Ashura: Is it better to fast the day before it or the day after?

Question: What is the ruling on fasting the day of Ashura, and is it better to fast the day before it or the day after it? Or should one fast all of them? Or should one fast only the day of Ashura? We ask for clarification on this. May Allah reward you with good.

Answer: Fasting the day of Ashura is a recommended practice (sunnah); this is based on what is established in the authentic hadiths from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) indicating this, and that it was a day the Jews used to fast because Allah saved Musa and his people in it and destroyed Fir'awn and his people. So our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) fasted it as thanks to Allah, and he commanded its fasting and legislated for us to fast a day before it or a day after it. Fasting the ninth along with the tenth is better, and if one fasts the tenth along with the eleventh, that suffices, in order to differ from the Jews. And if one fasts both of them along with the tenth, there is no harm; this is based on what came in some narrations: . As for fasting it alone, it is disliked (makruh). And success is from Allah.