Fasting represents a basic pillar of the five great pillars of Islam. It is your faithful guide to salvation from the torment of Hellfire and entering Paradise and enjoying its bliss. It is necessary for the Muslim to receive these great religious rites with a high positive spirit, overwhelming happiness, joy, and pleasure, because this represents glorification and reverence for the rites of Allah SWT.
There are two main types of fasting in Islamic law: obligatory fasting (Fard) and voluntary fasting (Sunnah). Voluntary fasting includes fasting on Day of Ashura. This day carries many great meanings and noble values. Therefore, in this article, we will mention the virtues of Fasting on day of Ashura and the ruling on fasting this day in some detail and clarification.
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What Is the Day of Ashura?
The Day of Ashura is the tenth day of the month of Muharram in the Hijri calendar, which is the first month of the Hijri year. This day is characterized by many great advantages and virtues, including that it is recommended to fast on the Day of Ashura in order to draw closer to Allah SWT.
It expiates the sins of the past year and carries great value and a high status with Muslims, because it is a means to draw closer to Allah SWT and increase faith in Him. It is considered an official holiday in some Islamic countries, such as Algeria, Pakistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, Iran, and other countries.
Scholars and historians differed on the reason for naming it by this name, but a large number of them believe that the reason for the naming is that Ashura in the Arabic language corresponds to the tenth day of the Hijri month.
What Are the Virtues of Fasting the Day of Ashura?
Fasting on day of Ashura carries many great virtues and generous advantages. Among the most important of them is following the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH who used to fast this day and commanded us to fast it and urged us to do so. In the beginning, Fasting on day of Ashura was obligatory on Muslims, which shows the greatness of this day and its high status with Allah SWT. However, this ruling was abrogated with time and became a recommended Sunnah and not obligatory.
The importance of this day lies in the fact that it expiates the sins, wrongdoings, and misdeeds that the Muslim committed in the past year. This is a grace and blessing from Allah on His servants. The Day of Ashura is a great opportunity to cleanse your record of sins and transgressions, and a gift from Allah and mercy from Him SWT to His believing servants so that they may draw closer to Him and attain His pleasure.
Fasting on day of Ashura shows the love of Muslims for all the prophets and messengers (Peace Be Upon Them) and not distinguishing between them, because on this day Allah saved Moses and the Children of Israel from Pharaoh and his soldiers. The Prophet PBUH fasted it in gratitude to Allah for this blessing. Fasting on this day shows that the Ummah of Islam is one Ummah and that all the prophets are Muslims, and we are more worthy of them than anyone else.
Fasting any voluntary day keeps you away from the Fire by seventy autumns. Fasting opens for you the gate of Al-Rayyan, which is one of the eight gates of Paradise that opens only for those who fast on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting intercedes for its companion on the Day of Resurrection and defends him before Allah SWT.
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What Are the Prophetic Hadiths That Urge Fasting the Day of Ashura?
There are several noble Prophetic hadiths that show the importance of Fasting on day of Ashura and urge Muslims to fast it, including The saying of the Prophet PBUH:
“صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ وَالسَّنَةَ الَّتِي بَعْدَهُ، وَصِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ”
“Fasting the day of Arafah I hope Allah will expiate thereby for the sins of the past year and the coming year, and fasting the day of Ashura’ I hope Allah will expiate thereby for the sins of the past year.”
It was reported from Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) that he said:
“مَا رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَتَحَرَّى صِيَامَ يَوْمٍ فَضَّلَهُ عَلَى غَيْرِهِ إِلا هَذَا الْيَوْمَ يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ وَهَذَا الشَّهْرَ يَعْنِي شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ”
I did not see the Prophet PBUH keen on fasting any day that he preferred over others except for this day, the day of Ashura, and this month, meaning the month of Ramadan.
It was reported from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) that:
“لما قدم النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى المدينة فرأى اليهود تصوم يوم عاشوراء فقال: ما هذا؟ قالوا: هذا يوم صالح هذا يوم نجى الله بني إسرائيل من عدوهم فصامه موسى فقال النبي: أنا أحق بموسى منكم، فصامه وأمر بصيامه”
“When the Prophet PBUH came to Medina, he saw the Jews fasting the Day of Ashura. He said: “What is this?” They said: “This is a good day, this is a day on which Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy, so Moses fasted it.” The Prophet said: “I am more worthy of Moses than you.” So he fasted it and commanded it to be fasted.
