The virtue of Al Muharram (1st month of the Islamic Calendar) and Day of `Ashura' (10th of Muharram)

Praise be to Allah Who guided whom He wills of His Servants to obedience, whereas He deprives others with His Justice and Power. I praise Allah with high praise that suits His Greatness and Dominion, and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, his Companions, and those who follow them righteously until the Day of Recompense. Indeed, Allah granted this nation occasions for benefiting from righteous deeds and the acts of worship to help them catch up with the shortage of their ages in compare to previous generations.

Of these acts of worship and occasions is the fast of Al Muharram because of the Prophet's saying as in Sahih Muslim: "The best fasting after the fast of Ramadan is the fast of Al Muharram."

So, it is desirable for a Muslim to increase fasting during that month, but if he is not able to do so, he may fast as much as he can.

Which is better: fasting Al Muharram or fasting Sha`ban (8^th month of Islamic calendar)?

Some scholars said: "Sha`ban is better because the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to fast it except for few days. Moreover, it was not reported about him that he used to fast the entire month of Al Muharram, however he exhorted Muslims to fast it by saying: "It is the best fasting after Ramadan."

They commented: "Because the fasting of Sha`ban is like the supererogatory fasting before the obligatory fasting of Ramadan, whereas the fasting of Al Muharram comes in the rank of absolute supererogatory matters and it is known that the rank of the regular obligatory duties are better than the rank of absolute supererogatory duties."

An-Nawawy said: "Perhaps, the Prophet did not know the virtue of Al Muharram except at the end of his life before he could fast it or perhaps he faced many excuses that prevent frequent fasting such as travel, sickness, and others."

The fast of `Ashura' is confirmed on the tenth of Al Muharram and its fasting is recommended after it was obligatory in the beginning of Islam then was abrogated and its desirability remained.

The wisdom behind the fast of `Ashura':

That Day of `Ashura' (10th of Muharram) is the day in which Allah rescued Moses(Peace be upon him) and his people from Pharaoh and his troop.

So, Moses fasted that day as a sort of gratitude to Allah (may He be Exalted).

and our Prophet (peace be upon him) fasted it and commanded the people to fast it. It was reported in Sahih Al Bukhari and Sahih Muslim from the Hadith of Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) who said: "The Prophet came to Medina and saw the Jews fasting on the day of `Ashura'. He asked them about that. They replied, "This is a good day, the day on which Allah rescued Banu Israel from their enemy. So, Moses fasted this day." The Prophet said: "We have more claim over Moses than you." So, the Prophet fasted on that day and ordered (the Muslims) to fast (on that day)."

The virtue of fasting the Day of `Ashura':

There are many Hadith mentioned in favor of fasting `Ashura' as in the Hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in which "He was asked about fasting on the day of 'Ashura (10^th of Muharram), whereupon be said: It expiates the sins of the preceding year." [Reported by Muslim].

It is the great favor of Allah that He made the fasting of `Ashura' expiates the sins of an entire year.

Its fasting is confirmed as well as the fasting of the 9^th because of the Prophet's saying: "If I were to live for the next year, I would fast the 9^th and 10^th." [Reported by Muslim].

Types of fasting that day:

Ibn Al Qayyim said: "The types of fasting that day is three: The complete form is to fast a day before and a day after. The second type is fasting the 9^th and the 10th only; which is supported by Hadiths. The third type is fasting the 10^th day only."

Ruling on singling out the Day of `Ashura' with fasting?

Some scholars said: "It is abhorred because of the Prophet's saying: "Fast one day before or one day after; disagree with the Jews." [Reported by Ahmad in his Musnad and Ibn Khuzaymah].

Some scholars said: "It is not abhorred but when a person singles out the 10^th day with fasting, he will not take a full reward of disagreement with the Jews."

The preponderant opinion is as our Sheikh Ibn `Uthaymain mentioned: "it is not abhorred to single out the 10^th day of Al Muharram with fasting."

O Allah, make us from Your Pious Worshippers who listen to the speech but only follow its best.

May Allah send His Peace and Blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his Companions!