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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| fasting Ashura (saturday) |
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| amatullah |
| 02/16/05 at 12:26:13 |
| [slm] I found out it is not good to fast friday alone, or saturday alone, or even sunday i believe, it is better to join it with one day before or one day after. And since it is recommended anyway to fast 9, 10, and 11 it will be friday, sat, and sunday right? here is more info on the virtues of it from the fatwa http://www.islamonline.net/fatwaapplication/english/display.asp?hFatwaID=7505 Scholars of Islam, As-Salamu `alaykum. What are the virtues and rules of fasting the 9th and 10th of Muharram? Jazakum Allah khayran. Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. Dear brother in Islam, thanks a lot for your question and the interest you show in having a clearer view of the true teachings of Islam. May Allah help you get the right understanding and stand firm on the Straight Path, Amen! First of all, it is very important to make it clear that fasting on the day of `Ashura’ – the 10th of Muharram- is of great merits in Islam. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Fasting the day of `Ashura' (is of great merits), I hope that Allah will accept it as an expiation for (the sins committed in) the previous year” (Muslim). Also, fasting the 9th of Muharram is highly recommended by the Sunnah. Imam At-Tirmidhi reported that Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to say: We should fast on two days: the 9th and 10th of Muharram to distinguish ourselves from the Jewish communipy. (At-Tirmidhi) Explaining the virtue of fasting on the 9th and the 10th of Muharram, Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, former President of the Islamic Society of North America, states: It is the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to fast on the 9th and 10th of Muharram. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him used to fast on the day of `Ashura'. When he came to Madinah, he found out that the Jews of Madinah were also fasting on this day remembering Prophet Musa (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) admired this tradition and said to the Jews, "I am closer to Musa than you are." He fasted and he also told his Companions to fast on this day. Later, before the end of his life, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) told Muslims to add the 9th day also. Thus, it is recommended to fast on both the 9th and 10th of Muharram. Moreover, in his well-known book, Fiqh As-Sunnah, the late Sheikh Sayyed Sabiq states: Abu Hurayrah reported: "I asked the Prophet: 'Which Prayer is the best after the obligatory Prayers?' He said: 'Prayer during the mid of the night.' I asked: 'Which fasting is the best after that of Ramadan?' He said, 'The month of Allah that you call Muharram’" (Ahmad, Muslim, and Abu Dawud). Mu`awiyyah ibn Abi Sufyan reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah say: "Concerning the day of `Ashura’, it is not obligatory upon you to fast on it as I do. Whoever wishes may fast and whoever does not wish to is not obliged to do so" (Al-Bukhari and Muslim). It is noteworthy that Muslim scholars have stated that fasting of `Ashura’ is of three levels as follows: 1. fasting for three days, i.e., on the 9th, 10th, and 11th of Muharram, 2. fasting the 9th and 10th of Muharram, and 3. fasting only the 10th of Muharram. If you go to the link above you can read also the following headlines by clicking on them there: Days of Muharram: Ethics and Significance Virtues of the Month of Muharram & Fasting During It The Significance of Fasting the Day of `Ashura' Adornment and Applying Kohl on the Day of `Ashura’ Fasting `Ashura’ in Accordance with the Jews Fasting `Ashura’ When One Owes Days From Ramadan If you are still in need of more information, don't hesitate to contact us. Do keep in touch. May Allah guide us all to the straight path! Allah Almighty knows best. |
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