All You Need to Know About Fasting the day of Ashoora
Fasting ʿĀshūrā is of three levels:

• The lowest is to fast it alone (10th Muharram).

**• Above this is to fast the 9th along with it.

• Above that is to fast the 9th and the 11th along with it. And Allāh knows best** (i.e., all three days 9th, 10th and 11th of Muharram).

[al-Fath, (4/246) | Hāfiz Ibn Hajr (rahimahullah)]

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There are three levels of fasting ʿ**Āshūrā.

The most complete is to fast a day before it and a day after it.

After this is to fast (only) the 9th and the 10th, and the majority of Aḥādīth** (are found to support this).

Lastly, to fast the 10th by itself.

[Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullah) Zād al-Maʿād, Page: 72]

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The Prophet (ṣall Allahu ʿalayhi wa-’ālihi wa-sallam) came to al-Madīnah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of ʿĀshūrā.

He asked, ‘What is this?’

They responded, ‘This is a virtuous day, as this is the day when Allāh saved the Children of Isrā’īl from their enemy. Thus, Mūsá fasted on this day.’

He said, ‘We have more right to Mūsá than you.’ (or we are closer to Musa than you because Musa was a Muslim and we are Muslim)

So he (ṣall Allahu ʿalayhi wa-’ālihi wa-sallam) fasted on this day and ordered the (people) to fast.

[Ibn ʿAbbās (raḍiyAllāhu ʿanhu), Sahīh Bukharī, (No. 2004)]

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The Prophet (ṣall Allahu ʿalayhi wa-’ālihi wa-sallam) was asked about ʿĀshūrā and he responded:

It expiates for the previous year.

[Sahīh Muslim, (No. 1162)]

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The Prophet (ṣall Allahu ʿalayhi wa-’ālihi wa-sallam) **said:

Whoever wishes may observe Saum (fast) on the day of ‘Ashura’.**

[Sahīh Bukhari, (No. 2000) | Translated By Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan (Hafidhahullah)]

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Ibn ʿAbbās (radiyAllāhu ‘anhu) said:

I never saw the Prophet (ṣall Allahu ʿalayhi wa-’ālihi wa-sallam) seeking to fast a day, giving it preference over another, except this day, the day of ʿĀshūrā, and this month, meaning the month of Ramaḍān.

[Sahīh Bukharī, (no. 2006)]

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From Ibn ʿAbbās (raḍiyAllāhu ‘anh) that he said concerning ʿĀshūrā:

Oppose the Jews and fast the 9th and the 10th.
[Collected by ʿAbd Ar-Razzāq (rahimahullah) in al-Muṣannaf, 4/287, no. 7839)]

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Imām an-Nawawī (rahimahillāh) stated:

The scholars unanimously agree that fasting the day of ʿĀshūrā is a confirmed Sunnah and not an obligation.
[Sharh Muslim, (8/4)]

In his massive biographical encyclopedia, Imam adh-Dhahabi (rahimahullah) **included the following narration:

az-Zuhri (rahimahullah) was in the midst of a journey and he fasted the day of 'Aashooraa'.

Someone asked him, "Why are you fasting when you break the fast during Ramadan when traveling?"

He replied, "For Ramadan, you can make up the same number of days later, but 'Aashooraa' can pass us by (i.e. it cannot be made up later)."**

[Siyar A'lam an-Nubala, 5/342]

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (raḍiyAllāhu ‘anhu) said: The Messenger of Allah (ṣall Allahu ʿalayhi wa-’ālihi wa-sallam) said:

“The best fast after Ramadan is in the month of Allah — Muharram.”

[Muslim, 1982]

The Prophet (ṣall Allahu ʿalayhi wa-’ālihi wa-sallam) said:

Fasting the day of ‘Ashura’ I hope Allah will expiate thereby for the year that came before it.

[Muslim | 1162]

Seal With Seeking Forgiveness

Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (rahimahullah) said:

Seeking forgiveness is a seal for all righteous deeds. It seals the prayer, Hajj, Qayyam al-Layl the night prayer and it seals gatherings. Therefore, if it was a Remembrance of Allaah then it is like putting a stamp of seal on it and if there were mistakes and deficiencies then it would be an expiation for it.
[Lataif al-Ma’arif, pg. 383]

The Farewell Hajj and the Farewell Sermon of Prophet Muhammad (sallAllahu ʿalayhi wa sallam)

Prophet Muhammad (sallAllahu ʿalayhi wa sallam) delivered his last sermon (khutbah al-wida) on the ninth of Dhul Hijjah (12th and last month of the Islamic year), 10 years after Hijrah (migration from Makkah to Madinah) in the Uranah Valley of mount Arafat

His words were quite clear and concise and were directed to the entire humanity

After praising, and thanking Allah he (sallAllahu ʿalayhi wa sallam) **said:

“O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again.

Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.

O people, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust.

Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners.

Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you.

Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds.

Allah has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity.

Allah has Judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib (Prophet’s uncle) shall henceforth be waived… Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.

O people, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you.

Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah’s trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness.

Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers.

And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.

O people, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, perform your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.

All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety (taqwa) and good action.

Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood.

Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly.
Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.

Remember, one day you will appear before Allah and answer your deeds.

So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

O people, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born.

Reason well, therefore, O people, and understand words which I convey to you.

I leave behind me two things, (first) the Quran and my example, the Sunnah and if you follow these (two) you will never go astray.

All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again;

and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly.

Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to Your people.”**

(sall Allahu ʿalayhi wa ʿalaa ʿaalihi wa sahbihi wa sallam tasleeman katheera)

[Source: Taken from Ibn Hisham Sirah an-Nabawiyah and at-Tabari (rahimahullah), at-Tarikh, Also see: al-Bukhari, Hadith 1623, 1626, 6361, Sahih of Imam Muslim (rahimahullah) also refers to this sermon in Hadith number 98. Imam at-Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) has mentioned this sermon in Hadith nos. 1628, 2046, 2085. Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal (rahimahullah) has given us the longest and perhaps the most complete version of this sermon in his Musnad, Hadith no. 19774]

Worship at Nights of Dhul Hijj

Sa’eed Ibn Jubayr (rahimahullah) said:

Do not put out your lamps during the nights of the Ten (of Dhul Hajj).

[Hilayat al-Awliyaa, 4/281, Abu Nu’aym al-Isfahani (rahimahullah)]

The Best Days

Jābir Ibn ‘Abdillāh (radiyAllahu ‘anh) narrated that the Prophet (sallAllahu ʿalayhi wa ’aalihi wa sallam) said:

The best days in the world are the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
[Sahīh aj-Jāmi’, 133]

The Three Tens

The Tabi’ie, Abu ‘Uthman al-Hindie (rahimahullah):

They (the Salaf, rahimahumullah) revered the “Three Tens”:

1. the Last Ten (nights) of Ramadan

2. the First Ten (days) of Dhi al-Hijjah

3. the First Ten of al-Muharram (i.e., the days leading up to the fast of Ashoora).

[Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (rahimahullah), Lataa’if al-Ma’arif, 35]

Expiation of Sins

The Prophet (ṣall Allahu ʿalayhi wa-’ālihi wa-sallam) said about fasting on the day of ’Arafah for those not performing the Hajj:

“It expiates sins of the previous year as well as the following year.”

[Reported by Muslim, no. 1250]

Plentiful Dhikr

Imaam an-Nawawee (rahimahullah) said:

Know that it is recommended to be plentiful in making Adhkaar (remembrance of Allaah) during these ten (days) – in excess of other than them. It is likewise recommended to do that on the day of ‘Arafah more-so than the rest of the ten (days).

[al-Adhkaar, an-Nawawi (rahimahullah), pg. 209]

Freed from the Fire

The Prophet (ṣallAllahu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said:

There is no day in which Allah sets free more slaves from the Hellfire than He does on the Day of ‘Arafah.

[Reported by Muslim, no. 1277]

Seclusion for Du’a

‘Ata bin Abi Muslim (rahimahullah) said,

If you are able to seclude yourself from others during the last hours* of Arafah, then do so.

[az-Zuhd of Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah), no. 2211]

• i.e., from the time of the ‘asr prayer to maghrib prayer to make du’a

Sincere Du’a on ‘Arafah

al-Awza’ee (rahimahullah) said:

I realized that people were reserving things (their duas, needs, wishes) for the day of ‘Arafah to ask Allah for them.

**And some of them used to say:

“For fifty years I have been supplicating (making du’a) on the day of ‘Arafah and the year does not go by except that I see (the answer of my du’a come to pass) as the morning light (as clear as day).”**

[al-Lataif al-Ma’arif, pg. 494, Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (rahimahullah)]

True Hajj

It was said to al-Hasan al-Basri (rahimahullah):

**People say that the one who has been on Hajj is the one who is forgiven.

He (rahimahullah) said, And the sign of this (that he is from the forgiven ones) is that he leaves the evils he used to do.**

[Hasan al-Basri (rahimahullah), Ibn Abi ad-Dunya (rahimahullah), at-Tawbah, article 70]

Accepted Hajj

al-Hasan al-Basri (rahimahullah) said:

A sign of an accepted Hajj; is (the pilgrims) return (from Hajj) whilst he is abstinent from the dunya and yearning for the Hereafter!

