The Importance of Fasting Tasu’a & Ashura

Rewards for fasting ashura muharram

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 5.172         Narrated by Aisha

Ashura’ (i.e. the tenth of Muharram) was a day on which the tribe of Quraish used to fast in the pre-Islamic period of ignorance. The Prophet (saws) also used to fast on this day. So when he (saws) migrated to Medina, he fasted on it and ordered (the Muslims) to fast on it. When the fasting of Ramadan was enjoined, it became optional for the people to fast or not to fast on the day of Ashura.Ibn ‘Abbas reported: “The Prophet (saws) came to Madinah and found the Jews fasting on the day of ‘Ashurah. He (saws) said to them: ‘What is this fast?’ They said: ‘A great day. Allah saved Moses and the tribes of Israel from their enemies on this day and therefore, Moses fasted on this day.’ The Prophet (saws) said: ‘We have more of a right to Moses than you,’ so he (saws) fasted on that day also and ordered the believers to fast on that day.”  Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported: “The Messenger of Allah (saws) fasted on the day of ‘Ashurah and ordered the people to fast on it. The people said: ‘O Messenger of Allah (saws) , it is a day that the Jews and Christians honor.’ The Prophet (saws) said, ‘When the following year comes–Allah willing–we shall fast (also) on the ninth.’ The death of the Prophet (saws) came before the following year.” Related by Muslim and Abu Dawud.

The tenth of Muharram was a day which not only the pagans of Quraish, but also the Jews and the Christians of the time held in honor before the advent of Islam; and they commemorated this day by fasting.  The Messenger of Allah (saws) declared that the believers, because of their true belief upon all the previous Prophets of Allah, had more right to honor this day and he (saws) encouraged the believers to differ from the pagans and fast two days, either the 9^th and the 10^th or the 10^th and the 11^th, in commemoration of this great day.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood 2419 (part)       Narrated by Abu Qatadah:  The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “….. I seek from Allah that fasting on the day of ‘Arafah’ may atone for the sins of the preceding and the coming year; and I seek from Allah that fasting on the days of ‘Ashura’ may atone for the sins of the preceding year.”

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Muhammad Lawal