In The Name of Allah, The Beneficent The Merciful

FASTING OF ASHURA, MYTH OR REALITY?

BACKGROUND

Ashura traditionally refer to the 10th of first Islamic month, Muharram. On this day:

# Sunni believe there is a Mustahab (Recommended) fasting enjoined by Nabi _salallahu alayhi wa ahli_

# Shi'a believe fasting on this day is Makroo (Dislike). Rather, mourning the martyrs of Karbala is meritorious

# A section of Muslims believe this day to be a day of blessing, joy and happiness because of Allah's favor upon His various Prophets

Nonetheless, there seem to be well established facts in both Sunni and Shi'i narrations on the validity of Ashura fasting. However while Sunni narrations are mutawattir (widely reported) on it, majority of Shia narrations in this regard are weak. We shall therefore focus on the few authentic ones.

SUNNI HADITH ON ASHURA FASTING

# Imam Muslim documents:

Chapter: Fasting on the day of Ashura'
باب صَوْمِ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ ‏‏

Jabir b Samura reported that the Messenger of Allah (s) commanded us to observe fast on the day of Ashura and exhorted us to do it and was particular about it. But when (fasting) in Ramadan was made obligatory, he henceforth neither commanded us nor forbade us, nor was he so particular about it.

Reference : Sahih Muslim 1128
In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 158 http://www.sunnah.com/muslim/13

# Imam Muslim also documents:

'A'isha (r) reported that the Quraish used to fast on the day of 'Ashura in the pre-Islamic days and the Messenger of Allah (s) also observed it. When he migrated to Medina, he himself observed this fast and commanded (others) to observe it. But when fasting during the month of Ramadan was made obligatory he said: He who wishes to observe this fast may do so, and he who wishes to abandon it may do so.

Reference : Sahih Muslim 1125 a
In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 143 http://www.sunnah.com/muslim/13

# Apparently, according to Sunni view, the fasting of Ashura is optional.

SHI'I HADITH ON ASHURA FASTING

Sheik al-Tusi (r) in his Tahdheeb al-Ahkam under the chapter "Type of fasts ", document several ahadith about fasting on the day of Ashura. However, Allamah al-Majlisi in his _Malath Al-Akhyar 7/116-118_ weakened all the narrations in this chapter of Sheik Tusi's book except for one narration which reads:

Muhammad b. al-Hasan by his isnad from `Ali b. al-Hasan b. Faddal from Ya`qub b. Yazid from Abu Hammam from Abu ‘l-Hasan. He said: The Messenger of Allah fasted on the day of `Ashura .

Another hadith reads:

Narrated Zuraarah and Muhammad b. Muslim: We both asked Abu Ja'far (as) about the fast of 'Ashura. Then, he said, "It was fasted before the month of Ramadaan. But, when the month of Ramadaan was revealed, it was abandoned."

The hadeeth has a saheeh chain as Ayatullah al-Khui said.

# Sheik al-Kulayni further documents:

Book: Kitab al-Kafi

Chapter: Book of fasting part 2, chapter 14 hadith number 4

Najabah ibn Al Harith Al attar said I once asked Abu Jafar (as) about fasting on the day of ashura. He(the imam) said, "It is a discarded fast after the coming of Shahr Ramadan and what is discarded and abandoned is Heresy ..."

GENESIS OF ASHURA FASTING

# According to the hadith of Aishah, Nabi "started" and commanded the fasting of Ashura only when he arrived Madinah (13 years after his prophet-hood). This suggest that he never fasted before this time despite the pagan Arab's observation of Ashura fasting. We must however stressed that Nabi spent 10 years in al-Madinah according to authentic ahadith.

# This deduction is align with the hadith of Ibn Abbas.

Imam Muslim documents:

Ibn Abbas (r) reported that when Allah's Messenger (s) came to Medina, he found the Jews observing the fast on the day of Ashura. They were asked about it and they said: It is the day on which Allah granted victory to Moses and Bani Isra'il over the Pharaoh and we observe fast out of gratitude to Him. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (s) said: We have a closer connection with Moses than you have, and he commanded to observe fast on this day.

Reference : Sahih Muslim 1130 a
In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 162 http://www.sunnah.com/muslim/13

# Something like this hadith is also recorded in Shi'i book but it is graded Da'if (weak) which makes it of no value.

# If we infer from the hadith of Aisha that Nabi has been observing Ashura fasting since his time in Makkah, then this will grossly contradict the hadith of Ibn Abbas which showed Nabi's naivety of Ashura fasting and its importance.

COMMAND OF RAMADAN FASTING

# Surah al-Baqarah which commands fasting in the month of Ramadan was revealed earliest in Madina.

Al-Hafiz ibn Kathir writes in his Tafsir:

[There is no disagreement over the view that Surat Al-Baqarah was revealed in its entirety in Al-Madinah. Moreover, Al-Baqarah was one of the first Surahs to be revealed in Al-Madinah...]
http://www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=459&Itemid=36

# In line with the ahadith of Jabir ibn Samura, Aishah and Ibn Abbas, the Messenger of Allah could only have commanded the fasting of Ashura in the 1st year he arrived al-Madinah since fasting of Ramadan (which abrogate Ashura fasting) was established in the 2nd year Hijri.

CONTRADICTORY HADITH THAT BLEW THE WHOLE STORY

Imam Muslim continues his documentation:

Ibn 'Abbas reported that when the Messenger of Allah (s) fasted on the day of 'Ashura and commanded that it should be observed as a fast, they (his Companions) said to him: Messenger of Allah, it is a day which the Jews and Christians hold in high esteem. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (s) said: When the next year comes, God willing, we would observe fast on the 9th But the Messenger of Allah (s) died before the advent of the next year .

