The Prophet (s.a.w.) Fasted the 10th of Muharram

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

When the Prophet (s.a.w.) arrived at Yatsrib or Tha’iyyabah, as it was also known then, he found the Jews fasting the tenth of Muharram.  He asked, “Why are they fasting on this day?” 

They replied, “Because on that day, Allah (s.w.t.) Saved Musa from Fir’awn.” 

And the Prophet (s.a.w.) fasted that day and ordered the Muslims to fast that day.  Imam ‘Asakir ad-Din Abu al-Husayn Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj (r.a.) narrated, in one of the hadits of ‘Ashura, that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said that whoever fasts that day, will be Forgiven all the sins of the previous year. 

Imam Abu Hanifah Nu’man ibn Tsabit (r.a.) said, “That day was an obligatory fast in the beginning of Islam.” 

Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “It is a sunnah to fast it but not obligatory.” 

Imam Abu Hanifah (r.a.) said that it was an obligation to fast this day in the first decade of Islam.  But it is important to remember that Allah (s.w.t.) will Waive one year’s sins we have committed.  This is a Mercy that Allah (s.w.t.) Sent to us. 

Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (r.a.), the greatest mufassir of Qur’an, said that the Prophet (s.a.w.) fasted the day of ‘Ashura because of its importance and he ordered the people to fast it.  This is recorded in Swahih al-Bukhari and Swahih Muslim. 

Sayyidina Abu Sa’id Sa’id ibn Malik al-Khazraji al-Khudri (r.a.) related that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “Whoever fasts the day of ‘Ashura, Allah (s.w.t.) will Waive the preceding year’s sins and the following year’s sins.”