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Safar 1431 A.H.
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It is sunnah to fast on the 10th of Muharram, the Day of Ashura. (Sunday, Dec.27th.)
Let us study something about this blessed month. Muharram is the first month of the Islamic and Arabic year. It also is one of the four sacred months of Allah. In the Holy Quran Allah says: There have been twelve months with Allah in the Book of Allah from the day He first created the heavens and the earth. Four of them are Sacred (the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the true religion, so do not wrong one another during them.( At-Tawbah 9:36) It is narrated by Abu Bakrah
that the Holy Prophet
said: “The division of time has returned to its original form which was current the day that Allah 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.” (Bukhari and Muslim) The Holy Prophet established that the best fasting after Ramadan is fasting in the month of Muharram. It was narrated that Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “The best fasting after Ramadan is the Month of Allah Muharram, and the best prayer after the obligatory prayer is prayer at night.” (Muslim) Regarding the phrase “the Month of Allah”, mentioning the month in conjunction with Allah is a sign of its great status, so this hadith is encouraging us to fast a lot in the month of Muharram.
In this month of Muharram is the Day of ‘Ashura'(tenth). The Holy Prophet used to be very keen to make sure he fasted on the Day of ‘Ashura' because of its great status. It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said: “I never saw the Holy Prophet so keen to make sure he fasted any day and preferring it over another except this day, the Day of ‘Ashura', and this month” ? meaning Ramadan. ( Bukhari ) There is a great reward for the Fasting of ‘Ashura', It is an expiation for the past year, because the Holy Prophet said: “For fasting the Day of ‘Arafah I hope Allah will expiate the year before it and the year after it, and for fasting the Day of ‘Ashura' I hope that Allah will expiate thereby for the year that came before it.” (Muslim) This is by the bounty that Allah bestows upon us, whereby fasting one day expiates for the sins of a whole year. Allah is the Owner of great bounty. The expiation of sins that is achieved by fasting ‘Ashura' refers to minor sins; with regard to major sins, they need separate repentance.
It is better to fast Tasooa (ninth) with the Day of ‘Ashura'(tenth) because it has been narrated by ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Abbaas that when the Messenger of Allahfasted on the day of ‘Ashura and told the people to fast, they said, “O Messenger of Allah, this is a day that is venerated by the Jews and Christians.” The Messenger of Allah said, “Next year, if Allah wills, we will fast on the ninth day.” But by the time the following year came, the Messenger of Allah had passed away. (Muslim) Based on this hadith, It is mustahabb [recommended] to fast both the ninth and the tenth, because the Prophet fasted the tenth and intended to fast the ninth.
May Allah help all of us to be as He likes, and guide us to the right way. Ameen
Imam Mohsen
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