Preparing to Fast for Ashura

My apologies - after posting I found out this morning from the masjid that today is the 8th not the 9th of Muharram.  The 9th will be tomorrow on the 12th of November.

Tomorrow is the ninth day of Muharram in the Islamic calender. The month of Muharram is one of the sacred months for Muslims and one of the good deeds we can engage in is fasting for two consecutive days out of the three days between the ninth to eleventh of the month. The tenth day is known as Ashura and commemorates the day that Moses led the Israelites from Egypt to their freedom:

It has been reported from Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him), that, “When the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) reached Medina, he found the Jews fasting the Day of `Ashura’, so he asked them, ‘What is this day you are fasting?’ They said, ‘This is a tremendous day. Allah saved Musa and his people on this day and drowned Pharaoh and his people. Musa fasted it out of thanks, so we fast it too.’ The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) said, ‘And we are more deserving of Musa than you are.’ So he fasted this day, and ordered that it be fasted.” [Bukhari (2004) and Muslim (1130)]

Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "I never saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) so keen to fast any day and give it priority over any other than this day, the day of 'Ashura', and this month, meaning Ramadan."[Bukhari, 1867]

I usually plan to fast on this day, but often forget or fail to wake up for the pre-dawn meal and then find it too difficult to fast (although the days are currently very short). So this post is partially a reminder to me and also to encourage anyone who may have forgotten or not realised that Ashura is approaching.

My husband was reading out to me the benefits of fasting on these days and it really inspired and encouraged me, so I thought it would be worth sharing:

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 'The best of fasting after Ramadhan is fasting Allah's month of Muharram.' " [ Muslim, 1982]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "For fasting the day of 'Ashura', I hope that Allah will accept it as expiation for the year that went before." [ Muslim, 1976]Abu Qatadah reported: A man came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and he said, “What is your view about fasting on the day of Arafat?” The Prophet said, “I consider it with regard to Allah that it expiates the sins of the previous and upcoming years.” The man said, “O Messenger of Allah, what is your view about fasting the day of Ashura?” The Prophet said, “I consider it with regard to Allah that it expiates the sins of the year.” [Ahmad 22115]

It has been reported from Abd Allah ibn `Amr ibn al-`As (Allah be pleased with him), that “Whoever fasts `Ashura’ it is as if he has fasted the entire year. And whoever gives charity this day it is like the charity of an entire year.”


The significance of Ashura as stated in Ghunya li-Talibi Tariq al-Haqq by Sayyidina Abdul Qadir al-Jilan iis as follows:

1. The repentance of Prophet Adam (Allah’s blessing be upon him) was accepted by Allah
2. The ship of Prophet Nuh (Noah) (Allah’s blessing be upon him) came to rest on a mountain called Al-Judi.
3. Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) (Allah’s blessings be upon him) was born on this day.
4. He got the title Khalil-ullah (friend of Allah) on this day.
5. The fire in which Prophet Ibrahim (Allah’s blessings be upon him) was thrown by the king Namrud become cool and means of safety for Prophet Ibrahim, by the order of Allah.
6. Allah delivered Prophet Ayub (Job) (Allah’s blessings be upon him) from distress and he was restored to prosperity.
7. By the Grace of Allah, Prophet Yunas (Jonah) (Allah’s blessings be upon him), after being swallowed by a huge fish (whale) for forty days, was casted out on the shore.
8. Prophet Mussa (Moses) (Allah’s blessings be upon him) got victory over Pharaoh.
9. Prophet Suleman (Solomon) (Allah’s blessings be upon him) was made a king to rule over mankind, Jins, Animals and the air.
10. Prophet Idris (Enoch) (Allah’s blessings be upon him) and Prophet Issa (Jesus) (Allah’s blessings be upon him) were lifted up alive.
11. Imam Hussain (Allah be pleased with him), the grandson of our beloved Prophet, got martyred at Karbala in Iraq.
12. The day of resurrection and judgement will take place on this day (Ashura)

image source

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