✦ FASTING ON THE 10th OF MUHARRAM ✦ ☛ The Most Important Reminder! First of all, it is very important to make it clear that fasting on the day of `Ashura’ – the 10th of Muharram- is of great merits in Islam. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Fasting the day of `Ashura (is of great merits), I hope that Allah will accept it as an expiation for the sins committed in the previous year” [Muslim]. Also, fasting the 9th of Muharram is highly recommended by the Sunnah. Imam At-Tirmidhi reported that Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to say: We should fast on two days: the 9th and 10th of Muharram to distinguish ourselves from the Jewish community. [At-Tirmidhi]. With the sighting of the new moon the Islamic New Year is ushered in. The first month Muharram, is a month of great reward and virtue. Muharram itself means `sacred and is from those months which have been mentioned as sacred in the Holy Quran. ▶ IMPORTANCE OF THE MONTH OF MUHARRAM Allah Almighty states in the Holy Quran: “Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve months in the register of Allah from the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, FOUR ARE SACRED ( Zil-Qadah, Zil-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab). [Surah Al Tawbah, 9:36]. Abu Bakarah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: The year is twelve months of which four are sacred, the three consecutive months of Dhul-Qadah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab Mudar which comes between Jumadah and Shaban. [Reported by al-Bukhari, 2958] ▶ ‘ASHURA’ AND ITS HISTORY Ashura is the 10th day of Muharram. It was reported that The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) used to fast on ‘Ashura’ in Makkah before the fasting on the month of Ramadan was prescribed. When he migrated to Madinah, he found the Jews celebrating this day, so he asked them why, and they replied as described in the hadith: Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) 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] Aisha (R.A.) narrated that: The people used to fast on Ashura before the fasting of Ramadan was made obligatory. And on that day the Ka’ba used to be covered with a cover. When Allah made the fasting of the month of Ramadan compulsory, Allah’s Apostle said, “Whoever wishes to fast on the day of Ashura may do so; and whoever wished to leave it can do so.” [Bukhari]. ▶ VIRTUES OF ASHURA Fasting on the Day of ‘Ashura’ is of great merits, it expiates for the sins of the past year. This is a blessing and a gift from Allah towards us: for fasting one day He gives us expiation for the sins of a whole year. And Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: “For fasting the day of ‘Ashura’, I hope that Allah will accept it as expiation for the year that went before.” [Muslim] It is highly recommended desirable to fast on this day, although it is not obligatory. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) intended to fast on that day in the hope of earning the reward for doing so. Ibn ‘Abbas (R.A) said: “I never saw the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) so keen to fast any day and give it priority over any other than this day, the day of ’Ashura’, and this month, meaning Ramadhan.” [Bukhari] ▶ HOW TO FAST ASHURA Jews used to celebrate Ashura, 10th of Muharram as a festival, have a feast and their women would wear their jewellery and symbols on that day. In order not to imitate the Jews The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) has instructed us to fast on the day of Ashura and also an additional day in order to differentiate ourselves from the Jews since they celebrated only the 10th of Muharram. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: ‘So you Muslims should fast on that day. [Bukhari] Ash-Shafi’i and his companions, Ahmad, Ishaq and others said: ”It is mustahabb to fast on both the ninth and tenth days, because the Prophet (ﷺ) fasted on the tenth, and intended to fast on the ninth.” The late Sheikh Sayyed Sabiq states: Abu Hurayrah reported: I asked the Prophet: Which Prayer is the best after the obligatory Prayers? He said: Prayer during the mid of the night. I asked: Which fasting is the best after that of Ramadan? He said, The month of Allah that you call Muharram’ [Ahmad, Muslim, and Abu Dawud]. Mu`awiyyah ibn Abi Sufyan reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah say: Concerning the day of `Ashura’, it is not obligatory upon you to fast on it as I do. Whoever wishes may fast and whoever does not wish to is not obliged to do so [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. It is noteworthy that Muslim scholars have stated that fasting of `Ashura’ is of three levels as follows: 1. Fasting for three days, i.e., on the 9th, 10th, and 11th of Muharram, 2. Fasting the 9th and 10th of Muharram, and 3. Fasting only the 10th of Muharram. ☞ Help us to spread this Reminder to more people, Please Share & Tag this for others!
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 09:49:08 +0000