Muharram: On 'Ashura' Fasting

A new Islamic Year

Best wishes for the Islamic New Year to all my followers and the entire Muslim community in the world. Alhamdulillah, we begin the New Year of the Islamic calendar and therefore, the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam presents to all Muslims and Muslims its best wishes for the New Year. We hope that this year we can continue to do good deeds with solid faith (Iman) in Allah and the will to fulfill His instructions and commands in the best way possible.

The month of Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. This month is not only sacred but also full of blessings. Even in the pre-Islamic era, the Arabs respected this month, stopped fighting and prevented themselves from harming each other. It’s a month dedicated to Allah.... 

10^th of Muharram: Yaum-e- Ashura

When talking about Muharram, we also recall Ashura, the 10^th of Muharram which also reminds us of the sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain (ra). In this month devoted to Allah, Islam has given Muharram its true value because the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) revealed to us the greatness of the Yaum-e-Ashura which is found in this month. On this day, one of the greatest acts of worship (Ibadat) is to fast or do a lot of duahs, Istigfaar, and reading the Qur’an with translation and also make Nafil Salat. Many major events took place on this date.

In a Hadith, narrated by Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas (ra), the Holy Prophet (pbuh) said: “Fast the day of Ashura but distinguish yourselves from the Jews by fasting a day before and after.” (Musnad Ahmad)

In another Hadith compiled by Imam Muslim, Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Abbas (ra) also reported that when the Holy Prophet (saw) fasted on the day of Ashura, he also ordained his Sahaba to do so. The Sahaba had said that the Jews also fasted that day (to commemorate Hazrat Musa’s (as) victory over Pharaoh). The Holy Prophet (pbuh) also said, “If I am still alive next year, and God willing, then I will fast on the 9th (that is, along with the 10th of Muharram).”

Fasting on Ashura

But the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) died before fulfilling this intention to fast on the day before the next Ashura, but the Sahaba, Tabe’in and Awliya continued his practice and kept his wish in mind and observed fasting on the 9th and 10th of the month of Muharram. It should be noted that if someone forgets to fast the 9th Muharram, despite his good intention to do so, as a supererogatory fast, then he can observe it on the 10th Muharram, but if it happens that the 10th Muharram falls on a Friday, then he will not be able to fast on Friday alone, without joining this with another fast, be it the day before Friday (that is, Thursday) or after (that is, Saturday), because in Islam, Friday is an Eid and so, it is forbidden to observe fasting exclusively on that day. 

But if the fast of Ashura falls on a Friday, then it is his responsibility to fast also on either Thursday and Friday, or Friday and Saturday, that is to say, he should fast for two days in a row which is not reprehensible in Islam. Besides, the fast of Ashura is not a Farz (compulsory act) in Islam. It was compulsory before the revelation of Ramadan, the month of fasting, and subsequently became supererogatory after the divine command to fast the month of Ramadan. But nevertheless, the fasting of Ashura remains one of the most meritorious act, and the one who wants to maximize its benefits can do so in all peace of mind for the pleasure of Allah, because fasting is for Allah and it is Allah Who will give reward for it. (Bukhari and Muslim).

Hazrat Ali (as) said that the day of Ashura, one must trim one’s nails, take a bath, put on Surma/ Kohl and Attar (perfume), fast, perform voluntary prayers (in addition to the obligatory ones), give Sadaqa and read the Holy Qur’an.

As I told you at the beginning of my sermon, one can also do Tauba (repentance) and Istighfar (ask for Allah’s forgiveness) because it is also reported that it was on this day/ date that Allah (swt) accepted the repentance of Hazrat Adam (as). So on the day of Ashura, you can read a lot: “Subhanallah Walhamdulillah Wa Laa illaaha illallah Allahu Akbar Wala Hawla Wa La Quwata Illah Billah Hil Aliyil-Azim”. (Glory to Allah, All praise belongs to Allah, No one is worthy of worship except Allah, Allah is Great, There is no Power and Might except from Allah, The Most High, The Great).

And read Nafil Salat (voluntary prayers) for your own benefit, to connect yourselves more with Allah, and fully enjoy God’s blessings...

---Extracts from the Friday Sermon of 14 September 2018 (04 Muharram 1440 AH) delivered by Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius.