“All praise is to Allah. We praise him, we seek His help, His forgiveness, and we seek refuge in Allah from the evil within ourselves and of our actions. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide him. Whomsoever Allah leads astray, none can guide him.
I testify there is no God but Allah alone, without any partners, and that Muhammad, ﷺ, is His servant and messenger.”
Welcome to the Friday Khutbah! A series on the AlMaghrib Journal based on sermons delivered by our esteemed instructors! We hope you find it beneficial!
The Islamic calendar begins with the sacred month of Muharram, one of the four inviolable months honored even before Islam.
This sanctity is inherited from the pure monotheistic tradition of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) and his son Ismail (A.S). The Arab tribes used to show special reverence to Muharram, including the tradition of renewing the cloth (kiswah) of the Ka‘bah during this month.
The Prophet ﷺ emphasized the importance of this month. He said:
“The best fasting after the month of Ramadan is in the month of Allah, Al-Muharram.”
[Sahih Muslim]
Though some narrations mention that Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) indicated the Prophet ﷺ fasted frequently in Muharram, the most reliably documented practice is his fasting on the tenth day of Muharram, known as ‘Ashura, and expressing his intention to add the ninth day the following year. He said:
“If I live until next year, I will fast the ninth as well.”
[Sahih Muslim]
Sadly, the Prophet ﷺ passed away before the following Muharram.
The Reward of Fasting on ‘Ashura
Fasting on the day of ‘Ashura is highly recommended. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Fasting the day of ‘Ashura, I hope from Allah, will expiate the sins of the previous year.”
[Sahih Muslim]
According to Ibn Al-Qayyim (rahimahullah), the best method of fasting is to fast the ninth, tenth, and eleventh of Muharram, based on a narration collected by Imam Al-Daraqutni. Shaykh Ibn Baz (rahimahullah) also favored this view. However, the ‘Ulema (scholars) differ on the authenticity of the narration about fasting the eleventh. Some of the ‘Ulema hold that fasting the ninth and tenth is best, following the Prophet’s ﷺ expressed wish.
If a person cannot fast two or three days, then fasting only the tenth is still meritorious.
What if it falls on Friday?
In cases where ‘Ashura falls on a Friday, it is preferable to fast an additional day before or after it, in accordance with the Prophet’s ﷺ guidance:
“Do not single out Friday for fasting unless you fast a day before or a day after it.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim]
However, if one is unable to fast an extra day, it is still permitted to fast Friday alone due to the specific virtue of ‘Ashura.
As explained by the scholars, the prohibition refers to voluntary fasts done without specific reason, whereas ‘Ashura is a fast of clear purpose and reward.
The Prophet’s ﷺ Emphasis on Fasting ‘Ashura
The Prophet ﷺ not only fasted ‘Ashura but also encouraged others to do so as well.
Ar-Rubayyi‘ bint Mu‘awwad (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent messengers on the morning of ‘Ashura to the villages around Medina saying: ‘Whoever has started fasting, let him complete his fast; and whoever has eaten, let him refrain (from eating) for the rest of the day.'”
She added that after this command, they took great care to fast ‘Ashura and even encouraged their young children to do so. They would keep the children busy with woolen toys until sunset, teaching them the importance of fasting from an early age.
Even during travel, where it is permissible to break the fast in Ramadan, many of the Salaf, such as Ibn Abbas and Az-Zuhri, would fast on ‘Ashura. When asked why they would fast while traveling on ‘Ashura but break the fast in Ramadan, they replied:
“We can make up for the fasts of Ramadan, but not for ‘‘Ashura”
The True Reason Behind Fasting ‘Ashura
The day of ‘Ashura also connects the Muslim ummah to its prophetic heritage. When the Prophet ﷺ arrived in Medina, he found the Jews fasting on ‘Ashura. Upon inquiry, they responded:
“This is a righteous day. It is the day Allah saved Musa and the Children of Isra’il from Pharaoh. Musa fasted it in gratitude.”
The Prophet ﷺ then said:
“We are more entitled to Musa than they are,” and he fasted it and encouraged others to fast.
Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim
This is the prophetic way: to show gratitude to Allah for His divine victories and mercies by worship, not cultural rituals or innovations. Fasting, remembrance of Allah (dhikr), and charity are the true forms of celebration.
Lessons from the Story of Musa (A.S)
The story of Prophet Musa is the most frequently mentioned in the Quran, appearing in 136 verses across 34 surahs. This repeated emphasis reminds believers of the timeless struggle between truth and falsehood, justice and oppression.
‘Ashura marks the day Allah granted victory to Prophet Musa and his followers and destroyed the tyrant Pharaoh and his army. It is a moment that signifies hope for the oppressed and a reminder that divine justice will always prevail.
“And We wanted to favor those who were oppressed in the land and make them leaders and inheritors. And establish them in the land, and show Pharaoh, Haman, and their soldiers what they feared from them.”
[Quran, 28:5–6]
Conclusion: A Day of Gratitude and Worship
‘Ashura is not simply a historical memory or a day of sorrow—it is a day of victory, gratitude, reflection, and commitment to truth. The Prophet ﷺ taught us to celebrate by drawing nearer to Allah, through fasting and good deeds.
Let us honor this day by reviving the Sunnah, refraining from innovation, and embodying the lessons of patience, faith, and righteousness. As the Prophet ﷺ intended, we align ourselves not only with his mission but with that of the great prophets before him, especially Musa (A.S).
May Allah accept our fasting, purify our intentions, and keep us steadfast upon Islam until our final breath.
“…And the best outcome is for the righteous.”
[Quran, 7:128]
وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ وَبَارَكَ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ
