The 365 · Sunnah · Day 352 · Special Days
Fasting the Day of ʿĀshūrāʾ (10 Muḥarram)
The hadith
«صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ، أَحتسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَن يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ التي قَبَلَهُ».
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Fasting the day of ʿĀshūrāʾ, I hope from Allah, expiates the year before it.' (Muslim 1162)
Svenska: Profeten ﷺ sade: 'Att fasta ʿĀshūrāʾs dag, jag hoppas från Allah, gottgör året innan.' (Muslim 1162)
Muslim 1162; Bukhari 2004
The story
When the Prophet ﷺ came to Madinah, he found the Jews fasting on the 10th. He asked why. They said: 'This is the day Allah saved Musa from Pharaoh.' He said: 'We are more deserving of Musa than them,' and fasted it himself, commanding his Companions.
Why it's here
The 10th of Muḥarram is the day Allah saved Mūsā and his people from Pharaoh. Mūsā fasted; the Prophet ﷺ fasted it and commanded it. One year of expiation for one day of fasting. After ʿArafah, this is the most rewarded single-day fast.
Try it today
Mark the 10th of Muḥarram in your calendar yearly. Fast from fajr to maghrib. Pair with the 9th (Tāsūʿāʾ) to distinguish from the Jews who fast only the 10th.
In your day
An annual non-negotiable. One day for a year's expiation; the deal is unmatched.
A reflection to carry
After ʿArafah, ʿĀshūrāʾ is the year's second great fast. Mark both annually.
Read the longer reflection
The 10th of Muḥarram has been sacred since Mūsā. The Sunnah is to fast it; the reward is a year's expiation. May Allah include us among those who fast it every year of their remaining lives.
Sources: Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim. The Qur'an and its translation are verified; the scholarship is retold faithfully in our own words and credited to its sources, never reproduced verbatim.
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