Question: Is the fast of the ninth and tenth of Muharram recommended?

Response: The fast of the day of 'Aashooraa. (tenth day of Muharram) is recommended, as its excellence has been mentioned in (a number of) ahaadeeth.

From them, is the saying of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam): ((Certainly the fast of the day of 'Aashooraa. is regarded by Allaah as an expiation for the sins of the previous year)).

Also, when the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) arrived in Madeenah he saw the Jews fasting (on this day), so when he asked them (about this), they said: "Certainly, this is the day when Allaah made Moosaa victorious and destroyed Fir'own". So the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said: ((We have more of a right to Moosaa than you)). So he fasted (that day) and ordered it to be fasted.

As for the ninth, then it has not been confirmed that the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) fasted it, however, it has been narrated by Ibn 'Abbaass and others that the explanation (tafseer) of the day of 'Aashooraa. is that it is the ninth. And it has been narrated that he (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said: ((If I am (still) here next year, then certainly I will fast the ninth (day of Muharram))) and in (another) narration: ((along with the tenth (day of Muharram))). And he (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said: ((Differ from the Jews; fast the day before it (the ninth) or the day after it (the eleventh))).

So, this indicates that the fast of the ninth is legislated just as the tenth and it is recommended for the Muslims to increase in fasting during this month as in the saheeh hadeeth. The Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said: ((The best of fasts after (the month of) Ramadhaan is the month of Allaah which they refer to as Muharram)).

On this day, the tenth of Muharram, there occurred an incident and that was the murder of al-Husayn (radhi-yallaahu anhu). And when he was murdered that day, the Raafidhah (commonly known as the Shee'ah who are amongst those who exceed (their love for) 'Alee (Ibn Abee Taalib) and his family such as al-Hasan and al-Husayn and their children), begun an innovation on that day which still exists today. And from their innovations are lamenting (loud weeping), obsequies (gathering as if for a funeral), afflicting oneself with cuts and acts of (the days of) ignorance (before Islaam), such as striking their cheeks and ripping their pockets (clothing), tearing out of the hair, supplicating with grief and distress throughout this day every year. They circulate many ahaadeeth regarding the day of 'Aashooraa. and its misfortune (concerning al-Husayn) and these ahaadeeth are lies against the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam).

Then there was a nation called the Nawaasib, who were fanatics in contrast to the Shee'ah, who also began innovations. However, they were quite opposite to the Raafidhah. They would come out in their best garments and complete beauty and appearance, so as to irritate the Raafidhah, as they (also) circulated many ahaadeeth about the excellence of the day of 'Aashooraa, in (vast) contrast to the ahaadeeth which the Raafidhah had circulated. So, the Raafidhah say it is mentioned in the hadeeth: ((Whoever applies kohl (eyeliner - to the eyes) and beautifies (themselves) on the Day of 'Aashooraa., they are struck with ophthalmia)). And the Nawaasib say: ((Whoever applies kohl (eyeliner - to the eyes) on the Day of 'Aashooraa., their eyes will never be struck with ophthalmia)).

And like this, they innovate and lie against the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) and they act likewise. So, it is upon the Muslim not to be deceived by (any of) these (people).

Shaykh Ibn Jibreen
(Fataawa as-Siyaam, Page 94/Fatwa No.113)

Question: What is obligatory upon the Muslim to do on the day of 'Aashooraa.
(tenth day of Muharram), and is Zakaat al-Fitr obligatory (on that day)?

Response: It is legislated for the Muslim to fast on the day of 'Aashooraa, for that which has been confirmed that the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) ordered fasting on (the day of) 'Aashooraa., however, when (the fasting of) Ramadhaan was obligated, whoever preferred to fast ('Aashooraa.) did so and whoever preferred not to (do so) did not. And there is no Zakaat al-Fitr (to be paid) on the day of 'Aashooraa. as there is on 'Eed al-Fitr after the month of Ramadhaan. And with Allaah is the success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa-sallam) and his family and his companions.

The Permanent Committee for Academic Research and Fataawa, comprising
Head of the Committee: Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez ibn Abdullaah ibn Baaz;
Deputy Head of the Committee: Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Ghudayyan
Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa., Volume 10/Page 400/Fatwa No.10962

The Permanent Committee for Academic Research and Fataawa, comprising -
Head of the Committee: Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez ibn Abdullaah ibn Baaz;
Deputy Head of the Committee: Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Ghudayyaan
Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa., Volume 10/Page 401/Fatwa No.13700

Question: What is the ruling regarding the one who has days of fasting remaining from the month of Ramadhaan yet wishes to fast voluntary fasts or fast the day of 'Aashooraa. (tenth day of Muharram)? For example, he wants to fast both the tenth and eleventh days with the intention of making up (the missed fasts of Ramadhaan) and not the fast of the day of 'Aashooraa. Also, is it permissible for one to fast the day of 'Aashooraa, even if he has fasts to make up from the month of Ramadhaan? And is it permissible for one who has days to make up from Ramadhaan to fast the Day of 'Aashooraa. and the day before it or the day after it, with the intention of making up (what he has missed)?

Response: He should not do the voluntary fast whilst he has a day or days to make up from Ramadhaan. Rather, he should begin by making up that which he has (outstanding) from Ramadhaan, then do the voluntary fast. Secondly, if he fasted the tenth and eleventh days of the month of Muharram with the intention of making up that which he has (outstanding) from the days he did not fast in the month of Ramadhaan, then that is permissible and sufficient in making up two days from that which he has outstanding; For that which the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said: ((The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended,...)). And with Allaah is the success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa-sallam) and his family and his companions.

The Permanent Committee for Academic Research and Fataawa, comprising -
Head of the Committee: Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez ibn Abdullaah ibn Baaz;
Deputy Head of the Committee: Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Ghudayyaan;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah Ibn Qu'ood
Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa., Volume 10/Page 401/Fatwa No.6774