This excerpt is taken from Kitab al-Sawm, compiled by Sheikh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri, may Allah preserve him.
Question:
Can one fast the entire month of Muharram?
Answer:
The most virtuous month for voluntary fasts is Muharram. One can fast as many days as possible in this month. The more fasts, the greater the virtue.
❀ Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
أفضل الصيام بعد رمضان شهر الله المحرم وأفضل الصلاة بعد الفريضة صلاة الليل
“After Ramadan, the best fasts are in Muharram, and after the obligatory prayers, the best prayer is Tahajjud.”
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 1163/202)
Question:
Sayyiduna Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
أفضل الصيام بعد رمضان شهر الله المحرم وأفضل الصلاة بعد الفريضة صلاة الليل
"The best fasts after Ramadan are in the month of Muharram, and the best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the Tahajjud prayer."
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 1163/202)
From this hadith, it is established that after Ramadan, the most virtuous fasts are those of the month of Muharram, while the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) fasted the most in the month of Sha'ban. Why is this?
❀ Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates:
لقد كانت إحدانا تفطر في رمضان فما تقدر على أن تقضي حتى يدخل شعبان ما كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصوم في شهر ما يصوم في شعبان كان يصومه كله إلا قليلا بل كان يصومه كله
"We (the wives of the Prophet, peace be upon him, due to illness) would miss fasting in Ramadan and could not make up for it until the month of Sha'ban arrived. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to fast more in Sha'ban than in any other month; he would fast the entire month of Sha'ban except for a few days, in fact, he fasted the whole of Sha'ban."
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 1950, Sahih Muslim: 1146, Al-Muntaqa li Ibn al-Jarood: 400)
Answer:
It is possible that the virtue of fasting in Muharram was revealed during the last years of the Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ life, which is why the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ may not have been able to fast more in Muharram. And Allah knows best!
