If a man fasts only the day of 'Ashura and does not fast the day before or the day after, does he receive the reward?
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The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : If a person fasts only 'Ashura, does he obtain the reward of expiating a full year?
The Shaykh : The questioner asks: If a man fasts only 'Ashura and does not fast the day before or the day after, does he receive the reward? The answer is: Yes, he receives the reward, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about fasting 'Ashura and said:Musannaf Abd al-Razzaq 9:511 However, we advise him not to fast it alone, not to fast only 'Ashura, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Bulugh al-Maram 5:41, and he said: Sahih Muslim 1134b meaning: along with the tenth, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away before he reached it.
The scholars said: Fasting 'Ashura has categories:
The first is to fast the ninth, the tenth, and the eleventh; this is the best thing.
The second is to fast the tenth and the eleventh, and this is sufficient, meaning it corresponds to what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded in his saying:Bulugh al-Maram 5:41.
The third is to fast the ninth and the tenth, and this is better. Meaning, if someone were to say: Should I fast the tenth and the eleventh, or the ninth and the tenth? We would say: The ninth and the tenth is better. All of these are permissible and there is no dislike in them.
The fourth category is to fast it alone; some scholars disliked this because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Bulugh al-Maram 5:41.
The Shaykh : The questioner asks: If a man fasts only 'Ashura and does not fast the day before or the day after, does he receive the reward? The answer is: Yes, he receives the reward, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about fasting 'Ashura and said:
It expiates the year before it.
يكفر السنة التي قبلهاAbu Hurairah, narrated that The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “None of you should fast on Friday, unless he fasts together with the day before or the day after.” Agreed upon.
خالفوا اليهود صوموا يوماً قبله أو يوماً بعدهIf I live till the next (year), I would definitely observe fast on the 9th
لأن بقيت إلى قابل لأصومن التاسعThe scholars said: Fasting 'Ashura has categories:
The first is to fast the ninth, the tenth, and the eleventh; this is the best thing.
The second is to fast the tenth and the eleventh, and this is sufficient, meaning it corresponds to what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded in his saying:
fasts together with the day before or the day after
صوموا يوماً قبله أو يوماً بعدهThe third is to fast the ninth and the tenth, and this is better. Meaning, if someone were to say: Should I fast the tenth and the eleventh, or the ninth and the tenth? We would say: The ninth and the tenth is better. All of these are permissible and there is no dislike in them.
The fourth category is to fast it alone; some scholars disliked this because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: