The Month of Allah: MuharramAshura: Its Virtue and the Prescribed Deeds
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and companions.
The Day of Ashura is one of the great days on which Allah legislated a noble act of worship: fasting. It is the tenth day of the Month of Allah, Muharram. The Sunnah explains its virtue, the virtue of fasting it, and that fasting it expiates the sins of the previous year by Allah’s permission.
{إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ القَيِّمُ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا فِيهِنَّ أَنْفُسَكُمْ}Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve months in the Book of Allah from the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the upright religion, so do not wrong yourselves in them. [At-Tawbah 9:36]
A Muslim should receive this month with repentance, reverence for Allah’s limits, increased obedience, and caution from oppression and sins.
The Meaning and Virtue of Ashura
DefinitionWhat Is the Day of Ashura?
Ashura is the tenth day of the Month of Allah, Muharram. This day was known among the People of the Book, and the Jews fasted it in gratitude to Allah because Allah saved Musa عليه السلام and his people on it and destroyed Pharaoh and his people.
The Prophet ﷺ came to Madinah and saw the Jews fasting the Day of Ashura... He said: I have more right to Musa than you. So he fasted it and commanded fasting it.
Agreed upon.
Muslims have more right to Musa عليه السلام than others because they believe in him as a Prophet of Allah, and they believe in Muhammad ﷺ and all the Messengers.
ExpiationThe Virtue of Fasting Ashura
One of the greatest virtues of Ashura is that fasting it expiates the sins of the previous year. This is from Allah’s vast mercy and great favor.
I hope from Allah that it expiates the year before it.
Narrated by Muslim.
This expiation refers to minor sins according to the majority of scholars. Major sins require sincere repentance with its conditions and returning people’s rights if the sin involves others.
Confirmed SunnahFasting Ashura Is a Confirmed Sunnah
Fasting Ashura is established from the Prophet ﷺ, and he gave it special attention.
I never saw the Prophet ﷺ seek out the fasting of a day and give it preference over others except this day, the Day of Ashura, and this month, meaning Ramadan.
Agreed upon.
At first, fasting Ashura was more emphasized. Then when Ramadan was made obligatory, fasting Ashura became recommended, not obligatory.
How Should Ashura Be Fasted?
Most CompleteIt Is Better to Fast the Ninth With the Tenth
The Sunnah is to fast the Day of Ashura, and it is better to fast the ninth of Muharram with it, differing from the Jews and acting upon what the Prophet ﷺ intended.
If I live until next year, Allah willing, we will fast the ninth day.
Narrated by Muslim. Whoever fasts the tenth alone, his fast is valid and he receives the reward of fasting Ashura by Allah’s permission, though he missed the more complete form.
Eleventh DayMay the Eleventh Be Fasted With Ashura?
The best established form is fasting the ninth with the tenth. Whoever fasts the tenth and eleventh, or fasts the ninth, tenth, and eleventh, there is no harm. Some scholars mentioned this to achieve differing from the People of the Book or as precaution if the start of the month is uncertain.
Still, a Muslim should know that the soundest Sunnah is to give care to fasting Ashura and to fast the ninth with it if able.
FormsForms of Fasting Ashura
- Fasting the ninth and tenth. This is best and closest to the apparent Sunnah.
- Fasting the tenth and eleventh. This is permissible according to a group of scholars.
- Fasting the ninth, tenth, and eleventh. This is permissible.
- Fasting the tenth alone. This is valid, though not the most complete form.
The goal is to be eager to fast Ashura and not leave it just because one cannot fast a day before or after it.
Muharram and Prescribed Deeds
The Month of AllahThe Virtue of Fasting in Muharram
The best fasting after Ramadan is the Month of Allah, Muharram, and the best prayer after the obligatory prayer is the night prayer.
Narrated by Muslim.
This shows that increasing fasting in Muharram is prescribed according to one’s ability, without believing specific days have special virtue unless evidence specifies them, such as the Day of Ashura.
PrescribedWhat Deeds Are Prescribed on Ashura?
