This excerpt is taken from Kitab al-Sawm, compiled by Sheikh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri, may Allah preserve him.
Question:
What is the ruling on fasting on Ashura?
Answer:
Fasting on Ashura, the tenth of Muharram, is prescribed and recommended.
❀ Hafiz Ibn Abdul Barr, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (463 AH)
, says:لا يختلف العلماء أن يوم عاشوراء ليس بفرض صيامه ولا فرض إلا 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: 7/203)
❀ Hafiz Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (676 AH)
, says:العلماء مجمعون على استحبابه وتعيينه للأحاديث
"There is consensus among the scholars that fasting on Ashura is recommended and emphasized, and there are many noble hadiths on this."
Reference: (Sharh Muslim: 8/5, Al-Tawdih li Ibn al-Mulqin: 13/532)
❀ Our master Abu Huraira, 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
"After the month of Ramadan, the most virtuous fasts are those in Muharram."
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 1163)
Our master Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan, may Allah be pleased with them both, said from the pulpit that he heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, 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 Ansari, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, 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)
❀ Aswad ibn Yazid Nakha'i, may Allah have mercy on him, states:
ما رأيت أحدا كان آمر بصوم عاشوراء من علي بن أبي طالب وأبي موسى رحمهما الله
"I have not seen anyone emphasize fasting on Ashura more than Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib and Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash'ari, may Allah be pleased with them both."
Reference: (Musnad Abi Dawood al-Tayalisi: 1308, and its chain is authentic)
❀ Our master Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
إن عشت إن شاء الله إلى قابل صمت التاسع مخافة أن يفوتني يوم عاشوراء
"If I live until next year, I will fast on the ninth of Muharram as well, out of fear that the day of Ashura might be missed."
Reference: (Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir al-Tabarani: 10/330, Shu'ab al-Iman al-Bayhaqi: 3507, and its chain is authentic)
❀ Hafiz Bayhaqi, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (458 AH)
, says:أما حديث التاسع فيحتمل عندي وجوها أحدها أن يريد صومه احتياطا فربما نقص الهلال ويكون الغيم فتكمل العدة ثلاثين فيكون التاسع في العدد هو العاشر من الهلال فأحب أن لا يفوته
"The hadith about fasting on the ninth of Muharram can have several meanings, one of which is that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, intended to fast on the ninth as a precaution. This is because if the crescent of Dhu al-Hijjah is on the 29th and there are clouds on that day, causing the completion of thirty days of Dhu al-Hijjah, then the day considered as the ninth of Muharram would actually be the tenth of Muharram. So the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, wished to ensure that the fast of Ashura would not be missed."
Reference: (Ma'rifat al-Sunan wal-Athar: 6/350)
❀ Our master Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, 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 Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, passed away the following year."
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 1134)
❀ The wording of a narration is:
لئن بقيت إلى قابل لأصومن التاسع
"If I live until next year, I will fast on the ninth of Muharram as well."
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 1134)
❀ Allama Qurtubi, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (671 AH)
, says:ليس فيه دليل على ترك صوم العاشر بل وعد أن يصوم التاسع مضافا إلى العاشر
"This hadith does not indicate abandoning the fast of the tenth of Muharram; rather, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, promised to fast on the ninth along with the tenth."
Reference: (Tafsir al-Qurtubi: 1/391)
❀ Our master Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, says:
إذا رأيت هلال المحرم فاعده وأصبح يوم التاسع صائما قلت هكذا كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصومه قال نعم
"When you see the crescent of Muharram, start counting the days and fast on the ninth of Muharram. I (Hukm ibn 'Araj) asked: Did the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, fast on that day? He replied: Yes."
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 1133)
❀ Our master Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, said regarding Ashura:
هو يوم التاسع
"Ashura means the ninth of Muharram."
