Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
“Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) arrived in Medina and found the Jews observing fast on the day of ‘Ashura. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to them:
What is the (significance) of this day that you observe fast on it? They said: It is the day of great (significance) when Allah delivered Moses and his people, and drowned the Pharaoh and his people, and Moses observed fast out of gratitude, and we also observe it. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: We have more right, and we have a closer connection with Moses than you have; so Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) observed fast (on the day of ‘Ashura), and gave orders that it should be observed1.”
In particular, regarding the merit of the Day of ‘Ashura, the Prophet ﷺ stated:
“It expiates the sins of the previous year.”
However, when the Prophet ﷺ later learned that the Jews continued to honor the day by fasting, he said:
“If I live till the next (year), I would definitely observe fast on the 9th.”2
But the Prophet ﷺ passed away before the following Muharram.
The statement of Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), the narrator of the hadith “If I live until next year…”, is recorded in Musannaf ‘Abd al-Razzaq and Bayhaqi. From this, it is understood that both the 9th and 10th of Muharram should be observed with fasting.
Key Points
1.The Fast of the 10th of Muharram (Day of ‘Ashura):
The Prophet ﷺ fasted on the 10th of Muharram in celebration of the deliverance of Prophet Musa (peace be upon him), as confirmed by the authentic narration:
“We have more right, and we have a closer connection with Moses than you have.”
There is no narration suggesting that the Prophet ﷺ later abandoned this practice, and hence, fasting on the 10th remains a recommended Sunnah.
2.The Date’s Historical Significance Must Be Maintained:
Changing the specific date undermines the prescribed virtue and reward associated with it.
Recommended Practice:
To benefit from the fast of ‘Ashura, the following methods are viable:
●Optimal Option: Fast on the 9th and 10th of Muharram
●Alternative: Fast on the 10th and 11th of Muharram or Fast consecutively on the 9th, 10th, and 11th of Muharram
