Fasting on the 9th and 10th of Ashura

Question

What is the proper way to fast the ninth and tenth of ʿĀshūrāʾ?

Bottom Line

Make it a duet: 9th + 10th. Missed the 9th? Do 10th + 11th. At the very least, catch the 10th.

Quick Answer

The Prophet ﷺ fasted the 10th of Muḥarram (ʿĀshūrāʾ) and intended to add the 9th the following year to distinguish the Muslim practice. Scholars distilled this into three options: best is the 9th and 10th, next is the 10th and 11th if the 9th is missed, and minimum is the 10th alone. Fasting ʿĀshūrāʾ expiates one previous year of minor sins.

Key Takeaways

• Ideal: fast the 9th and 10th. If the 9th is missed, fast the 10th and 11th.
• At minimum, fast the 10th; it expiates one past year of minor sins.
• Adding the 9th distinguishes the ummah, joins days, and covers moon-sighting uncertainty.

Detailed Answer

There are different ways of fasting ‘Ashura, the least of which is to fast the tenth only, but it is better to fast the ninth as well. The more one fasts in Muharram. The day of ‘Ashura is one of the significant days on which the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) prescribed that we should fast. This day is not for Moosa (peace be upon him); rather, it is for the saving of the believers. The reason for fasting it is that it is the day on which Allah saved Moosa and drowned Pharaoh and his troops, and there covered them from the sea that which covered them (cf. 20:78). So the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) fasted on this day, and he enjoined the Sahaabah to fast on this day too, by way of following the example of Moosa (peace be upon him) and out of gratitude to Allah, may He be exalted. When Allah enjoined fasting in the month of Ramadan, this ruling was abrogated, and fasting on this day became Sunnah.

Prophetic guidance

Ibn ʿAbbās reported that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fasted ʿĀshūrāʾ and instructed the people to fast it, he said, “Next year, if Allah wills, we will fast on the ninth,” but he passed away before the next year. Sahih Muslim 1916.

How to fast around ʿĀshūrāʾ

Classical jurists summarized three practical levels drawn from the above hadith and the practice of the companions:

1. Best: fast the 9th and 10th.
2. Next: fast the 10th and 11th if the 9th was missed.
3. Minimum: fast the 10th alone.

Ibn Hajar notes this structure and even mentions the three-day option (9th, 10th, 11th) as a way to maximize caution and distinction. Fath al-Bari 4/245.

Why add the 9th (Tāsūʿāʾ)

Al-Nawawi explains three reasons:

• Distinction: differ from the People of the Book who singled out the 10th.
• Joining days: avoid isolating a single day in voluntary fasting.
• Moon-sighting safety: ensure catching the true 10th if dates are off.

Ibn Taymiyyah highlights the broader principle of not imitating the People of the Book and cites ʿĀshūrāʾ as a case of intended distinction.

The virtue of the day

The Prophet ﷺ said,

“Fasting the day of ʿĀshūrāʾ, I hope Allah will expiate thereby the year that came before it.”
Sahih Muslim 1162.

This expiation covers minor sins. Major sins require sincere tawbah.

What This Means for You

Plan for the 9th and 10th. If logistics or sighting make that hard, do the 10th and 11th. At the very least, fast the 10th and set your intention the night before.

And Allah knows best

References

Primary Sources

Hadith

1. Sahih Muslim 1916: Intention to add the 9th with the 10th.
2. Sahih Muslim 1162: Expiation for fasting ʿĀshūrāʾ.

Secondary Sources

3. Ibn Hajar, Fath al-Bari 4/245: Levels for fasting around ʿĀshūrāʾ.
4. Al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim on 1916: Reasons for adding the 9th.
5. Ibn Taymiyyah, Al-Fatawa al-Kubra, vol. 6: Principle of distinguishing from the People of the Book.