Would you please explain the importance of fasting of 9th & 10th of Moharram? What is the historic background and why a muslim fast during these days?
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Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked
this question:
Would
you please explain the importance of fasting of 9th & 10th of Moharram? What
is the historic background and why a muslim fast during these days?
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Answer:
The fasting of
Muharram
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask
for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever
He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that
there is no one (no idol, no person, no
grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai,
nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that
Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
Abu Hurairah reported: "I asked the
Prophet (saws): 'Which prayer is the best after the obligatory prayers?' He (saws)
said: 'Prayer during the middle of the night.' I asked: 'Which fast is the best
after the fast of Rarnadan?' He (saws) said, 'The month of Allah that you call
Muharram.' "
Related by Ahmad, Muslim, and Abu Dawud.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 5.172 Narrated by Aisha
Ashura' (i.e. the tenth of Muharram) was a
day on which the tribe of Quraish used to fast in the pre-Islamic period of
ignorance. The Prophet (saws) also used to fast on this day. So when he (saws) migrated
to
Ibn 'Abbas reported: "The Prophet (saws)
came to Madinah and found the Jews fasting on the day of 'Ashurah. He (saws) said
to them: 'What is this fast?' They said: 'A great day. Allah saved Moses and
the tribes of
Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
According to al-Bukhari and Muslim, Musa
al-Ash'ari reported: "The Jews would honor the day of 'Ashurah as an 'id.
The Prophet (saws) said: 'You [Muslims] are to fast on it.'"
Ibn 'Abbas reported: "The Messenger of Allah (saws) fasted
on the day of 'Ashurah and ordered the people to fast on it. The people said:
'O Messenger of Allah (saws) , it is a day that the Jews and Christians honor.'
The Prophet (saws) said, 'When the following year comes--Allah willing--we
shall fast (also) on the ninth.' The death of the Prophet (saws) came before
the following year."
Related by Muslim and Abu Dawud.
The tenth day of the Islamic month of Muharram holds a
very significant place as it is recorded in history that not only did Allah
Subhanah save the Noble Prophet Moses and the believers from the clutches of
the Pharaoh, but it was on this day of Muharram that Allah Subhanah saved
Prophet Noah (a.s.) and the believers from the flood, accepted the repentance
and saved the Noble Prophet Yunus (a.s.) from the stomach of the fish, and
cured the illness of the Noble Prophet Ayyub (a.s.).
The tenth of Muharram was a day which not only the pagans
of Quraish, but also the Jews and the Christians of the time held in honor
before the advent of Islam; and they commemorated this day by fasting. The Messenger of Allah (saws) declared that
the believers, because of their true belief upon the Prophets of Allah, had
more right to honor this day and he (saws) encouraged the believers to differ
from the pagans and fast two days, either the 9th and the 10th
or the 10th and the 11th, in commemoration of this great
day.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to
Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source
of Strength.
Your brother and well wisher in
Islam,
Burhan
Wister