Reference: (Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah: 2098, and its chain is authentic)
❀ Hafiz Bayhaqi, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (458 AH)
, says:كأنه رضي الله عنه أراد صومه مع العاشر وأراد بقوله في الجواب نعم ما روي من عزمه صلى الله عليه وسلم على صومه
"What Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, meant is that the fast of the ninth should be observed along with the tenth. The 'yes' in response to Hukm ibn 'Araj's question refers to another narration where the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, intended to fast on the ninth of Muharram (Ibn Abbas considered this intention as a prophetic act)."
Reference: (Al-Sunan al-Kubra: 4/287)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (852 AH)
, narrates:قال الزين بن المنير قوله إذا أصبحت من تاسعه فأصبح يشعر بأنه أراد العاشر لأنه لا يصبح صائما بعد أن أصبح من تاسعه إلا إذا نوى الصوم من الليلة المقبلة وهو الليلة العاشرة قلت ويقوي هذا الاحتمال ما رواه مسلم أيضا من وجه آخر عن ابن عباس أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال لئن بقيت إلى قابل لأصومن التاسع فمات قبل ذلك فإنه ظاهر في أنه صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يصوم العاشر وهم بصوم التاسع فمات قبل ذلك ثم ما هم به من صوم التاسع يحتمل معناه أنه لا يقتصر عليه بل يضيفه إلى اليوم العاشر إما احتياطا له وإما مخالفة لليهود والنصارى وهو الأرجح وبه يشعر بعض روايات مسلم
"Zayn ibn Munir, may Allah have mercy on him, says: Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said that when you begin the morning of the ninth of Muharram, do so while fasting. This indicates that what he meant was the tenth of Muharram, because after beginning the morning of the ninth, fasting can only be maintained if the intention for fasting is made that night, which is the night of the tenth of Muharram. I (Ibn Hajar) say: This explanation is supported by another hadith of Ibn Abbas in Sahih Muslim
Reference: (1134)
where the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: 'If I live until next year, I will fast on the ninth of Muharram as well.' But the Prophet passed away before the next Muharram. This is clear evidence that the Prophet used to fast on the tenth of Muharram and intended to fast on the ninth but passed away before the next Muharram. Furthermore, the intention to fast on the ninth could mean that the Prophet did not want to limit fasting to the tenth alone but wanted to include the ninth as well, either as a precaution or to differ from the Jews and Christians. The latter seems more likely, and some narrations in Sahih Muslim also point in this direction."
Reference: (Fath al-Bari: 4/245)
❀ Our master Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لأصومن عاشوراء يوم التاسع
"I will fast Ashura, the ninth of Muharram."
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 1134, Sharh Ma'ani al-Athar by al-Tahawi: 2/77, and the wording is his)
❀ Imam Tahawi, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (321 AH)
, says:قوله لأصومن عاشوراء يوم التاسع إخبار منه على أنه يكون ذلك اليوم يوم عاشوراء وقوله لأصومن يوم التاسع يحتمل لأصومن يوم التاسع مع العاشر أي لئلا أقصد بصومي إلى يوم عاشوراء بعينه كما يفعل اليهود ولكني أخلطه بغيره فأكون قد صمته بخلاف ما تصومه يهود وقد روي عن ابن عباس ما يدل على هذا المعنى
"The prophetic statement: 'I will fast Ashura, the ninth of Muharram' is a report from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, that the day of Ashura is the ninth of Muharram. Also, the prophetic statement: 'I will fast the ninth of Muharram as well' may mean that I will fast the ninth along with the tenth so that, unlike the Jews, I do not single out the day of Ashura alone but include the other day as well, thus opposing the Jewish fast of Ashura. This meaning is supported by Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him."
Reference: (Sharh Ma'ani al-Athar: 2/77)
❀ Hafiz Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (676 AH)
, says:ذهب جماهير العلماء من السلف والخلف إلى أن عاشوراء هو اليوم العاشر من المحرم ... وهذا ظاهر الأحاديث ومقتضى اللفظ
"The majority of scholars before and after agree that the day of Ashura means the tenth of Muharram. This is the apparent meaning and wording of the hadiths."
