Day of Ashurah - Virtues and Benefits
Ashura falls on the 10th day of Muharram. It is a very special day, full of rewards and blessings and our beloved Nabi ﷺ would look forward to this day.
Facts about Ashura
Month Number:
1st Month of the Islamic calendar
Located:
Falls on the 10th of Muharram
Significance:
1) Day of Ashura falls in the month of Muharram which is one of the 4 sacred months
2) It is one of the most important and blessed days of the Islamic Calendar
3) Fasting on this day is equivalent to fasting the entire year and a means of sins of the previous year being forgiven
Let us look at a few virtues of this special day:
Virtue 1
Our beloved Nabi ﷺ looked forward to this day
Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas رضي الله عنه says,
I did not see Rasulullah ﷺ eagerly await the fast of any day, which he gave preference to over other days except this day, the day of ‘Ashura, and this month i.e. the month of Ramadhan.
(Bukhari)
Virtue 2
Wipes out sins for the past year
Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah رضي الله عنه reports that the Prophet ﷺ was asked about fasting the day of Ashura, and he said,
“It will expiate the sins of the past year.”
(Muslim)
Virtue 3
Highly recommended to fast
Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered fasting on the day of Ashura, i.e the tenth of al-Muharram.
(Tirmidhi)
Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn Umar رضي الله عنه reported: The Prophet, ﷺ said, “Verily, Ashura is a day among the days of Allah. Whoever wishes to fast may do so, and whoever wishes to break his fast may do so.”
(Muslim)
Virtue 4
The day Musa عليه السلام was saved
Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه reported: The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, came to Medina, and he found the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura.
The Prophet ﷺ said, “What is this day you are fasting?” They said, “This is a great day in which Allah (Ta’ala) saved Musa عليه السلام and his people, and he drowned Fir’awn (Pharaoh) and his people. Musa عليه السلام fasted on it due to gratitude, so we also fast on it.”
The Prophet ﷺ said, “We are more deserving and are closer to Musa عليه السلام than you.” The Prophet fasted the day of Ashura, and he commanded fasting on it.
(Bukhari)
Note:
Along with fasting on the 10th one should fast either the 9th or 11th too.
Fasting the 9th is most recommended as Imam Al-Nawawi mentions, “Imam Shafi’i and his companions, Imam Ahmad, Imam Ishaq رحمهم الله , and others said it is recommended to fast the ninth and tenth of al-Muharram together, as the Prophet ﷺ fasted the tenth and intended to fast the ninth.”
(Sharh al-Nawawi ‘ala Saheeh Muslim)
Spending on one’s family
There are great blessings to be attained throughout the year for the one who is extra generous to his family:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ is reported to have said,
“One who generously spends on his family on ‘Ashura (10th of Muharram), Allah will be generous on him for the entire year.”
(Al-Bayhaqi, Shu’ab al-Iman)
In this regard, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal رحمه الله quotes Sufyan ibn Uyayna رحمه الله as saying,
“I have practiced this [spending on the family] for fifty or sixty years, and have found nothing but good in it.”
(Lata’if al-Ma’arif)
May Allah Ta’ala give us all the tawfeeq to act upon whatever has been explained. Ameen
