The wisdom behind fasting also a day before or a day after Ashura, and the ruling on fasting it alone
Question:
"Regarding the ruling on singling out 'Ashura' with fasting; is it incumbent upon the individual to fast also a day before it or a day after it, and what is the wisdom behind that?"
Answer:
"Ibn-ul-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy upon him) mentions (in his book) 'Zaad-ul-Ma'ad fee Hadyi Khayr-il-'Ibaad', that fasting the Day of 'Ashura' is of three categories:
However the Prophet, may peace and blessings be upon him, said:
"Differ from the Jews!"[1]
...because the Jews fast the Day of 'Ashura' and they say that it is the day on which Allah gave honor to Musa (may peace be upon him) and his people. And on it He destroyed Fir'aun (Pharaoh) and his people, therefore they would fast it. So the Prophet, may peace and blessings be upon him said:
"We are closer (are more entitled) to Musa than you!"[2]
And thus he, may peace and blessings be upon him, fasted it and ordered with fasting it together with a day before or a day after it in order to differ from the Jews. Yes."
Footnotes by translator:
[1] Reported by Abu Dawood and declared saheeh by Al-Albaanee.
[2] Hadeeth of 'Abdullah Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with both. Al-Munthiree said: reported by Bukhaaree, Muslim, Nasaa'i and Ibn Maajah.
Shaykh Saalih bin Fawzaan Al-Fawzaan, may Allah preserve him
Translated by 'Abdurrahīm Ibn Muhammad Al-Hadhramī.
Published on Salafi-Dawah.com.
Source: www.alfawzan.af.org.sa [Click here for screenshot in PDF format]
Use the player below or download the MP3 here.
"Regarding the ruling on singling out 'Ashura' with fasting; is it incumbent upon the individual to fast also a day before it or a day after it, and what is the wisdom behind that?"
Answer:
"Ibn-ul-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy upon him) mentions (in his book) 'Zaad-ul-Ma'ad fee Hadyi Khayr-il-'Ibaad', that fasting the Day of 'Ashura' is of three categories:
- The first category, and it is the best of them, is to fast all three days; the ninth, the tenth ('Ashura') and the eleventh, that is the best of them.
- Followed by (i.e.the next best is) fasting the ninth and the tenth.
- Then followed by fasting the tenth and the eleventh.
However the Prophet, may peace and blessings be upon him, said:
"Differ from the Jews!"[1]
...because the Jews fast the Day of 'Ashura' and they say that it is the day on which Allah gave honor to Musa (may peace be upon him) and his people. And on it He destroyed Fir'aun (Pharaoh) and his people, therefore they would fast it. So the Prophet, may peace and blessings be upon him said:
"We are closer (are more entitled) to Musa than you!"[2]
And thus he, may peace and blessings be upon him, fasted it and ordered with fasting it together with a day before or a day after it in order to differ from the Jews. Yes."
Footnotes by translator:
[1] Reported by Abu Dawood and declared saheeh by Al-Albaanee.
[2] Hadeeth of 'Abdullah Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with both. Al-Munthiree said: reported by Bukhaaree, Muslim, Nasaa'i and Ibn Maajah.
Shaykh Saalih bin Fawzaan Al-Fawzaan, may Allah preserve him
Translated by 'Abdurrahīm Ibn Muhammad Al-Hadhramī.
Published on Salafi-Dawah.com.
Source: www.alfawzan.af.org.sa [Click here for screenshot in PDF format]
Use the player below or download the MP3 here.
السؤال: حكم إفراد عاشوراء بالصيام، وهل يلزم الإنسان أن يصوم قبله يومًا أو بعد يومًا، وما الحكمة من ذلك؟
الجواب: ذكر ابن القيم - رحمه الله - في زاد المعاد في هدي خير العباد أن صيام يوم عاشوراء على ثلاثة أقسام: القسم الأول وهو أفضلها: أن تُصام الأيام الثلاثة؛ اليوم التاسع والعاشر والحادي عشرهذا أفضلها، ثم يليه: أن يُصام اليوم التاسع والعاشر، ثم يليه: أن يُصام اليوم العاشر واليوم الحادي عشر، كلها ولله الحمد فيها فضلٌ عظيمٌ . ولو أنه أفرد يوم عاشوراء وصامه وحده، هذا جائز ولكن النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَال: « خَالِفُوا الْيَهُودَ» لأن اليهود يصومون يوم عاشوراء ويقولون أنه يومٌ أعزَّ الله فيه مُوسَى - عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ - وقومه وأهلك فيه فرعون وقومه، فكانوا يصومونه فقَالَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: نَحْنُ أَوْلَى بِمُوسَى مِنْكُمْ فصامه وأمر بصيامه مع صوم يومٍ قبله أو يومٍ بعده مخالفةً لليهود. نعم
الجواب: ذكر ابن القيم - رحمه الله - في زاد المعاد في هدي خير العباد أن صيام يوم عاشوراء على ثلاثة أقسام: القسم الأول وهو أفضلها: أن تُصام الأيام الثلاثة؛ اليوم التاسع والعاشر والحادي عشرهذا أفضلها، ثم يليه: أن يُصام اليوم التاسع والعاشر، ثم يليه: أن يُصام اليوم العاشر واليوم الحادي عشر، كلها ولله الحمد فيها فضلٌ عظيمٌ . ولو أنه أفرد يوم عاشوراء وصامه وحده، هذا جائز ولكن النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَال: « خَالِفُوا الْيَهُودَ» لأن اليهود يصومون يوم عاشوراء ويقولون أنه يومٌ أعزَّ الله فيه مُوسَى - عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ - وقومه وأهلك فيه فرعون وقومه، فكانوا يصومونه فقَالَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: نَحْنُ أَوْلَى بِمُوسَى مِنْكُمْ فصامه وأمر بصيامه مع صوم يومٍ قبله أو يومٍ بعده مخالفةً لليهود. نعم