Venerating the Month of Allaah

“O’ people! Fear Allaah, the Most High, and venerate your month, i.e. Muharram, with the obedience of your Lord because Allaah has honored it and made it virtuous. The Prophet, may peace and blessings be upon him, said: “The BEST fast after Ramadhan is the month of Allaah, Muharram.”

[Muslim]

It is one of the four sacred months wherein acts of obedience and abandoning sins are highly emphasized. Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى says:

مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ فَلاَ تَظْلِمُواْ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ

“…of them four are sacred (Muharram, Rajab, Dhul-Qi’dah, Dhul-Hijjah). That is the right religion, so wrong yourselves not therein.”

[At-Tawbah 9:36]

On the authority of Abi Hurairah رضي اللّه عنـه said: “When the Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم  arrived in Al-Medina he found that the Jews would fast the tenth of Muharram. So he صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم said: “What is this?” They said: “This is a GREAT day. Allaah saved Moosaa عليه السلام and the Children of Israel in it and Moosaa would fast it (so this is why we fast it).”

The Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم said:

“We have more right to Moosaa than you do.” So he fasted it and ordered the people to do the same.

[Bukhaari & Muslim]

And he صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم said:

“Fasting the tenth of Muharram expiates the (minor) sins of the previous year.”

[Muslim]

So fast the ninth and tenth of Muharram, may Allaah have mercy upon you all, so that your (minor) sins (of the last year) can be expiated and follow the guidance of your Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم. And whoever has difficulty fasting and Allaah knows that if it wasn’t for this reason he would fast, then let him rejoice with receiving the reward from The King, All-Knowing, especially if he regularly would fast these days, i.e. the ninth and tenth of Muharram each year.

Because the Messenger صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم said:

“Whoever becomes sick or travels will have the reward of that which he does while he is healthy and present."

[Bukhaari]

On the tenth of Muharram, Allaah saved Moosaa عليه السلام, and his people from Fir’aun and his army. Moosaa عليه السلام invited him to the worship of his Lord however he was arrogant and refused saying:

Which is better: Sawm on the 10th with the 9th or the 10th with the 11th of Muharram?

Fatwa of Ibn Baaz رحمه الله

(Source: Alifta.net)

Observing Sawm on the 9th and 10th of Muharram is better than on the 10th and 11^th.

Question: What is the ruling on observing Sawm (Fast) on the Day of ‘Ashura’ (10th of Muharram)? Is it better to observe Sawm on the day that precedes it, the day that succeeds it, all the three days, or on the Day of ‘Ashura’ only? Please clarify the matter. May Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى reward you with the best! 

Answer: It is a Sunnah (supererogatory act of worship following the example of the Prophet) to observe Sawm on the Day of ‘Ashura’ for the authentic Hadiths in which the Prophet (صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم) stated so. The Prophet (صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم) mentioned that the Jews used to observe Sawm on that Day because it was the day on which Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى rescued Prophet Musa (عليه السلام) and his people and destroyed Pharaoh and his people. Our Prophet Muhammad (صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم) thus, observed Sawm on the Day of ‘Ashura’ to express his gratitude to Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى, advised Muslims to do so, and directed us as well to observe Sawm on the day preceding or succeeding it. However, observing Sawm on the ninth and tenth of Muharram is better than doing so on the tenth and eleventh. The latter form is also sufficient for it contradicts the practice of the Jews as well.