Nasai

Urdu Hashiyah (Commentary):

➊ It is established from the collective narrations (ahadith) regarding the Day of Ashura that fasting on this day was obligatory (fard), because various narrations from the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) convey the command concerning it. For further details, see: (Fath al-Bari: 4/247). This announcement was made by you (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) after the day had begun; perhaps the command of obligation was revealed at that very time.

➋ “Not eating anything for the rest of the day”—even if one had already eaten before. In this case, the fast will be valid and legally recognized, and it is not necessary to make up (qada) the fast later. This is the correct position because there is no command to make up for it; the narration in which making up is commanded is, in terms of its chain, not a valid proof and is weak. See: (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 2447). Just as there is no legal accountability for one who eats or drinks forgetfully, nor is his fast invalidated, this same reasoning can be applied to the issue under discussion. And Allah knows best! Imam al-Nasa’i rahimahullah has also made an analogy regarding menstruating women (ha’idha) and travelers (musafir): if their excuse ends during the day, they should not eat or drink for the rest of the day, whether or not they had eaten or drunk before. But now, abstaining is obligatory.

➌ “Nearby settlements”—the Arabic word “‘urud” is used, by which is meant the entire region of Makkah, Madinah, and Yemen. However, it is evident that at that time, such an announcement could not have been made over such a large area, so the above meaning has been given, as that was what was possible at the time.

➍ Intention (niyyah) for fasting before the true dawn (fajr sadiq) is necessary for the one who knows that he will be fasting in the morning. For the one who only finds out during the day that today is a fast, if he has not eaten anything after the dawn until that time, he can make the intention for fasting, and his intention during the day will be valid.

Benefits and Issues:
➊ The fast of Ashura is recommended (mustahabb); however, in light of other hadiths, one should not fast only on the tenth of Muharram, but rather should also fast on the ninth of Muharram along with it.

➋ If the news of the sighting of the moon is received during the day, then one should fast for the remainder of the day, because the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) commanded fasting on that day even though part of the day had already passed; still, he commanded fasting for the rest of the day.