[Lataa’if al-Ma’aarif, 62]

“Once the month is over I will do that/go back to that”

“I will leave this out during Ramadan only”

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“Whoever fasts Ramadan whilst telling **himself: ‘Once the month is over, I will disobey Allah’; this person’s fasting is rejected.

And whoever fasts the month while saying within himself: ‘Upon completion of the month, I won’t disobey Allah’; this person (if death then approaches him) will enter Jannah without questioning or debate.”**

[Ka’b Ibn Malik (radiyAllahu ‘anhu), al-Lataif al-Ma’arif by Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (rahimahullah), vol. 1, pg. 215]

Seal The Month Of Ramadan With Seeking Forgiveness

Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (rahimahullah) said:

**Seeking forgiveness is a seal for all righteous deeds.

It seals the prayer, Hajj, Qiyam al-Layl the night prayer and it seals gatherings.

Therefore, if it was a Remembrance of Allaah then it is like putting a stamp of seal on it and if there were mistakes and deficiencies then it would be an expiation for it.

Likewise it is befitting to complete the month of Ramadan with seeking forgiveness.

Umar bin 'Abdul Aziz (rahimahullah) wrote to the different regions commanding them to complete Ramadan with seeking forgiveness and giving Sadaqa al-Fitr.

Indeed Sadaqa al-Fitr is purification for the fasting person from mistakes and evil deeds. And seeking forgiveness patches that which is torn from the fast due to mistakes and evil deeds.

This is why some of the previous scholars said: ‘Indeed Sadaqa al-Fitr for the fasting person is like performing the two Sajdas for forgetfulness for the prayer.’**

Umar bin 'Abdul Aziz (rahimahullah) said in his book,

say as your father Adam said:

﴿رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنْفُسَنَا وَإِنْ لَمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا

وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ﴾‏

They said: “Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers.” — Ara’af: 23

Say as Nuh [عليه سلم] said:

﴿وَإِلَّا تَغْفِرْ لِي وَتَرْحَمْنِي أَكُنْ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ﴾‏

And unless You forgive me and have Mercy on me, I would indeed be one of the losers. — Hud:47

Say as Musa [عليه سلم] said:

﴿رَبِّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي﴾‏

My Lord! Verily, I have wronged myself, so forgive me. — Qasas: 16

Say as Dhun-Noon [عليه سلم] said:

﴿سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ﴾‏

Glorified (and Exalted) are You (above all that they associate with You). Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers. — al-Anbiyya: 87

[al-Lataif al-Ma’arif, pg. 383]

**The hearts of the righteous people are filled with longing, lamenting from the pain of departure.

O Ramadhaan! Be gentle, the tears of your lovers are pouring out.

Their hearts are torn from the pain of your departure.

Perhaps standing here to bid you farewell will extinguish the burning fire of longing.

Perhaps taking a moment to repent will mend everything that has been torn in fast. Perhaps the one who was cut off from the procession of those whose fast has been accepted will be joined with them.

Perhaps the one imprisoned by his sins will be freed.

Perhaps one deserving to be punished in Hell will be liberated.

Perhaps the mercy of the Lord will be granted to the sinner.**

[Lataif al-Ma’arif of Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (rahimahullah), pg. 216]

How can a believer not shed tears at the departure of Ramadaan, when he doesn't even know whether he'll be alive for its return or not?
[Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (Rahimahullah), al-Lataaif al-Ma'arif, 217]

Whoever’s Ramadan was correct and safe (from evil) the rest of his year will be safe (from evil by the permission of Allah).

[Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullah), Zaad al-Ma’aad]

Sheikh Salih al-Fawzan (hafidhahullah) said:

At the end of Ramadan, the pious predecessors used to increase in seeking Allah's forgiveness, repenting to Him and fearing that their deeds would not be accepted. It was their habit to strive during Ramadan - and outside of it as well - yet fear would come over them that nothing would be accepted, and they would seek Allah's forgiveness and repent.

[Majalis Sharh Ramadan, pg. 119]

‎Yahya ibn Katheer (rahimahullah) said:

A man keeps fast with Halal and breaks with Haram by eating the flesh of his brother (backbiting).

[Hilayat al-Awliyaa’, 69]

Ahmad ibn Hanbal (rahimahullah) said:

When they fasted, they would sit in the masajid and they would say: “We preserve our fast and do not backbite anyone. We do not engage in anything that harms our fast!”

[al-Mughni’, 4/447]