The Virtue of the Day of Ashura and its Fasting

Ashura is a blessed day that the Sacred Law magnified and for whose fasting it appointed a great reward. This article explains the virtue of Ashura, the Days of God that occurred on it, then the ruling on fasting it and its best forms.

#The standing of Ashura in the Sacred Law

“It is among the rites of God’s religion that we honour days the noble Law came to honour… and among the days God Most High magnified is the day of Ashura.” It is the tenth of Muharram, on which God accepted the repentance of our master Adam (peace be upon him); God Most High said: ﴿فَتَلَقَّىٰ آدَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ﴾ ﴾﴿البقرة ٣٧

#The Days of God on Ashura

“On this great day of Ashura the ark of our master Noah came to rest upon Mount Jūdī… on the day of Ashura God saved our master Abraham from the fire into which he was cast, so it did not burn him… and God saved our master Moses (peace be upon him) and those who believed with him.”

#The virtue of fasting it

It is established in the two Ṣaḥīḥs, from Ibn ʿAbbās (may God be pleased with them):

«قَدِمَ النبيُّ ﷺ المدينةَ فرأى اليهودَ تصومُ يومَ عاشوراء، فقال: ما هذا اليومُ الذي تصومونه؟ قالوا: هذا يومٌ عظيمٌ أنجى اللهُ فيه موسى وقومَه وغرَّق فرعونَ وقومَه، فصامه موسى شكرًا، فنحن نصومه. فقال ﷺ: فنحن أحقُّ وأولى بموسى منكم، فصامه وأمر بصيامه» (رواه البخاري ومسلم).

And he ﷺ said: «أفضلُ الصيامِ بعد رمضانَ شهرُ اللهِ المحرّم» (رواه مسلم).

Fasting the ninth with the tenth (Tāsūʿāʾ)

It is recommended to fast the ninth together with the tenth, for his saying ﷺ: «لئن بقيتُ إلى قابلٍ لأصومنّ التاسعَ» (رواه مسلم) — to differ from the Jews and as a precaution. Some scholars said: “Perhaps the reason for fasting the ninth with the tenth is so as not to resemble the Jews in singling out the tenth.”

#Words of Ibn al-Jawzī (may God have mercy on him)

Ibn al-Jawzī said: “On the day of Ashura sins and faults are forgiven, and one draws near through charity and acts of goodness to the Knower of hidden things; fasting it is a recommended Sunnah… so know its right and desire its merit.”

Frequently asked questions

What is the day of Ashura?

It is the tenth day of God’s month of Muharram — a day God magnified, on which He granted deliverance and victory to His prophets.

What is the ruling on fasting Ashura?

Fasting it is a recommended Sunnah established from the Prophet ﷺ, and it is recommended to fast the ninth with it to differ from the Jews.

What is the virtue of fasting it?

Among its merits is that the Prophet ﷺ fasted it and ordered fasting it, and made it the best fast after Ramadan.