Month of Muharram and Fasting the day of Ashoura

Mabsoot

Mabsoot

Amir
Staff member
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
The Month of Muharram and Fasting on the Day of `Ashoorah
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Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Dear brothers and sisters, we are now in the Islamic Month of Muharram, this is the first month of the Islamic year.

It is a month which after Ramadhan is one of the best months to fast in.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘The best of fasting after Ramadaan is fasting Allaah’s month of Muharram.’” (reported by Muslim, 1982).


The phrase “Allaah’s month”, connecting the name of the month to the name of Allaah in a genitive grammatical structure, signifies the importance of the month. Al-Qaari said: “The apparent meaning is all of the month of Muharram.” But it was proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) never fasted any whole month apart from Ramadan, so this hadeeth is probably meant to encourage increasing one’s fasting during Muharram, without meaning that one should fast for the entire month.

And it is from the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad :saw: to 10th of this month.

The 10th of Muharram is the day of Ashura, but the Prophet :saw: told us also to fast one day before, to be different from the Yahud, the Jews.

Ashura is an important day in history. As Allah (the most High) saved the Prophet Musa (Moses) (peace be upon him) and the believers from the evil of the Pharaoh.

The Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
“It expiates (the sins) of the past year.” [Muslim]
​
Ibn `Abbaas (رضي الله عنه) said:
“I never saw the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) so keen to make sure he fasted any day and preferring it over another except this day, the day of `Ashoorah....” [Al-Bukhaari]​
The reason as to why the Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was keen on fasting and urging others to fast on this day, has been explained in some ahaadeeth narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: "The Prophet :saw: came to Madinah and found the Jews fasting on the day of `Ashurah. He :saw: said to them:

`What is this fast?`

They said:

`A great day. Allah saved Moses and the tribes of Israel from their enemies on this day and therefore, Moses fasted on this day.`

The Prophet :saw: said:`We have more of a right to Moses than you,` so he (saws) fasted on that day also and ordered the believers to fast on that day."

Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

The blessed Prophet Muhammad :saw: also made the intention to fast on the 9th of Muharram before he passed away. Muslim narrated that he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
"When the coming year comes, if Allaah wills, we (also) will fast the ninth (of Muharram)."​
Ibn `Abbaas (رضي الله عنه) said:
“The next year did not come except that the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) had passed away.”​
Imam An-Nawawee (رحمه الله) said:
“Some of the scholars have said: ‘Perhaps the reason for fasting on the ninth and the tenth is that so it does not resemble the Jews in their singling out of the tenth.’ ”[Sharh Saheeh Muslim Li-Nawawee]​
So I call you to hold onto the Sunnah of the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) by fasting these days, so that you may have your previous year's sins expiated, inshaa' Allaah. And urge others to this act of obedience, that you may also benefit from the reward.

We must cling onto every Sunnah as we can, for the Muslims must be those who adhere strongly to the Quran and the Sunnah.


What are the virtues of the month of Muharram?

Virtues of superogatory fasting in Muharram

Question: What is obligatory upon the Muslim to do on the day of 'Aashooraa..

Question: Is it permissible to fast 'Aashooraa. just one day?

Please note, the following is a rough estimation as I have no information about moonsighting, until then, inshaAllah we hope to update the information here to present more accurate dates:

In the Islamic month of Muharram, a person should fast the the 9th and 10th but it is okay to fast the10th and 11th if the person did not fast the 9th, this is in accordance to the Prophet :saw: command to differ from the Jews

inshaAllah the 9th/10th of Muharram will be on Monday 5th of January and Wednesday6th 2009 respectively.

Allah accept all our good deeds and forgive our sins, may Allah help us and all the Muslims to be strong in face of all adversity. Amin
 
Abu Abdillah

Abu Abdillah

Super Moderator
Staff member
Masha Allah

As for the wisdom behind this fast, the following is stated in the mukhtasar version of Ibn ul Qayyims "Zaad ul-Ma`aad" "

The day of `Aashooraa was the day when Moosa and his men got freedom from the hands of the Pharaoh and it was in the sacred memory of this great event that the Muslims observed voluntary fasting.

The idea underlying this is to stress the affinity amongst the messengers of Allah and to show that religious devotion is a constant flow from one generation to another. The Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, came not to abrogate all the earlier religious practices but to codify and preserve them for all times to come in ideal forms."

Al-Hasan al-Basri would say, "From the signs that one has drowned in sins is lack of delight in fasting in the day and praying through the night."

Allah’s sacred month of Muharram is a blessed and important month.It is the first month of the Hijri calendar and is one of the four sacred months concerning which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, the number of months with Allaah is twelve months (in a year), so it was ordained by Allaah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth;of them, four are sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein…” [al-Tawbah 9:36]

Abu Bakrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The year is twelve months of which four are sacred, the three consecutive months of Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab Mudar which comes between Jumaada and Sha’baan.” (Reportedby al-Bukhaari, 2958).

Muharram is so called because it is a sacred (muharram) month and to confirm its sanctity.

Allaah’s words (interpretation of the meaning): “so wrong not yourselves therein…” mean do not wrong yourselves in these sacred months, because sin in these months is worse than in other months.

It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas said that this phrase (so wrong not yourselves therein…) referred to all the months, then these four were singled out and made sacred, so that sin in these months is more serious and good deedsbring a greater reward.

Qutaadah said concerning this phrase (so wrong not yourselvestherein…) that wrongdoing during the sacred months is more serious and more sinful that wrongdoing at any other time.

Wrong doing at any time is a serious matter, but Allaah gives more weight to whichever of His commands He will. Allaah has chosen certain ones of His creation. He has chosen from among the angels Messengers and from among mankind Messengers.

