Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … The intention of Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas radi Allahu anhuma is not that the 9th of Muharram is the Day of Ashura. In light of the following hadith and the ahadith mentioned in its explanation, he wishes to say that the fast should be observed on the 9th and 10th dates of Muharram. Imam Shawkani said: It is more appropriate to say that Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas guided the questioner to the day on which the fast is to be observed, and did not specify the Day of Ashura as being the tenth of Muharram, because that was not the subject of the question at all. Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas radi Allahu anhuma understood that the questioner’s intent was to determine which day should be fasted, so he mentioned the 9th of Muharram. Then, the statement of Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas radi Allahu anhuma, “Yes, Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam used to fast in this manner,” means that if the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had remained alive, he would have fasted in this way, because this is what he clarified in his verbal hadith. (Nayl al-Awtar: 4/326)

In the following hadith, it is stated that the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: If I remain alive till the coming year, I will fast on the ninth (tasi‘) of Muharram. This does not support fasting on both the ninth and tenth of Muharram. Rather, it supports fasting only on the ninth of Muharram in place of Ashura (the tenth of Muharram); otherwise, he would have said: I will fast on the ninth and tenth of Muharram.