Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim, today’s topic of discussion is the virtues of Ashura, the benefits of fasting on Ashura, and how many Ashura fasts there are.
Benefits of Ashura & Ashura Fasting
The word Ashura is Arabic, which means tenth. It derives from the root Ashara, which means ten. When hearing the word Ashura, the heart of the common man trembles, because Ashura means Karbala. And Karbala means the tragic martyrdom of Imam Hussain Ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet. But Ashura is the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the lunar year. Allah Ta’ala has made 4 out of 12 months, namely: Zilqad, Zilhajj, Muharram, and Rajab, as haram, i.e., honorable months. The tenth day of the month of Muharram, i.e,. Ashura Muharram is an important day, which has more virtues and significance. Some of them are mentioned below:
(A) On this day, the salvation of Moses and the children of Israel and the destruction of Pharaoh and his people
On this day, Allah saved His Messenger Moses and the Children of Israel from the tyranny of Pharaoh and destroyed Pharaoh and his people by drowning them in the Red Sea.
1. The words of Allah Ta’ala:
And when We parted the sea for you, then We saved them and drowned Pharaoh’s people before their eyes.
Surah Al-Baqarah: 50
2. The words of Allah Ta’ala:
And I have caused the Children of Israel to cross the sea. Then they were pursued by Pharaoh and his army for evil and transgression. Even when they began to sink, he said, “Now I believe that there is no god but the One in whom the Children of Israel believed.” I am one of his followers. Now you are talking! But you were already disobeying! And they were among the misguided. Therefore, I am saving your body today so that it may be a sign for those after you. And no doubt, many people do not pay attention to my superpower.
Surah Yunus: 90-92
3. Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: When the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, arrived in Medina, he saw that the Jews were fasting Ashura. Then he asked them: Why do you fast on this day? They said: This is a great day. On that day, God saved Moses and his people and destroyed Pharaoh and his people. That is why we also fast on this day for the sake of giving thanks to Allah and His people. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: We are more entitled to follow Musa (as). He then fasted on Ashura and instructed the Companions to fast as well.
Bukhari 2024 and 3396, Muslim 1130 and 128
(B) The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to search this day more than any other day
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: I have not seen any other fast similar to the one in which I saw the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, seriously examining the fasting of Ashura and Ramadan.
Bukhari H. No. 17 Muslim 2/1132
(C) Even small children used to fast on this day
Narrated Rubaiya bint Mu’awiyah (may Allah be pleased with her): The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sent messengers to the villages of the Ansari Companions on the morning of Ashura. As if to declare: He who eats in the morning should not eat the rest of the day. And he who does not eat must fast. He (Rubaiya) said: Then we used to fast ourselves; we used to fast our children too. And I would give them toys made of cotton. When none of them were hungry for food, I used to keep those toys till Iftar. Muslim Sharif narrates: We used to make toys for children with cotton and kept them with us. I used to forget them with toys when they wanted food, so that they could complete their fast.
Bukhari H. No. 1824 Muslim H. No. 1919
(D) The fast of this day was obligatory before the fast of Ramadan became obligatory
Narrated Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): In the time of Jahiliyyah, the Quraish used to fast Ashura, and so did the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Then, when he arrived in Medina, he observed the fast of Ashura and instructed him to observe it. Then, when the fast of Ramadan became obligatory, he did not observe the fast of Ashura (as obligatory). (Kept as circumcision) Then whoever wanted and whoever did not want.
Bukhari H. No. 173 Muslim H. No. 1899
(E) This fast is the month of Allah in the month of Muharram, the place and status of which is after the month of Ramadan
Narrated Abu Hurairah: He said: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: The best fast after Ramadan is the fast of Muharram, the month of Allah.
Muslim and Tirmidhi H No. 81
(F) Fasting on this day removes the sins of the last year
When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about the virtues of the fast of Ashura, he said: Regarding the fast of Ashura, I hope that Allaah will forgive the sins of the past year.
Muslim H. No. 198
Ashura fasting
It is Sunnat to fast on the ninth day along with the tenth day, so as not to be identical with Judeo-Christians. And this is the best thing that the Companions used to do after the death of the Holy Prophet.
1. Narrated Abdullah bin Abbas: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) fasted Ashura, and instructed him to keep it. Later (The Companions) said: This day is highly respected by the Judeo-Christians. The Prophet (sm) said: “If Allaah wills, the next year will come; Then we will also fast on the ninth day. But the next year, before the arrival of Ashura, the Prophet died.
Muslim H. No. 1918
2. Narrated Abdullah bin Abbas: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: If I am alive, I must fast on the ninth day.
Muslim H. No. 1918
3. Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: You should fast on the tenth day as well as on the ninth day.
Musannaf Abdur Razzak, the Sanad of the hadith is Saheeh-pure
May Allah Ta’ala grant us the Tawfiq to understand and act properly. Allahumma Amin.