَيْنِ «إنَّ هَذَا الْيَوْمَ يَوْمُ عَاشُورَاءَ وَلَمْ يُكْتَبْ عَلَيْكُمْ صِيَامُهُ فَمَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيَصُمْ وَمَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيُفْطِرْ» (أسنى المطالب في شرح روض الطالب)
The following Hadith clarifies this:
عن عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا، قال: حِينَ صَامَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآله وَسَلَّمَ يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ وَأَمَرَ بِصِيَامِهِ قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، إِنَّهُ يَوْمٌ تُعَظِّمُهُ الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَى، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «فَإِذَا كَانَ الْعَامُ الْمُقْبِلُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ صُمْنَا الْيَوْمَ التَّاسِعَ» قَالَ: فَلَمْ يَأْتِ الْعَامُ الْمُقْبِلُ حَتَّى تُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ. (صحيح مسلم : 1134)
Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) fasted on the day of ‘Ashura and commanded that it should he 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 (ﷺ) said: ‘When the next year comes, God willing, we would observe fast on the 9th’. But the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) died before the advent of the next year. (Saheeh Muslim: 1134)
Those who couldn’t afford to fast on the 09th day along with the 10th day, it is a Sunnah to fast on the 11th day along with the 10th day.
(وَ) صَوْمُ (عَاشُورَاءَ) وَهُوَ تَاسِعُ الْمُحَرَّمِ لِقَوْلِهِ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – «لَئِنْ بَقِيتُ إلَى قَابِلٍ لَأَصُومَنَّ الْيَوْمَ التَّاسِعَ» فَمَاتَ قَبْلَهُ رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ.
وَحِكْمَةُ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ تَاسُوعَاءَ مَعَ عَاشُورَاءَ الِاحْتِيَاطُ لَهُ لِاحْتِمَالِ الْغَلَطِ فِي أَوَّلِ الشَّهْرِ، وَلِمُخَالَفَةِ الْيَهُودِ فَإِنَّهُمْ يَصُومُونَ الْعَاشِرَ، وَالِاحْتِرَازُ مِنْ إفْرَادِهِ بِالصَّوْمِ كَمَا فِي يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَصُمْ مَعَهُ تَاسُوعَاءَ سُنَّ أَنْ يَصُومَ مَعَهُ الْحَادِيَ عَشَرَ. (بَابُ صَوْمِ التَّطَوُّعِ يُسَنُّ صَوْمُ الِاثْنَيْنِ، وَالْخَمِيسِ.- مغني المحتاج إلى معرفة معاني ألفاظ المنهاج)
Imam Shafie (May Allah have Mercy upon him) states that it is preferable to fast on all 3 days.
بَلْ نَصَّ الشَّافِعِيُّ فِي الْأُمِّ وَالْإِمْلَاءِ عَلَى اسْتِحْبَابِ صَوْمِ الثَّلَاثَةِ. (بَابُ صَوْمِ التَّطَوُّعِ يُسَنُّ صَوْمُ الِاثْنَيْنِ، وَالْخَمِيسِ.- مغني المحتاج إلى معرفة معاني ألفاظ المنهاج)
Hence it is a Sunnah to fast on the 9th day or 11th day along with the 10th day of the month of Muharram. Furthermore it is preferable to fast on the 09th, 10th and 11th day of Muharram.
Almighty Allah is the All Knower!
Ash-Shaikh M.L.M. Ilyas
Secretary – Fatwa Division
All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama
Ash-Shaikh I.L.M. Hashim Shoori
Supervisor – Fatwa Division
All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama
Ash-Shaikh M. Arkam Nooramith
General Secretary,
All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama
Mufti M.I.M. Rizwe
President
All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama
