Written by: Fazilat al-Sheikh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri Hafizahullah
Hafiz Ibn Abd al-Barr, may Allah have mercy on him (463 AH), says:
[لا يختلف العلماء أن يوم عاشوراء ليس بفرض صيامه ولا فرض الا صوم رمضان]
There is no disagreement among the scholars that fasting on Ashura is not obligatory; only the fasts of Ramadan are obligatory.
Reference: (Al-Tamhid: 203/7)
Our master Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
[أفضل الصيام، بعد رمضان، شهر الله المحرم]
After the month of Ramadan, the best fast is that of Muharram.
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 1163)
Our master Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, may Allah be pleased with both of them, stated from the pulpit that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say:
[هذا يوم عاشوراء ولم يكتب الله عليكم صيامه، وأنا صائم، فمن شاء، فليصم ومن شاء، فليفطر]
This is the day of Ashura; Allah has not made fasting on this day obligatory. Whoever wishes may fast, and whoever wishes may not fast, but I will fast.
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 2003, Sahih Muslim: 1129)
Our master Abu Qatada al-Ansari, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about fasting on Ashura, and he said:
[يكفر السنة الماضية]
It is an expiation for the sins of one year.
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 1162)
Our master Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with both of them, narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
[إن عشت إن شاء الله إلى قابل صمت التاسع؛ مخافة أن يفوتني يوم عاشوراء]
If life permits, then God willing, I will fast on the ninth of Muharram next year as well, out of fear that the Day of Ashura might be missed.
Reference: (Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir by Al-Tabarani: 330/10, Shu'ab al-Iman by Al-Bayhaqi: 3507, and its chain is authentic)
Hafiz Bayhaqi, may Allah have mercy on him (458 AH), says:
[أما حدیث التاسع فیحتمل عندی وجوہا، أحدھا: أن یرید صومہ احتیاطا، فربما نقص الھلال ویکون الغیم، فتکمل العدة ثلاثین، فیکون التاسع فی العدد ھو العاشر من الھلال، فأحب أن لا یفوتہ]
There can be several meanings of the hadith about fasting on the ninth of Muharram, one of which is that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ intended to fast on the ninth of Muharram as a precaution. This is because if the crescent of Dhu al-Hijjah is sighted on the 29th and it is cloudy that day, then the thirty days of Dhu al-Hijjah are completed. Thus, when fasting on the ninth of Muharram, what is considered the ninth is actually the tenth of Muharram. So the Prophet ﷺ wanted to ensure that the fast of Ashura would not be missed in this way.
Reference: (Ma'rifat al-Sunan wal-Athar: 350/6)
Our master Abdullah bin Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
[إذا كان العام المقبل إن شاء الله صمنا اليوم التاسع قال: فلم يأت العام المقبل، حتى توفي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم]
Next year, God willing, we will fast on the ninth of Muharram as well. But the next year, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed away.
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 1134)
The wording of one narration is:
[لئن بقيت إلى قابل لأصومن التاسع]
If I live until next year, I will also fast on the ninth of Muharram.
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 1134)
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) says:
[إذا رأيت هلال المحرم فاعدد، وأصبح يوم التاسع صائما، قلت: هكذا كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصومه؟ قال: نعم]
When you see the moon of Muharram, start counting the days and fast on the ninth of Muharram. I (Hakam bin Arraj) asked: Did the Prophet ﷺ fast on that day? He said: Yes.
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 1133)
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) says:
[صوموا التاسع والعاشر وخالفوا اليهود]
Fast on the ninth and tenth of Muharram and oppose the Jews.
Reference: (Musannaf Abdul Razzaq: 7839, Sunan al-Kubra by Bayhaqi: 287/4, and its chain is authentic)
