The Virtue of Ashura and Fasting on This Day

The Virtue of Ashura and Fasting on This Day

The Oath of the Ten Nights in the Qur'an

In Surah Al-Fajr, Allah Almighty swears by "the ten nights":

وَال٘فَج٘رِ۝ وَلَیَالٍ عَش٘رٍ۝ وَالشَّف٘عِ وَال٘وَت٘رِ۝ وَالَّی٘لِ اِذَا یَس٘رِ۝

Translation:

"By the dawn. And [by] ten nights. And [by] the even and the odd. And [by] the night when it passes."
(Surah Al-Fajr: 1–4)

The Virtue of Ashura and Fasting on This Day

According to several scholars of Tafsir (exegesis), these "ten nights" refer to the first ten days and nights of the Islamic month of Muharram, and thus highlight their importance. The tenth day of Muharram is known as Yawm al-Ashura (the Day of Ashura), a day that holds great significance in Islamic tradition.

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Hadith on the Virtues of Ashura

1. Fasting in the Month of Muharram

• Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) narrated that a man came to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and asked:
  “O Messenger of Allah, if I were to fast after Ramadan, which month should I choose?”
  The Prophet ﷺ replied:
  “If you wish to fast after Ramadan, then fast in the month of Muharram, for it is the month of Allah. In it, Allah accepted the repentance of a people, and He will accept the repentance of others as well.”
  (Reference: Tafsir Tibbiyan al-Qur’an, Surah Al-Fajr)

2. Fasting Was a Practice of the Prophets

• Abu Huraira (RA) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
  “The Prophets before me used to fast on the Day of Ashura. So you should also fast on this day.”
  (Reference: Tafsir Tibbiyan al-Qur’an)

3. Why the Jews Fasted on Ashura

• Ibn Abbas (RA) narrated:
  “When the Prophet ﷺ came to Madinah, he found the Jews fasting on the Day of Ashura. He asked them, ‘Why do you fast on this day?’
  They replied, ‘It is the day when Allah saved Musa (Moses) and the Children of Israel from Pharaoh, so Musa fasted in gratitude, and we also fast on this day.’
  The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘We are more entitled to follow Musa than you are.’ So he fasted on that day and instructed others to do the same.”
  (Reference: Tafsir Tibbiyan al-Qur’an)

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Fasting Ashura and Differentiating from the Jews

• Ibn Abbas (RA) said:
  “Fast on the 9th and 10th of Muharram to differ from the Jews.”
• He also narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
  “Fast on the Day of Ashura, but also fast a day before it or a day after it to oppose the Jews.”
  (Reference: Tafsir Tibbiyan al-Qur’an)

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Reward for Fasting on Ashura

• Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As (RA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
  “Whoever fasts on the Day of Ashura, it is as if he fasted for an entire year. And whoever gives charity on that day, it is as if he gave charity for a whole year.”
  (Reference: Tafsir Tibbiyan al-Qur’an)

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Gaining Nearness to Allah

• Ibn Abbas (RA) stated:
  “On this day, Allah accepted the repentance of Adam (AS).”
• Wahb reported that Allah revealed to Musa (AS):
  “Command your people to seek My closeness starting from the first day of the ten days of Muharram.”
  (Reference: Tafsir Tibbiyan al-Qur’an)

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Blessing in Sustenance on Ashura

• Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
  “Whoever expands his spending on his family on the Day of Ashura, Allah will expand his sustenance for the whole year.”
  (Reference: Tafsir Tibbiyan al-Qur’an)

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Major Events That Occurred on the Day of Ashura

According to Islamic traditions, several monumental events took place on the Day of Ashura:

• Musa (AS) and Bani Israel were saved from Pharaoh, and Pharaoh was drowned.
• Noah’s Ark came to rest on Mount Judi.
• Yunus (AS) was released from the belly of the fish.
• Yusuf (AS) was rescued from the well.
• Adam’s (AS) repentance was accepted.
• Idris (AS) was raised to the heavens.
• Sulaiman (AS) was granted kingship.
• Dawud’s (AS) supplication was answered.
• Yaqub’s (AS) eyesight was restored.
• Isa (AS) was raised to the heavens.
• Ayyub (AS) was cured of his illness.
  (Reference: Sharh Musnad Imam Azam, Kitab al-Siyam, p. 465)