He chose from among speech the remembrance of Him (dhikr). He chose from among the earth the mosques, from among the months Ramadaan and the sacred months,from among the days Friday and from among the nights Laylat al-Qadr, so venerate that which Allaah has told us to venerate.

People of understanding and wisdom venerate the things that Allaah has told us to venerate. (Summarized from the Tafseer of IbnKatheer, may Allaah have mercy on him. Tafseer of Surat al-Tawbah, aayah 36).
 
Abu Abdillah

Abu Abdillah

Super Moderator
Staff member
mirajmom said:
Salaam,

I thought we fasted on the 10th day. Please be so kind as to educate.
Click to expand...


The fast of the day of 'Aashooraa. (tenth day of Muharram) is recommended, as its excellence has been mentioned in (a number of) ahaadeeth. From them, is the saying of the Prophet (Certainly the fast of the day of 'Aashooraa. is regarded by Allaah as an expiation for the sins of the previous year)

Also, when the Prophet :saw: arrived in Madeenah he saw the Jews fasting (on this day), so when he asked them (about this), they said: "Certainly, this is the day when Allaah made Moosaa victorious and destroyed Fir'own". So the Prophet said: (We have more of a right to Moosaa than you). So he fasted (that day) and ordered it to be fasted. (Sahih Muslim vol. 1 pg.359)

As for the ninth, then it has not been confirmed that the Prophet fasted it, however, it has been narrated by Ibn 'Abbaass and others that the explanation (tafseer) of the day of 'Aashooraa. is that it is the ninth. And it has been narrated that he said: (If I am (still) here next year, then certainly I will fast the ninth (day of Muharram) and in (another) narration: (along with the tenth (day of Muharram). And he said: (Differ from the Jews; fast the day before it (the ninth) or the day after it (the eleventh).

So, this indicates that the fast of the ninth is legislated just as the tenth and it is recommended for the Muslims to increase in fasting during this month as in the Saheeh hadeeth. The Prophet :saw: said: (The best of fasts after (the month of) Ramadhaan is the month of Allaah which they refer to as Muharram).
 
Mabsoot

Mabsoot

Amir
Staff member
mirajmom said:
Salaam,

I thought we fasted on the 10th day. Please be so kind as to educate.
Click to expand...

wa alaykum salam,

sorry perhaps my writing wasnt clear, I just added the word "also".

"The 10th of Muharram is the day of Ashura, but the Prophet :saw: told us also to fast one day before, to be different from the Yahud, the Jews. "
 
W

webzaheer

Junior Member
Assalamualaikum,
For 9th and 10th of Muharram fall on 6th and 7th of Januarry. :(
i.e: On tuesday and Wednesday.
 
A

Aapa

Mirajmom
Salaam.


Sweet and respected brothers thank you for your prompt replies. Insha'Allah I will be able to fast on both days.
 
lostlilly07

lostlilly07

striving 4 Firadous
wa alaikum salaam

Jazakallah kharin...

I am so glad this was posted, I came to this website looking precisely for this information and I did need to move forward. I am also glad you posted the corresponding date. I would hate to miss out on these bless days.
 
Mahzala

Mahzala

فَتَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ
Mabsoot said:
Please note, the following is a rough estimation as I have no information about moonsighting, until then, inshaAllah we hope to update the information here to present more accurate dates:


As it is now, Tuesday 30 December 2008 (03 Muharram 1430) inshaAllah the 9th/10th of Muharram will be on Sunday 4th of January and Monday 5th 2009 respectively.

Allah accept all our good deeds and forgive our sins, may Allah help us and all the Muslims to be strong in face of all adversity. Amin
Click to expand...

Assalamualaikum

:bismillah1:

Jazak Allah for sharing this information. May Allah reward you for your efforts and Aameen to your duas. May Allah always give us the taufiq to Praise Him and turn to Him in, not only times of hardship, but also thank Him in times of happiness and success and remember that it all comes from Him, Almighty.

I am puzzled at the dates you have mentioned Brother Mabsoot, however, I do take into considertaion the fact that you mentioned that it is only an estimation. What I have to say, is that, I use the Athan Software that can be downloaded from www.islamicfinder.com. I use this software and this also has a calender in it. Today, it says: Thursday, January 1, 2009. And beneath it it says: Muharram 4, 1430.

Like Brother Webzaheer mentioned, I, too think that these Blessed Days fall on Tuesday and Wednesday. I await any clarifications, but for the time being, will follow my calender.

Assalamualaikum
 
Mabsoot

Mabsoot

Amir
Staff member
heegaan said:
SO are we fasting 4TH and 5TH January???
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:salam2:

sorry for the mistake, we should be thinking from Islamic calendar and know the Islamic months etc,

we are fasting on the 9th and 10th of Muharram :)

that corresponds to the 6th and 7th of January
 
drimi

drimi

Qëndrim Ismajli
Selam alejkum
Can you tell me which day we are going to fast.
And this lets be final response
 
I

Idris16

Junior Member
Mabsoot said:
:salam2:

sorry for the mistake, we should be thinking from Islamic calendar and know the Islamic months etc,

we are fasting on the 9th and 10th of Muharram :)

that corresponds to the 6th and 7th of January
Click to expand...
:wasalam:

Ok thanks, i dont have the islamic calendar and dont know abt it at all.


drimi said:
Selam alejkum
Can you tell me which day we are going to fast.
And this lets be final response
Click to expand...
:salam2:
As our brother Mabsoot said 6th and 7th of january that will be tuesday and wednesday

Wa salam Alaykum
 
amna_muslimaa

amna_muslimaa

TRUELY MUSLIMAA
:salam2:

what if somebody is not able to fast on 9 muharram(6 jan)....
so can we fast on 10 and 11 muharram(7and 8 jan)......?
:wasalam:
 
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