The day of Ashura falls in the month of Muharram. Muharram is a special month, one of the sacred months singled out for increased Ibadah and obedience to Allah.
Allah says in the Qur’an:
“Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them…” (9:36)
There are so many different acts of worship that we can do during these months, especially the month of Muharram. Fasting, however, has been singled out as one of the best deeds we can do in the month of Muharram and on the Day of Ashura.
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)
Abu Qatadah reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked about fasting the day of Arafat and he said, “It will expiate the sins of the previous and upcoming years.” Then, the Prophet was asked about fasting the day of Ashura and he said, “It will expiate the sins of the past year.” (Sahih Muslim)
We have just come out of the month of Dhul-Hijjah. In it, we fasted on the Day of Arafah and possibly also throughout the blessed ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. So we got our (minor) sins forgiven inshaAllah for the preceding year and the following year. So what about that year itself?
Well, that’s where the Day of Ashura comes in. Because fasting on that day erases the sins of the previous year (because Muharram is the new year), you get your sins for last year forgiven.
What that means is, if you fast both Arafah and Ashura, you get the (minor) sins of three consecutive years forgiven! Allahu Akbar! Allah is so generous.
However, it is important to note that major sins require specific tawbah (repentance) and a resolve never to return to that sin.
‘Ubaydallah ibn Abi Yazid reported: Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with both of them) said, “I did not see the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, as eager to fast a day and preferring it over others except for this day of Ashura and this month of Ramadan.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came to Medina and he found the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. The Prophet said, “What is this day you are fasting?” They said, “This is a great day in which Allah saved Moses and his people, and he drowned Pharaoh and his people. Moses fasted on it due to gratitude, so we also fast on it.” The Prophet said, “We are more deserving and are closer to Moses than you.” The Prophet fasted the day of Ashura and he commanded fasting on it. (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
Note: Ashura was fard (obligatory) on the Muslims at first, but when Allah made Ramadan fard, fasting Ashura became optional.
Ibn Umar reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, Ashura is a day among the days of Allah. Whoever wishes to fast may do so, and whoever wishes to break his fast may do so.” (Sahih Muslim)
Abdullah ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “If I live until next year, I will certainly fast the ninth day [the day before Ashura] of al-Muharram.” (Sahih Muslim)
Fasting on the 9th along with the 10th is highly recommended. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to say: “We should fast on two days: the 9th and 10th of Muharram to distinguish ourselves from the Jewish community.” (At-Tirmidhi)
Ibn Hajar said, “The fast of Ashura has three levels: the lowest is to fast one day, the next is to fast the ninth day along with it, and the next is to fast the ninth, tenth, and eleventh days. Allah knows best.” (Source: Fath al-Bāri)
So to conclude, the importance of the month of Muharram and the Day of Ashura cannot be overstated.
May Allah allow us all to hold onto the limits that He has set for this month. May Allah allow us to fast the 9th, 10th, and 11th as the Prophet (SAW) did. May Allah make us people who celebrate the legacy of Musa (A) and hold on to the sunnah of the Prophet (SAW). Ameen.