Reference: (Sharh al-Nawawi: 8/12)
❀ Allama Ibn Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (751 AH)
, says:من تأمل مجموع روايات ابن عباس تبين له زوال الإشكال وسعة علم ابن عباس فإنه لم يجعل عاشوراء هو اليوم التاسع بل قال للسائل صم اليوم التاسع واكتفى بمعرفة السائل أن يوم عاشوراء هو اليوم العاشر الذي يعده الناس كلهم يوم عاشوراء فأرشد السائل إلى صيام التاسع معه وأخبر أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يصومه كذلك
"Whoever reflects on all the narrations of Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, will have doubts removed and will appreciate his vast knowledge, because Ibn Abbas did not identify the ninth of Muharram as Ashura but instructed the questioner (Hukm ibn 'Araj) to fast on the ninth, knowing that the questioner understood that Ashura means the tenth of Muharram as everyone else did. So he guided Hukm ibn 'Araj to fast on the ninth along with the tenth and informed him that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to fast in this manner."
Reference: (Zad al-Ma'ad fi Hady Khayr al-'Ibad: 2/78)
Regarding Imam Muhammad ibn Sirin, may Allah have mercy on him:
إنه كان يصوم العاشور اليوم العاشر فأكثروا فقالوا إن ابن عباس قال هو التاسع فكان يصوم التاسع والعاشر
"He used to fast on the tenth of Muharram, and several companions reported that Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, called the ninth of Muharram Ashura, so Ibn Sirin began fasting on both the ninth and tenth of Muharram."
Reference: (Tahdhib al-Athar (Musnad Umar) by al-Tabari: 669, and its chain is authentic)
❀ Imam Tirmidhi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
بهذا الحديث يقول الشافعي وأحمد وإسحاق
"The position of Imam Shafi'i, Imam Ahmad, and Imam Ishaq ibn Rahwayh, may Allah have mercy on them, is according to this hadith (about fasting on the tenth of Muharram)."
Reference: (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, under hadith: 755)
❀ The fatwa of our master Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, is:
صوموا التاسع والعاشر وخالفوا اليهود
"Fast on the ninth and tenth of Muharram and oppose the Jews."
Reference: (Musannaf Abd al-Razzaq: 7839, Al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi: 4/287, and its chain is authentic)
Warning:
❀ Allama Shawkani, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (1250 AH)
, says:أقول الأولى أن يقال إن ابن عباس أرشد السائل له إلى اليوم الذي يصام فيه وهو التاسع ولم يجب عليه بتعيين يوم عاشوراء أنه اليوم العاشر لأن ذلك مما لا يسأل عنه ولا يتعلق بالسؤال عنه فائدة فابن عباس لما فهم من السائل أن مقصوده تعيين اليوم الذي يصام فيه أجاب عليه بأنه التاسع
"I say: This meaning is better that Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, informed the questioner about the day on which fasting is prescribed, and that day is the ninth of Muharram. The questioner was not answered with 'When is the day of Ashura?' because such questions are not asked, nor is there any benefit in such a question. Therefore, Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, understood that the questioner's purpose was to determine the day on which fasting is prescribed, so he answered that it is the ninth of Muharram."
Reference: (Nail al-Awtar: 4/287)
❀ Muhaddith Muhammad Abdul Rahman Mubarakpuri, may Allah have mercy on him
Reference: (1353 AH)
, says:تأويل الشوكاني أيضا بعيد فتفكر
"Allama Shawkani's interpretation is unlikely, consider carefully!"
Reference: (Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi: 3/382)
It is established that fasting on Ashura is prescribed and recommended, but there is a difference in specifying the day. It seems correct that fasting should be observed on both the ninth and tenth of Muharram.
Question:
If one is unable to fast on the ninth of Muharram, should one fast on the tenth and eleventh of Muharram?
Answer:
It is prescribed and recommended to fast on both the ninth and tenth of Muharram for the fast of Ashura. However, if one cannot fast on the ninth of Muharram, then fasting only on the tenth of Muharram is sufficient. There is no evidence for combining the fast with the eleventh of Muharram. All narrations regarding the eleventh of Muharram are weak and not reliable for proof.
