Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, Ashura shifts every Gregorian year.

“In 2026, Ashura (10th Muharram) is expected to fall on Thursday, June 25.”

What is the Day of Ashura?

Ashura is the 10th day of Muharram, the first Month of the Islamic Hijri calendar

While Muharram is one of the four sacred months mentioned in the Quran, the 10th day holds a unique status across Islamic history.

Why Do Muslims Fast on Ashura?

The historical significance of fasting on Ashura is rooted in a major historical event:

Ashura marks the day when Allah saved Prophet Moses peace be upon him and his people from pharaoh by parting of the Sea by Allah.

Prophet Moses (Prophet Musa or in Arabic) is one of the Prophets of Islam and mentioned many times in the Quran. As he is a Prophet of Allah we have a more right to him than the Jews. So we are told to fast on the day of Ashura and the day before.

It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) came to Madinah, he found them fasting on one day, i.e., ‘Ashura’. They said: This is a great day; it is the day on which Allah saved Musa and drowned the people of Pharaoh, so Musa fasted in gratitude to Allah. He (the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)) said: “I am closer to Musa than they are.” So he fasted on that day and issued instructions to fast on that day. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3216

Abd-Allah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) fasted 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 (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) 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 (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had passed away.(Narrated by Muslim, 1916.)

This shows it is recomended to fast the 9th (Taasooaa) and 10th (Ashura) of Muharram. Muslims should fast the 9th also in order to be different from the Jews if one is not able to fast the 9th he/she fast the 10th and 11th.

Great Virtues and Rewards of Fasting Ashura

Fasting on the 10th of Muharram is a voluntary (Nafl) fast, but it’s reward is immense.

1 Expiation of One Year of Sins

The greatest benefit of fasting on this blessed day is the total forgiveness of your minor sins from the entire previous year.

Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Fasting the day of ‘Arafah I hope Allah will expiate thereby for the year before it and the year after it, and fasting the day of ‘Ashura I hope Allah will expiate thereby for the year that came before it.” Narrated by Muslim, 1162.

This is by the bounty that Allah bestows upon us, whereby fasting one day expiates for the sins of a whole year. And 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.

Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

Fasting the day of ‘Arafaah expiates for all minor sins, in othr words this brings forgiveness for all sins except for major sins.

Then he said:

Fasting the day of Arafaah is an expiation for two years, and the day of Ashura is an expiation for one year, and if a person’s Ameen coincides with the Ameen of the angels, his previous sins will be forgiven Each of the things mentioned may bring expiation. If he does something that expiates for minor sins he will be expiated, and if there are no minor or major sins, it will be recorded for him as good deeds and he will rise in status thereby… If there is one or more major sins and no minor sins, we hope that it will reduce his major sins. Al-Majmoo’ Sharh al-Muhadhdhab, part 6.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The expiation of purification, prayer, and fasting Ramadaan, ‘Arafah and ‘Ashura applies to minor sins only. Al-Fataawa al-Kubra, part 5

2 Following the of the Prophet (peace be upon him)

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) 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 ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I never saw the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) 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 Ramadaan. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1867. 

How to Fast Ashura (The 3 ways of Fasting)

1: Level 1 (Most Recommended) Fasting the 9th and 10th of Muharram (Highly Recommended Sunnah)

Fasting both days fulfills the Sunnah completely and ensures you avoid imitating the Jews.

2: Level 2 Fasting the 10th, and 11th days

If a person is not able to fast on the 9th and 10th then one can fast 10th and 11th thus being different from the Jews.

3: Level 3 Fasting the 10th of Muharram alone.

If Ashura falls on a Friday then remember we should not fast on Friday alone.

Also if Ashura falls on a Saturday then also we should not fast on Saturday alone

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: “No one of you should fast on Friday, unless he fasts (a day) before it or after it.” Al-Bukhari (1985) and Muslim (1144)

Narrated from Juwayriyah bint al-Harith (may Allah be pleased with her), that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) entered upon her on a Friday and she was fasting . He said; “Did you fast yesterday?” She said, “No.” He said: “Do you intend to fast tomorrow?” She said: “No.” He said: “Then break your fast.” al-Bukhari (1986)

According to a report narrated by Muslim: “do not single out the day of Friday for fasting, unless that coincides with a fast that one habitually observes.” 

Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “These ahadith appear to support the view of the majority of the companions of al-Shafi’i, which is that it is makruh to single out Friday for fasting unless that happens to coincide with a fast that one habitually observes. If he joins it to a fast on the day before or the day after, or it coincides with a day that he habitually fasts, such as if he vowed to fast on the day that a loved one was healed for the rest of his life, and that happens to be a Friday, then it is not makruh, because of these ahadith.” 

It is makruh to single out Saturday for fasting, because of the report narrated by al-Tirmidhi (744), Abu Dawud (2421) and Ibn Majah (1726) from ‘Abd-Allah ibn Busr, from his sister, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Do not fast on Saturdays apart from days when you are obliged to fast. If any one of you cannot find anything other than grape stalks or the twigs of a tree, let him chew it (to make sure that he is not fasting).” Classed as sahih by al-Albani in al-Irwa (960).

Abu ‘Isa al-Tirmidhi said:

“This is a hasan hadith. What is makruh in this case is for a man to single out Saturday for fasting, because the Jews venerate Saturday .”

Ashura Fasting before the Prophet peace be upon him migrated to Madina

It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: Quraysh used to fast on ‘Ashura’ during the Jaahiliyyah, and the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to fast on (that day) too. When he migrated to Madinah, he fasted this day and ordered that this fast be observed. When the month of Ramadaan was enjoined, he said: “Whoever wishes may fast on (this day) and whoever wishes may forsake it.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1794); Muslim (1125).

Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the people of the Jaahiliyyah used to fast on the day of Ashoora, and the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and the Muslims fasted it before Ramadan was made obligatory. When the month of Ramadan was made obligatory, the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “ ‘Ashoora’ is one of the days of Allah, so whoever wishes may fast it and whoever wishes may omit it.” Narrated by Muslim (1126).

It was what was reported by Ibn Abbaas, who said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded us to fast Ashura the tenth day of Muharram. (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, who said, a saheeh hasan hadeeth).

Ibn Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I never saw the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) 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 Ramadaan. (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1867)

Therefore Initially Fasting on Ashura was compulsory but when Allah ordered Muslim to fast the Month of Ramadan then the fast of Ashura became non obligatory, so whoever wished to fast could fast and who ever did not wish to fast did not have to fast.

The order to fast of the day of Ashura came during the life of the Prophet peace be upon him and thus Ashura has nothing to do we any events that may have accured after His life. So Ashura must be celebrated in the way our Prophet peace be upon him has told us to celebrate it.

Islamic Rules and FAQs Regarding Ashura Fasting

Can Women with Menstruation or Post-Natal Bleeding Fast?

Women who are menstruating or bleeding following childbirth, or those who are sick or are travelling

Obviously some people want to fast on Ashura but can not fast due to menstruation, post partum bleeding, sickness or because they are traveling.

Some scholars say that since Aashoora occurs on a specific day it cannot be made up.

So people who would have fasted had they not been sick, menstruating, suffering from post partum bleeding or had not been traveling on a journey, they will be rewarded the same as the people fasting due to their intention of fasting will have a reward recorded for him like that of what he used to do when he was at home and was healthy.

Abu Moosa (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “If a person falls sick or travels, he will have a reward recorded for him like that of what he used to do when he was at home and was healthy.” al-Bukhaari (2996)