The specific deed established in the Sunnah for Ashura is fasting. A Muslim fasts the Day of Ashura, and the more complete form is to fast the ninth of Muharram with it if able.
As for repentance, seeking forgiveness, reciting Quran, charity, dua, and other righteous deeds, they are prescribed at all times. A Muslim should increase them in the sacred months generally, including Muharram, but should not believe they have a specific form or special virtue on Ashura except with evidence.
Not PrescribedWhat Is Not Prescribed on Ashura?
It is not established from the Prophet ﷺ to single out Ashura with deeds such as:
- A specific Ashura prayer.
- A specific Ashura supplication.
- A specific Ashura ghusl.
- Specific kohl for Ashura.
- Special spending on the family while believing it is an established Sunnah for Ashura.
- Displaying grief, striking oneself, or wailing.
- Taking it as an Eid or season of celebrations.
The principle is that acts of worship are tawqifi: nothing is legislated except what is established in the Quran and Sunnah.
A Balanced Sunnah Approach
FollowingAshura Between Extremism and Neglect
A Muslim follows the Sunnah without extremism and without neglect. He does not turn Ashura into a season of invented deeds, and he does not ignore it until he misses the virtue of fasting.
The correct way is to honor what the Shariah honors and stop at the limits of evidence: fast Ashura, fast the ninth with it if easy, and increase repentance and righteous deeds generally in Muharram and all times, without singling Ashura out for an act of worship that is not established.
MistakesCommon Mistakes on Ashura
- Thinking fasting Ashura is invalid unless one fasts a day before or after it.
- Leaving Ashura if one cannot fast the ninth with it.
- Waiting for a special dream or sign for this day.
- Specifying Ashura with a prayer, dua, or ghusl that is not established.
- Turning the day into a season of grief, self-striking, and wailing.
- Turning the day into an Eid or celebration.
Frequently Asked Questions
QuestionWhen is the Day of Ashura?
Ashura is the tenth day of the Month of Allah, Muharram. It is known by the start of Muharram according to the lunar calendar and the reliable sighting or trusted authority in one’s place.
QuestionIs fasting Ashura obligatory?
Fasting Ashura is not obligatory after Ramadan was made obligatory, but it is a confirmed Sunnah with great virtue.
QuestionWhat is the virtue of fasting Ashura?
Fasting Ashura expiates the sins of the previous year by Allah’s permission, as established in Sahih Muslim.
QuestionMay Ashura be fasted alone?
Yes. Fasting Ashura alone is permissible and valid, but it is better to fast the ninth with it because the Prophet ﷺ intended that to differ from the Jews.
QuestionIs it better to fast the ninth or the eleventh with Ashura?
It is better to fast the ninth with the tenth, because that is what the Prophet ﷺ intended in Sahih Muslim. Whoever fasts the eleventh with the tenth, there is no harm.
QuestionIs there a special dua for Ashura?
No specific dua is established for Ashura. A Muslim may supplicate for whatever good he wishes in this life and the Hereafter, without believing in a special formula for this day.
QuestionIs there a special prayer on Ashura?
No specific prayer is established for Ashura. A Muslim should preserve the obligatory prayers and pray whatever general voluntary prayers are legislated, without invented specification.
QuestionDoes fasting Ashura expiate major sins?
The basic rule is that the expiation of Ashura applies to minor sins. Major sins require sincere repentance, and if people’s rights are involved, those rights must be returned or forgiveness sought.
QuestionWhat if Ashura falls on Friday or Saturday?
It is permissible to fast it because the fast has a valid Islamic reason and is not intended to single out Friday or Saturday for their own sake. It is better to fast the ninth with it if possible.
ConclusionConclusion
Ashura is a great day from the days of Allah. Fasting was legislated on it in gratitude to Allah and in following the guidance of the Prophet ﷺ. Its virtue is established in the Sunnah, and whoever fasts it seeking reward may hope that Allah will expiate a year of sins for him.
Let the Muslim be eager to fast it and to fast the ninth with it if easy, while stopping at the limits of the Sunnah. He should not add to the religion what is not established, nor neglect the confirmed virtue. Whoever Allah guides to following the Sunnah has been guided to great good.
