09/10/2016
*Virtues Of Muharram*
*& Fasting On The Day Of Ashura*
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Allah’s sacred month of Muharram is a blessed and important month. It is the first month of the Hijri calendar and is one of the four sacred months.
The 10th day of the month of Muharram is called Ashura and fasting on that day and the day before or after is very valuable.
Let me provide you some ahadith about this day In Shaa Allah.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
❝The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘The best of fasting after Ramadan is fasting Allah’s month of Muharram.’❞ - (Muslim, 1982)
Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
❝The Prophet ﷺ came to Madinah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of ‘Ashura’. He said, ‘What is this?’ They said, 'This is a righteous day, it is the day when Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemies, so Musa fasted on this day.’ He said, 'We have more right to Musa than you,’ so he fasted on that day and commanded [the Muslims] to fast on that day.❞ - (Bukhari, 1865)
Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said:
❝I never saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ so keen to fast any day and give it priority over any other than this day, the day of 'Ashura’, and this month, meaning Ramadan.❞ - (Bukhari, 1867)
It is Mustahabb (encouraged) to Fast Tasu'a’ with 'Ashura’.
'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said:
❝When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fasted on 'Ashura’ and commanded the Muslims to fast as well, they said, 'O Messenger of Allah, it is a day that is venerated by the Jews and Christians.’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'If I live to see the next year, In Sha Allah, we will fast on the ninth day too.’ But it so happened that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed away before the next year came.❞ - (Muslim, 1916)
Some scholars recommend fasting on the 9th of Ashurah as well to be on the safe side or to be different from the Jews and Christians.
_*So when is the day of Ashura?*_
*Day before Ashura:* 9th Muharram - Monday 10th October 2016
*Ashura:* 10th Muharram - Tuesday 11th October 2016
*Day After Ashura:* 11th Muharram - Wednesday 12th October 2016
Please keep in mind that it is not obligatory to fast on these days but a very, very valuable sunnah!
A'isha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Quraish used to fast on the day of 'Ashura in the pre-Islamic days and the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ also observed it.
When he ﷺ migrated to Madinah, he himself observed this fast and commanded (others) to observe it. But when fasting during the month of Ramadan was made obligatory he said:
❝He who wishes to observe this fast may do so, and he who wishes to abandon it may do so.❞ - (Muslim 2499)
