Why Ashura Day Matters

Question

Ashura Day: What makes it important and truly meaningful?

Bottom Line

ʿĀshūrāʾ is gratitude in action, fasting to remember Allah’s mercy and victory.

Quick Answer

The 10th of Muḥarram, called ʿĀshūrāʾ, was observed even before Islam. The Prophet ﷺ fasted it after arriving in Madinah, honoring the day Allah saved Prophet Mūsā and the believers from Pharaoh. It was first made obligatory, then, when Ramadan was prescribed, fasting ʿĀshūrāʾ became Sunnah. Fasting expiates one past year of minor sins and renews gratitude for Allah’s help to His prophets.

Key Takeaways

• ʿĀshūrāʾ means “the tenth” and falls on the 10th of Muḥarram.
• Fasting it expiates one past year of minor sins.
• Sunnah to add the 9th of Muḥarram (Tāsūʿāʾ) to differ from the Jews. If the 9th is missed, add the 11th.

Detailed Answer

ʿĀshūrāʾ, “the tenth,” is the 10th of Muḥarram. Quraysh already recognized and fasted it. When the Prophet ﷺ arrived in Madinah, he found the Jews fasting that day in gratitude for Allah saving Mūsā and drowning Pharaoh.

Ibn ʿAbbās said:

“This is the day on which Allah granted victory to Mūsā and the Children of Israel over Pharaoh. We fast it out of respect.”

Bukhari 3943; Muslim 1130

The Prophet ﷺ replied, “We are closer to Mūsā than you,” and he fasted it and encouraged Muslims to do the same
Bukhari 1865. At first, fasting ʿĀshūrāʾ was obligatory. When Ramadan was revealed, the obligation was lifted, and it remained a recommended Sunnah
Muslim 1125.

Regarding its reward, the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Fasting the day of ʿĀshūrāʾ, I hope Allah will expiate thereby the year that came before it.”

Muslim 1162

This expiation pertains to minor sins. Major sins require sincere tawbah. To differ from the Jews, he indicated fasting a day with it, ideally the 9th and the 10th, and if the 9th is missed, then the 10th and 11th
Musnad Ahmad 2154.

Ibn al-Qayyim noted that Quraysh revered ʿĀshūrāʾ and that the Prophet ﷺ affirmed and redirected it to gratitude for Mūsā’s rescue
Zād al-Maʿād 2/67. Al-Qurtubi explained that the Prophet ﷺ sometimes aligned with the People of the Book where permissible early on, then differentiated the ummah in practice as guidance matured.

What This Means for You

Let ʿĀshūrāʾ be gratitude, not imitation. Fast it, ideally with the 9th, remember Allah’s victory for the believers, and start the year with renewed faith and thanks.

And Allah knows best.

References

Primary Sources

Qur’an

1. Ta-Ha 20:78: Allah drowned Pharaoh and his army in the sea.

Hadith

2. Sahih al-Bukhari 3943; Sahih Muslim 1130: Jews fasted ʿĀshūrāʾ, Prophet ﷺ affirmed closeness to Mūsā.
3. Sahih al-Bukhari 1865: The Prophet ﷺ instructed fasting ʿĀshūrāʾ.
4. Sahih Muslim 1125: Obligation lifted after Ramadan was prescribed.
5. Sahih Muslim 1162: Fasting ʿĀshūrāʾ expiates the past year’s sins.
6. Musnad Ahmad 2154: Sunnah to pair the 9th with the 10th.

Secondary Sources

7. Ibn al-Qayyim, Zād al-Maʿād: Quraysh’s practice and the Prophet’s ﷺ emphasis on gratitude.
8. Al-Qurtubi, al-Mufhim: Aligning with People of the Book initially, then differentiating later.
9. Al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim: Abrogation, expiation, and rulings of ʿĀshūrāʾ.