This Friday and Saturday will be the 9th and 10th days of Muharram,
auspicious days indeed in the Islamic calendar. Muslims traditionally fast
on these days, but why? What did these days signify for the Prophet, peace
and blessings be upon him?
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said about the voluntary
fasting on the Day of `Ashura (10th Muharram):
“It expiates the sins of the preceding year.” [Sahih Muslim]
Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: "The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, came to al-Madinah 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 Bani Israeel from their enemy. So
Musa observed fast on this day.” The Prophet said, “We have more claim
over Musa than you.” So the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him,
observed fast on that day and ordered (the Muslims) to observe fast (on
that day)." [Sahih al-Bukhari, Muslim]
Ibn Abbas also reported, "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) fasted on the day of Ashuraa and ordered the people to fast on
it. The people said, “O Messenger of Allah, it is a day that the Jews and
Christians honor.” The Prophet (SAAS), said, "When the following year comes
- Allah willing - we shall fast on the ninth." The death of the Prophet,
peace and blessings be upon him, came before the following year." [Sahih
Muslim, Abu Dawood]
So it is recommended to fast on the 10th of Muharram and the 9th along with
it as well, to distinguish the Muslims from other communities.
Ibn al Qayyim wrote in his “Zaad al-Maaad" "The day of Ashura was the
day when Musa and his men got freedom from the hands of the Pharaoh and it
was in the sacred memory of this great event that the Muslims observed
voluntary fasting. The idea underlying this is to stress the affinity
amongst the messengers of Allah and to show that religious devotion is a
constant flow from one generation to another. The Prophet, peace and
blessings be upon him, came not to abrogate all the earlier religious
practices but to codify and preserve them for all times to come in ideal
forms.”
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of
Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: ‘The best of
fasting after Ramadan is fasting Allah’s month of Muharram.’” (reported
by Muslim)
The phrase “Allah’s month”, signifies the importance of the month. Al-Qaari
said: “The apparent meaning is all of the month of Muharram.” But it was
proven that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, never
fasted any whole month apart from Ramadan, so this hadith is probably meant
to encourage increasing one’s fasting during Muharram, without meaning that
one should fast for the entire month.