“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to fast ‘Ashura’, and he ordered (others) to fast it too.”  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَصُومُ عَاشُورَاءَ وَيَأْمُرُ بِصِيَامِهِ  

“The Prophet ﷺ came to Al- Madinah, and he found the Jews observing a fast. He said: ‘What is this?’ They said: ‘This is the day when Allah saved Musa and drowned Pharaoh, so Musa fasted this day in gratitude.’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘We have more right to Musa than you do.’ So he fasted (that day) and enjoined (others) to fast it also.’”  

قَدِمَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ الْمَدِينَةَ فَوَجَدَ الْيَهُودَ صُيَّامًا فَقَالَ مَا هَذَا؟ قَالُوا هَذَا يَوْمٌ أَنْجَى اللَّهُ فِيهِ مُوسَى وَأَغْرَقَ فِيهِ فِرْعَوْنَ فَصَامَهُ مُوسَى شُكْرًا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ نَحْنُ أَحَقُّ بِمُوسَى مِنْكُمْ فَصَامَهُ وَأَمَرَ بِصِيَامِهِ  

“Has anyone among you eaten today?” We said: “Some of us have eaten and some of us have not.” He said: “Complete the rest of your day (i.e., do not eat for the rest of the day), whoever has eaten and whoever has not eaten. And send word to the people of the suburbs to complete the rest of their day.” He was referring to the people of the suburbs around Al-Madinah.  

لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ مِنْكُمْ أَحَدٌ طَعِمَ الْيَوْمَ؟ قُلْنَا مِنَّا طَعِمَ وَمِنَّا مَنْ لَمْ يَطْعَمْ قَالَ فَأَتِمُّوا بَقِيَّةَ يَوْمِكُمْ مَنْ كَانَ طَعِمَ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَطْعَمْ فَأَرْسِلُوا إِلَى أَهْلِ الْعَرُوضِ فَلْيُتِمُّوا بَقِيَّةَ يَوْمِهِمْ قَالَ يَعْنِي أَهْلَ الْعَرُوضِ حَوْلَ الْمَدِينَةِ  

“If I live until next year, I will fast the ninth day (of Muharram) too.”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَئِنْ بَقِيتُ إِلَى قَابِلٍ لأَصُومَنَّ الْيَوْمَ التَّاسِعَ  

“That was a day when the people of the Ignorance used to fast. So whoever among you wants to fast may do so, and whoever does not want to may leave it.”  

أَنَّهُ ذُكِرَ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَوْمُ عَاشُورَاءَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يَوْمًا يَصُومُهُ أَهْلُ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَمَنْ أَحَبَّ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يَصُومَهُ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَنْ كَرِهَهُ فَلْيَدَعْهُ  

“Fasting the day of ‘Ashura’, I hope, will expiate for the sins of the previous year.”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ إِنِّي أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