‘ASH
A day of fasting
Importance of Fasting on
‘Ashura (10th of Muharram)
Once, the Prophet a ordered a person on
‘Ashura (10th of Muharram) to announce,
“Whoever has eaten, should not eat any
more, but fast, and who has not eaten
should not eat, but complete his fast (till the
end of the day)” (Bukhari; ��������������������������������
������������������������).
“The Prophet a sent a messenger to the
village of the Ansar in the morning of the
day of ‘Ashura (10th of Muharram) to
announce: Whoever has eaten something
should not eat but complete the fast,
and whoever is observing the fast should
complete it. She further said, “Since then we
used to fast on that day regularly and also
make our boys fast. We used to make toys
of wool for the boys and if anyone of them
cried for food, he was given those toys
until it was the time of breaking the fast”
(Bukhari; ����������������������������).
Combining 9th with the 10th
The Messenger of Allah a said, “If I live
until next year, I will fast the ninth day (of
Muharram) too” (Ibn Maja; ����������������������
‘������������).
Ibn ‘Abbas k says that the Prophet a
fasted on the day of ‘Ashura and ordered
us to fast on this day. They said, “Ya
Rasulullah, this is a days that is exalted by
the Yahud and Nasara.” The Prophet a
said, “In the following year, we will fast on
the 9th” (i.e. on the 9th too) (Abu Dawud;
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16 September – October 2021 | AL-MADINAH