Importance of Ashura (ashoora), Its history and fasting on the day of Ashurah
Ashura is a day of commemoration in Islam. It occurs annually on the tenth of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. For Muslims, Ashura marks the day when Allah saved Prophet Moses peace be upon him and his people from pharoah by parting of the Sea by Allah. Prophet Moses (Prophet Musa or Moosa) 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 thean the Jews. 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 Moosa and drowned the people of Pharaoh, so Moosa fasted in gratitude to Allah. He (the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)) said: “I am closer to Moosa than they are.” So he fasted on that day and issued instructions to fast on that day.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3216
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).
Abd-Allaah ibn Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) fasted on the day of Ashura and told the people to fast, they said, O Messenger of Allaah, this is a day that is venerated by the Jews and Christians. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, Next year, if Allaah wills, we will fast on the ninth day.But by the time the following year came, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) had passed away.
(Narrated by Muslim, 1916.)
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)
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) also said: For fasting the day of Ashura, I hope that Allaah will accept it as expiation for the year that went before. (Reported by Muslim, 1976).
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.
Ashura in History
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 Ramadaan was made obligatory. When the month of Ramadaan 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).
Therefore Initially Fasting on Ashoorah was compulsary but when Allah order Muslim to fast the Month of Ramadan the fast of Ashoora became non obligatory so whoever wished to fast could fast and who ever did not wish to fast did not have to fast.
Women who are menstruating or bleeding following childbirth, or those who are sick or are travelling
Obviously some people want to fast on Aashooraa but can not fast due to menstruction, 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, menstrauting, suffering from post partum bleeding or had not been on a traveling on a journey, they will be rewarded the same as the people fasting due to their intention of fasting
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)
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.
Expiated Sins by fasting Ashura
Fasting on day of Ashura for the past year, because the 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 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.
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.