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Is Fasting the Day of Ashura Obligatory or Recommended?
Fasting the Day of Ashura is recommended and not obligatory on Muslims. It is one of the confirmed Sunnahs that the Muslim is rewarded if he does it and rewarded for it, and he does not sin if he leaves it. The evidence for that is what was reported in the two Sahihs from Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah PBUH said:
“إن هذا يوم عاشوراء ولم يكتب عليكم صيامه وأنا صائم، فمن شاء صامه ومن شاء فليفطر.”
“This is the day of Ashura, and its fasting has not been enjoined on you. I am fasting, so whoever wants to fast it, let him fast it, and whoever wants to break it, let him break it.”
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How Did the Status of Fasting Ashura Change After the Advent of Islam?
The Jews used to fast the Day of Ashura to celebrate the salvation of our master Moses (peace be upon him) and his people from Pharaoh and his soldiers. Fasting this day also appeared in the nations before Islam, such as the Quraish. They used to celebrate on the Day of Ashura and consider it a holiday and clothe the Kaaba on this day.
Our mother Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “The Day of Ashura was a day that the Quraish used to fast in the pre-Islamic period of ignorance, and the Messenger of Allah PBUH used to fast it in the pre-Islamic period. When the Messenger of Allah PBUH came to Medina, he fasted it and commanded it to be fasted. When Ramadan was obligated, it was the obligation and Ashura was abandoned, so whoever wanted to fast it, fasted it, and whoever wanted to leave it, left it.”
There is a difference between Muslims and other nations on this day, as it is better for the Muslim to fast a day before it or a day after it.
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The Wisdom of Fasting the Day of Tasu’a with Ashura?
The wisdom of fasting the Day of Tasu’a with the Day of Ashura is to differ from the Jews in their way of fasting, and to show the extent of the love and attachment of Muslims to our master Moses (peace be upon him) more than the Jews themselves.
This shows the uniqueness and distinction of the Islamic religion from other religions. There are three levels of fasting this day. The most complete and best is for the Muslim to fast three days: Ashura, a day before it, and a day after it. He can fast Tasu’a and Ashura only, or fast Ashura and a day after it, or even fast the Day of Ashura alone. He achieves the Sunnah by that as well.
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Mistakes That Some People Make While Fasting on Day of Ashura
There are a number of common mistakes that some people make while fasting the Day of Ashura, the most famous of which is considering that fasting on this day is obligatory and a duty on Muslims, and rebuking those who do not fast. Some people forget to fast a day before Ashura or a day after it, so they miss the reward of this day.
Some people exaggerate in celebrations, innovations, and superstitions and forget to make an effort in obeying Allah SWT. There are common mistakes that the fasting person may make at any time, such as hastening Suhoor, because it is Sunnah to delay it, or drinking water intentionally at the time of Fajr prayer.
FAQs
Why Do Shiites Not Fast the Day of Ashura?
Fasting on day of Ashura is not at all desirable for Shiites. This is because it is the day on which Imam Hussein bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with them), the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, died. Since this day coincides with the anniversary of his martyrdom, it is a day of sadness and grief for them, so they do not fast it.
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What Is the Supplication for Breaking the Fast on the Day of Ashura?
The supplication for breaking the fast after Fasting on day of Ashura is similar to the supplication on any other day of fasting, such as:
“اللهم إني أسألك برحمتك التي وسعت كل شيء أن تغفر”
“O Allah, I ask You by Your mercy that encompasses all things, to forgive me,”
or
“ذهب الظمأ وابتلت العروق وثبت الأجر إن شاء الله”
“Thirst has gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is confirmed, if Allah wills.”
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Is It Necessary for Sunnis to Fast the Day of Ashura?
We have clarified in this article that Fasting on day of Ashura is recommended and not obligatory on Muslims. The Muslim must, if he can, fast this day so that he does not miss a great deal of reward and recompense, and so that Allah may forgive him his sins and transgressions, because this is what will benefit him when he dies and meets Allah SWT.
He must seek sincerity in word and deed so that Allah may accept this day from him. The Muslim will not sin if he does not fast the Day of Ashura.
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Is It Permissible to Fast the Day of Ashura for One Day Only?
Yes, of course, it is possible to fast the Day of Ashura for one day only. It is better and more complete that there is a difference between us and the Jews in the way of fasting, by fasting a day before it, such as the Day of Tasu’a, or fasting a day after it, and Allah knows best.
