Question
What is the reason for fasting on the day of Ashurah? Is
obligatory or optional?
Answer
As-salaamun Alaykum,
dear brothers and sisters in Islam. How are you doing today?
We are going to discuss
the Reason why Muslim should fast on the day of Ashoora in a nutshell.
Reason fasting on the day of Ashurah
Fasting on the day of
ashoora is a sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him). The day of ashoora is
the day which Moses (peace be upon him) by the help of Allah overcame the most
dangerous tyrant, Pharaoh.
The Jews were the one
who first started fasting on this day to honour the victory of Moses over
Pharaoh. The Prophet later enjoyed his Ummah to also fast on the day of ashoora
base on the following authentic Hadith.
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:
When the Prophet came to Medina, he
found (the Jews) fasting on the day of 'Ashura' (i.e. 10th of Muharram). They
used to say: "This is a great day on which Allah saved Moses and drowned
the folk of Pharaoh. Moses observed the fast on this day, as a sign of
gratitude to Allah." The Prophet said, "I am closer to Moses than
they." So, he observed the fast (on that day) and ordered the Muslims to
fast on it.
Source – (Volume 4, Book 55, Number
609)
It must be understood that, it’s Allah who recommended the fasting for us, not the will of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
When the prophet arrive
Madina, he discovered the Jews fasting on this day, and he asked them why they
fast on that specific day? And they say, because it was the day Allah save
prophet Musa (peace be upon him) and his people from Pharaoh.
Is fasting on Ashurah obligatory or optional?
This fast is not
obligatory on any one, it’s optional. But the Prophet (peace be upon him)
encouraged us to fast on this day.
Dear brothers and
sisters let’s try to follow the sunnah, by doing so, means how much we love
Allah and his messenger (peace upon him).
May Allah grant us good
health to fast on this blessed day of Ashurah. Ameen.
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