1. The wisdom behind fasting also a day before or a day after Ashura, and the ruling on fasting it alone
Question:
“Regarding the ruling on singling out ‘Ashura’ with fasting; is it incumbent upon the individual to fast also a day before it or a day after it, and what is the wisdom behind that?”
Answer:
“Ibn-ul-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy upon him) mentions (in his book) ‘Zaad-ul-Ma’ad fee Hadyi Khayr-il-‘Ibaad’, that fasting the Day of ‘Ashura’ is of three categories:
- The first category, and it is the best of them, is to fast all three days; the ninth, the tenth (‘Ashura’) and the eleventh, that is the best of them.
- Followed by (i.e.the next best is) fasting the ninth and the tenth.
- Then followed by fasting the tenth and the eleventh.
In all of them, and all praises belong to Allah alone, is great virtue. And if he was to single out the Day of ‘Ashura’ and fast it on it’s own then that would be permissible.
However the Prophet, may peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“Differ from the Jews!”[1]
…because the Jews fast the Day of ‘Ashura’ and they say that it is the day on which Allah gave honor to Musa (may peace be upon him) and his people. And on it He destroyed Fir’aun (Pharaoh) and his people, therefore they would fast it. So the Prophet, may peace and blessings be upon him said:
“We are closer (are more entitled) to Musa than you!”[2]
And thus he, may peace and blessings be upon him, fasted it and ordered with fasting it together with a day before or a day after it in order to differ from the Jews. Yes.”
Footnotes by translator:
[1] Reported by Abu Dawood and declared saheeh by Al-Albaanee.
[2] Hadeeth of ‘Abdullah Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with both. Al-Munthiree said: reported by Bukhaaree, Muslim, Nasaa’i and Ibn Maajah.
Shaykh Saalih bin Fawzaan Al-Fawzaan, may Allah preserve him
Translated by ‘Abdurrahīm Ibn Muhammad Al-Hadhramī.
Published on Salafi-Dawah.com.
Source: www.alfawzan.af.org.sa [Click here for screenshot in PDF format]
Use the player below or download the : MP3 Here
2. Encouraging Muslims to observe Sawm on the Day of ‘Ashura’
All praise be to Allah Alone, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, Companions, and whoever follows his guidance. To proceed:
It was authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to observe Sawm (Fast) on the Day of Ashura’ (10th of Muharram) and he would encourage people to do so. This is because on that Day, Allah (Exalted be He) rescued Moses (Musa, peace be upon him) and his people and destroyed Firaun (Pharaoh) and his people. Therefore, it is Mustahab (desirable) for every male and female Muslim to observe Sawm on that day, i.e., the 10th day of Muharram, to express their gratitude to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He).
In addition, it is Mustahab to observe Sawm on the day preceding Ashura' or on the succeeding day in order to differ from the Jews with regard to the way of observing this Sawm. However, a person may observe Sawm for the three days altogether, i.e., the ninth, the tenth, and the eleventh of Muharram for it is reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: <em>"Differ from the Jews and observe Sawm for one day beforeAshura’ and one day after it.”[1]
According to another narration: “Observe Sawm for a day before (the Day of `Ashura’) or after it.”[2]
It was also authentically reported that when the Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked about observing Sawm on the Day of `Ashura’, he (peace be upon him) said: “Allah expiates by it the sins of the past year.”[3]
There are many other Hadith encouraging Muslims to observe Sawm on the Day of `Ashura’.
[1] Narrated by Imam Ahmad, Section on Banu Hashim, the beginning of Chapter on the Hadiths narrated by Abdullah ibnAbbas, no. 2155; and Al-Bayhaqy, Al-Sunan Al-Kubra, Chapter on fasting on the ninth day of Muharram, no. 8418.
[2] Narrated by Al-Haythamy, MajmaAl-Zawa'id, Book on fasting the day beforeAshura’, no. 4315.
[3] Narrated by Muslim, Book on fasting, Chapter on the excellence of observing fast for three days during every month, no. 1162.
Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez bin ‘Abdullah bin Baaz, may Allah have mercy upon him
Source : www.alifta.net – Fatwas of Ibn Baz, Volume 15, Book on Fasting, Voluntary fasting.
Reference: A statement issued by His Eminence while serving as the Grand Mufty of the Kingdom, and the Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars, and the Departments of Scholarly Research.
3. Is it permissible to fast ‘Ashura’ when it falls on a Saturday?
Question:
“May Allah be good to you, oh Eminent Shaykh, this questioner from Jordan sent a whole list of questions, (in one of these questions) he says: Oh Eminent Shaykh, is it permissible for us to fast ‘Ashura’ when it falls on a Saturday?”
Answer:
“There is no objection to a person fasting on Saturday at all, whether obligatory or supererogatory. And the hadeeth in which the prohibition of fasting Saturday occurs, is a hadeeth which is Da’if (weak), Mudtarib[1] and opposes the authentic narrations, and subsequently there is no problem in the Muslim fasting on Saturday, irrespective of whether it is out of obligation or optional, even if he does not fast any other day (Friday or Sunday) together with it (i.e.Saturday). And the Hadeeth in which the prohibition of fasting Saturday except for what is obligatory, occurs, is a hadeeth which is not authentic, rather it is Da’if (weak), Shadh[2] and opposes the authentic narrations.”
Footnotes by translator:
[1] The Hadeeth Mudtarib is a hadeeth with disagreement over a transmitter or the text.
[2] The Shadh Hadeeth is a hadeeth narrated by a trustworthy narrator, not in line with the narration of other trustworthy narrators in terms of wording, chain of narrators, or both.
Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez bin ‘Abdullah bin Baaz, may Allah have mercy upon him.
Translated by ‘Abdurrahīm Ibn Muhammad Al-Hadhramī.
Source: www.binbaz.org.sa [Click here for screenshot in PDF format]
Use the player below or download the MP3 here.
4 . Is it better to fast three or two days with regards to fasting Ashura?
Question:
“Oh virtuous Shaykh, what is better with regards to fasting the Day of ‘Ashura’ (10th of Muharram); (to fast) three days or (to fast it together with) a day before it only?”
Answer:
“The best is (to fast) three days, followed by (i.e. the next best is to fast) two days; (to fast ‘Ashura, the 10th of Muharram together with) a day before it or a day after it.”[1]
Footnote by translator:
[1] The best is to fast the ninth, tenth (‘Ashura’) and eleventh of Muharram all together. The next best is to fast the ninth and the tenth together or the tenth and the eleventh together.
Shaykh Saalih bin Fawzaan Al-Fawzaan, may Allah preserve him
Translated by ‘Abdurrahīm Ibn Muhammad Al-Hadhramī.
Published on Salafi-Dawah.com.
Source : www.alfawzan.af.org.sa
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