✿ Origin and Purpose of Fasting on the 10th of Muḥarram ✿
✍ Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما narrated:
When the Prophet ﷺ arrived in Madinah, he saw that the Jews were fasting on the 10th of Muḥarram.
The Prophet ﷺ inquired about the reason for this fast, and they said:
“This is a great day. On this day, Allah saved Mūsā عليه السلام and the Children of Israel from their enemy, so Mūsā fasted in gratitude.”
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
فأنا أحق بموسى منكم فصامه وأمر بصيامه
“We have more right to Mūsā than you.” So the Prophet ﷺ fasted on that day and commanded his companions to fast as well.
[Bukhārī: 2004, Kitāb al-Ṣiyām: Bāb Ṣawm Yawm ʿĀshūrāʾ; Muslim: 1130; Aḥmad: 1/291; Abū Dāwūd: 2444; Ibn Mājah: 1734; Ḥumaydī: 515; Dārimī: 2/22; Sharḥ al-Sunnah: 1782; Ibn Ḥibbān: 3625; Ibn Khuzaymah: 2084]
✔ The purpose of fasting on the 10th of Muḥarram (Yawm ʿĀshūrāʾ) is to commemorate Allah’s favor upon Mūsā عليه السلام and Bani Isrāʾīl, when Allah delivered them from Pharaoh and his army.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ expressed solidarity with Mūsā عليه السلام and affirmed the continuity of divine truth, establishing that Muslims are closer in following the legacy of previous prophets.
✍ Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
❖ The Beginning of the ʿĀshūrāʾ Fast
Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما narrated:
When the Prophet ﷺ arrived in Madinah, he saw that the Jews were fasting on the 10th of Muḥarram.
The Prophet ﷺ inquired about the reason for this fast, and they said:
“This is a great day. On this day, Allah saved Mūsā عليه السلام and the Children of Israel from their enemy, so Mūsā fasted in gratitude.”
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
فأنا أحق بموسى منكم فصامه وأمر بصيامه
“We have more right to Mūsā than you.” So the Prophet ﷺ fasted on that day and commanded his companions to fast as well.
[Bukhārī: 2004, Kitāb al-Ṣiyām: Bāb Ṣawm Yawm ʿĀshūrāʾ; Muslim: 1130; Aḥmad: 1/291; Abū Dāwūd: 2444; Ibn Mājah: 1734; Ḥumaydī: 515; Dārimī: 2/22; Sharḥ al-Sunnah: 1782; Ibn Ḥibbān: 3625; Ibn Khuzaymah: 2084]❖ Purpose of Fasting on ʿĀshūrāʾ
✔ The purpose of fasting on the 10th of Muḥarram (Yawm ʿĀshūrāʾ) is to commemorate Allah’s favor upon Mūsā عليه السلام and Bani Isrāʾīl, when Allah delivered them from Pharaoh and his army.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ expressed solidarity with Mūsā عليه السلام and affirmed the continuity of divine truth, establishing that Muslims are closer in following the legacy of previous prophets.
❖ Summary
- The fast of ʿĀshūrāʾ originated before Ramadan was made obligatory, and it remained recommended afterward.
- Its historical basis lies in gratitude for Allah’s deliverance of His Messenger Mūsā عليه السلام.
- The Prophet ﷺ encouraged fasting on this day and made it a distinct Sunnah practice for the Muslim Ummah.
