Islamic Ruling on Asyura Fast on 10 Muharram According to Hadith

The observance of the Asyura fast on the 10th of Muharram is a voluntary act of worship in Islam, with its practice rooted in pre-Islamic traditions. According to hadiths recorded in Sahih Muslim, the decision to fast on this day is left to the individual Muslim.

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On the day of Asyura, people of Quraysh used to fast in the Jahiliyyah period. When Islam came, whoever wished could fast on it, and whoever wished could leave it.

One narration from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) states that people used to fast on the day of Asyura during the Jahiliyyah period (pre-Islamic era). When Islam arrived, Muslims were given the choice to fast or not fast on Asyura. This indicates that the practice was recognized but not mandated by the early Islamic community.

Another hadith, also from Aisha, further clarifies the status of the Asyura fast. It mentions that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) initially commanded the fasting of Asyura. However, after the obligation of fasting during Ramadan was instituted, the Prophet allowed Muslims the option to fast on Asyura or to break their fast.

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The Messenger of Allah commanded to fast on the day of Asyura. When Ramadan became obligatory, whoever wished fasted on the day of Asyura, and whoever wished broke his fast.

Imam Muslim also recorded a hadith from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) where the Prophet Muhammad stated that Asyura was a day that the people of Jahiliyyah used to fast. He then added that whoever wished to fast on that day was welcome to do so, and whoever did not wish to fast was also permitted not to. This reinforces the voluntary nature of the Asyura fast in Islamic practice.

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It is a day on which the people of Jahiliyyah used to fast, so whoever among you likes to fast on this day, let him fast, and whoever likes to skip it, let him skip it.