Fasting In Muharam

FASTING IN MUHARRAM (The FIRST MONTH OF ISLAMIC YEAR)
Fasting in the month of Muharram is highly desired, especially on the
tenth day, 'Ashura. The Messenger of Allah (saas) has been reported as
saying when asked which prayer is better after obligatory prayer:
"Prayer in the middle of the night." He was asked again which fast is
better after Ramadan. He said: "In the month that is called Al-Muharram."
(Ahmed, Muslim, and Abu Dawud)

This hadith clearly indicates the importance of voluntary fasting in
Muharram, among all the months. The Prophet (saas) however, emphasizes
the fast of the tenth day, 'Ashura. The word "`Ashura" is derived from
`Ashara, which means ten. The observation of this day goes back to
Prophet Musa (saas). In a hadith related by Ibn Abbas (raa) when the
Messenger of Allah (saas) came to Medina, he found the Jews fasting the day
of 'Ashura. He inquired why do they did so. They replied that it was a
good day, the day which Allah delivered Prophet Musa (saas) and the
children of Israel from their enemy. As gratitude Musa (saas) fasted
that day.

The Prophet (saas) responded: "I have more right to Musa than you." He
fasted the day and commanded the believers to fast." (Agreed upon.)

This hadith indicates that the Prophet (saas) was in complete agreement
with Prophet Musa (saas) as well as the other prophets. The point here
is that the Messenger of Allah would always do an act of worship if it
was prophecy reported from any of the prophets. Earlier, we see how he
told us that the best voluntary fast is the fast of Dawud.

This is why the following hadith is of great interest to us. Ibn Abbas
related when Prophet Muhammad (saas) observed the day of 'Ashura and
commanded his followers to observe it, they asked him: "O Messenger of
Allah (saas) this is the day the Jews, and Christians respect and
honor..." The Prophet (saas) promised them that "Next year Allah
willing, we shall fast the ninth, tasuu'aa, along with the tenth." By the next
Muharram, the Prophet (saas) had already passed away. Because the
believers, desire to emulate Prophet Musa in fasting on 'Ashura do so with the
desire not to participate in the festivity of the People of the Book,
who have reduced the day to a mere formality. The Prophet (saas) decided to
remove this ambiguity with the fast of the ninth day.

Our 'Ulama, analyzing all reports from the Prophet (saas) regarding
Muharram, stated the fast of Muharram can be viewed in three ways:

1. Fasting three days of Muharram, the ninth, tenth and eleventh.

2. Fasting on the ninth and tenth days because of two previous Hadiths.

3. Fasting on the tenth day alone.

It is to celebrate on the day of `Ashura. In a hadith by Jabir Bin
Abdullah, the Messenger of Allah (saas) said: "Whoever spends
generously on himself and his family on the day of `Ashura, Allah will provide for
him generously the rest of his year."
(Al-Bayhaqi)