Reference : Sahih Muslim 1134 a
In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 172 http://www.sunnah.com/muslim/13

# This hadith which claimed Nabi died the following year he commanded the fasting of Ashura, clearly suggest he might have spent 2 - 3 years in al-Madinah. This is contradictory to established facts of 10 years he spent in al-Madinah.

# If we however suggest that this command and complaint of Ashura fasting was on the 9th/10th year of Hijra that Nabi entered al-Madinah therefore died the following year 10th/11th, then it render the previous ahadith of Aishah, Jabir et al useless since they claimed fasting of Ramadan (established in 2nd year) made fasting of Ashura abandoned or optional.

# There is absolutely no suggestion in this hadith that there was a time difference between the command of Ashura fasting and the complaint of the Sahabah. Even if we fabricate a gap period, the question is what made the complaint of the Sahabah and Nabi's unrealized reaction so late for about 8/9 years?

# The fact that Allah has declared in the 1st year of Prophet's arrival in al-Madinah:

" Never will the Jews and the Christians be satisfied with thee (Muhammad) unless you follow their form of religion. Say (O Muhammad) 'The guidance of God, that is the (only) Guidance.‟ Were you to follow their desires after the knowledge which has reached you, then you will neither find protector or helper against God ” {Sura al-Baqarah: 120}

# So, neither the Prophet nor the Sahabah will heedless of this ayah. The valid conclusion is that both the _command and complaint_ as expressed in the hadith took place in the 1st/2nd year of Hijra.

# The fact that the hadith later claim Nabi died the following year collapse the whole pack of lies about the Tasu'a and Ashura fasting.

WHO LEGISLATED ASHURA FASTING?

# THE JEWS?

According to the aforementioned hadith of Ibn Abbas in sahih Muslim, when the Jews were seen fasting on the day of Ashura,

"... They were asked about it and they said: It is the day on which Allah granted victory to Moses and Bani Isra'il over Pharaoh and we observe fast out of gratitude to Him. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (s) said: We have a closer connection with Moses than you have, and he commanded to observe fast on this day ..."

# This clearly establish the fast as Jewish invention. So, why would Nabi Muhammad _salallahu alayhi wa ahli_ followed the Jewish innovation?

# NABI MUSA?

Contrastingly, Imam al-Bukhari's version states:

Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

The Prophet (s) came to Medina and saw the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. He asked them about that. They replied, "This is a good day, the day on which Allah rescued Bani Israel from their enemy. So, Moses fasted this day ." The Prophet (s) said, "We have more claim over Moses than you." So, the Prophet fasted on that day and ordered (the Muslims) to fast (on that day).

Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2004
In-book reference : Book 30, Hadith 109 http://www.sunnah.com/bukhari/30

So, Nabi Musa fasted! Says who? The Jew.

Why would Nabi Muhammad salallahu alayhi wa ahli take the word of the Jew valid? Is there a record for it in their Torah that Nabi Musa fasted on Ashura?

" And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place; there shall no leavened bread be eaten . This day came ye out in the month of Abib ." {Ex. 13: 3-4}

# There is zero confirmation of this fasting in al-Furqan (The criterion, Quran) or a revelation to validate it despite the detailed account of Nabi Musa in the Quran. Rather, Allah says concerning the Jews and their scripture:

" And indeed, there is among them a party who alter the Scripture with their tongues so you may think it is from the Scripture, but it is not from the Scripture. And they say, “This is from Allâh,” but it is not from Allâh. And they speak untruth about Allâh while they know " {surah Âhli-Imran 3/78}

# Apart from the fasting of Ramadan which apparently made fasting of Ashura an abandoned fast, Allah declares in the same surah al-Baqarah:

" Never will the Jews and the Christians be satisfied with thee (Muhammad) unless you follow their form of religion. Say (O Muhammad) 'The guidance of God, that is the (only) Guidance.‟ Were you to follow their desires after the knowledge which has reached you, then you will neither find protector or helper against God ” {Sura al-Baqarah: 120}

* So, if at all Nabi once fasted Ashura for what the Jews claimed, then this command (and the command of fasting of Ramadan) truly render this "Jewish practice" abandoned.

# If because of the statement, "We have more claim over Moses than you ", fasting of Ashura is established, then why cant Nabi also embrace the day Manna was sent from heaven as E'id {surah al-Maidah: 112-114}, after all Nabi Eesa is more closer to Islam than Christianity?

COMMANDS OF QURAN

Quran further states in another early Madinan surah:

" He it is Who sent His Apostle with the guidance and the true religion, that He may make it overcome the religions, all of them, though the polytheists may be averse " {surah as-Saff: 9}

Indeed fasting of Ashura, if truly Nabi once enjoined it, became an abandoned fasting so also is its purported virtues.

# Imam Bukhari documents the interpretation of "abandon ترك " of Ashura fasting by a Sahabi:

Narrated Ibn `Umar:

The Prophet (s) observed the fast on the 10th of Muharram ('Ashura), and ordered (Muslims) to fast on that day, but when the fasting of the month of Ramadan was prescribed, the fasting of the 'Ashura' was abandoned. Abdullah did not use to fast on that day unless it coincided with his routine fasting by chance .

Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 1892
In-book reference : Book 30, Hadith 2 http://www.sunnah.com/bukhari/30

# We ask, why the yearly campaign of this abandoned practice?

# Why would you resurrect an abandoned practice in fasting 9th and 10th of Muharram on the premise that Nabi commanded/recommended it?

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Peace upon those who seek guidance.