The Day of Asyura

Assalamualaikum

Peace be upon to all of you

As tomorrow is the tenth of Muharram in the Islamic calendar(actually, it is already the 10th of Muharram the moment night descends just now), a day which is known as Asyura or 'Ashura, I would like to share with you all about that particular day to everyone disregard of who they are whether they are Muslims or not. Thus, do not feel disheartened if you come across my posting, for I am verily spreading knowledge if that is possible.
So, what is so special about this auspicious Day? What good does it bring upon us all?

This is what I found in a note from a Friday Sermon about it. Well, there is a sentence which goes:

The Prophet Muhammad S.A.W* said in a Hadith (the sayings of the Prophet) narrated by At-Tirmizi:

“By fasting on the day of Asyura, I hope that Allah S.W.T will forgive last year’s sins.”

As a matter of fact, there is another Hadith from a credible resource that goes:


Abu Qatada reported that a person came to the Prophet of Allah (S.A.W) and said: "How do you observe fast?" The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) felt annoyed.

When 'Umar (Allah be pleased with him) noticed his annoyance, he said: "We are well pleased with Allah as our Lord, with Islam as our Code of Life, and with Muhammad as our Prophet. We seek refuge with Allah from the anger of Allah and that of His Messenger."

Umar kept on repeating these words till his (the Prophet's) anger calmed down. Then Umar said: "Messenger of Allah. What is the position of one who perpetually observes fasts?"

Thereupon he said: "He neither fasted nor broke it," or he said: "He did not fast and he did not break it."

He ('Umar) said: "What about him who observes fast for two days and breaks one day."

Thereupon he (the Prophet) said: "Is anyone capable of doing it?" He ('Umar) said: "What is the position of him who observes fast for a day and breaks on the other day?"

Thereupon he (the Prophet) said: "That is the fast of David (A.S)." He ('Umar) said: "What about him who observes fast one day and breaks it for two days."

Thereupon he (the Messenger of Allah) said: "I wish I were given strength to observe that."

Thereafter he said: "The observance of three days' fast every Month and that of Ramadan every year is a perpetual fasting. I seek from Allah that fasting on the day of 'Arafa may atone for the sins of the preceding and the coming years. And I seek from Allah that fasting on the day of Ashura may atone for the sins of the preceding year.


Sahih Muslim



Yes, I know it is a lengthy one but I just want to uphold honesty by listing everything down so that the originality of the Hadith will be preserved without any alterations made. Should any of you it is too long for you to read, my advice to you is just to focus on the bold line and the different colour of text used (easier said, just read the last line of the whole Hadith).

Of course, there is other religion that fasted on this auspicious Day and based on what I know it is the Jews who observe fasting. In fact, there is a Hadith that proves it which goes:

Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) arrived in Medina and found the Jews observing fast on the day of 'Ashura. The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) said to them: “What is the (significance) of this day that you observe fast on it?”

They said: “It is the day of great (significance) when Allah delivered Moses and his people, and drowned the Pharaoh and his people, and Moses observed fast out of gratitude and we also observe it.”

Upon this the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) said: “We have more right, and we have a closer connection with Moses than you have; so Allah's Messenger (May S.A.W) observed fast (on the day of 'Ashura), and gave orders that it should be observed.”
Sahih Muslim


At first, it seemed compulsory. But there are Hadiths which stated that fasting on the Day of Asyura is not compulsory but rather as an act of devotion.

'Abdullah b. Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that the day of 'Ashura was mentioned before the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) and he said: “It is a day when the people in the pre-Islamic days need to observe fast, so he who wishes to observe fast should do so, and he who wishes to abandon it should do so.”


Sahih Muslim


There are also other few Hadiths narrated by other companions of the Prophet such as the followings:


Narrated Ibn 'Umar:
Fasting was observed on the day of 'Ashura' (i.e. 10th of Muharram) by the people of the Pre-Islamic Period. But when (the order of compulsory fasting) in the month of Ramadan was revealed, the Prophet said, "It is up to one to fast on it (i.e. day of 'Ashura') or not."


Sahih Bukhari

Narrated 'Aisha:
The people used to fast on the day of 'Ashura' before fasting in Ramadan was prescribed but when (the order of compulsory fasting in) Ramadan was revealed, it was up to one to fast on it (i.e. 'Ashura') or not.


Sahih Bukhari


Basically, that is all that I could share of what I came across. But in any case, it is my pleasure to advise all Muslims reading this post to fast on the 10th of Muharram aka Day of Asyura as sins of the preceding year will be forgiven. On top of that, do take other few abovementioned Hadiths as part of knowledge –at least we learn together about the histories of the Day of Asyura instead of just observing fasting. To all the non-Muslims, I do hope you gain some knowledge from here with understanding towards the religion of Islam. Till then, stay tuned to my blog!


P.S: O Muslims, you should not fast only on Saturday as it is one of the days fasted by people from other religions. Therefore, not to imitate any religion, we need to fast on either Friday and Saturday OR Saturday and Sunday. If the Day of Asyura falls upon the weekdays (except Friday), only then you could fast ONLY for that Day.


*S.A.W is an abbreviation of "may Allah be pleased upon him" in Arab