175. Fasting The Ninth, Tenth AND Eleventh Of Al-Muharram

By Asma bint Shameem 

Al-Hafidh Ibn Hajar said:

“…Fasting Aashooraa comes under three categories;

*the lowest is to fast it alone*,

*better than it, is to fast the ninth day with it, and*

*the BEST is to fast the ninth AND the eleventh days with it”*

[Fath Al-Bari by Ibn Hajar (4/246)]

In other words, it’s BEST if we fast the *ninth, tenth and eleventh* of al-Muharram. 

We all know that fasting on the Day of Aashooraa (meaning the tenth of Muharram) and the day before it, is recommended. 

Ibn `Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhumaa said: 

“When the Messenger of Allah observed fast on the day of Aashooraa, and ordered Muslims to fast on it, they said to him: “O Messenger of Allaah! This is a day which both the Jews and the Christians venerate. Upon this, the Messenger of Allaah  said, “When it is the next year, In Shaa’ Allaah, we would observe fast on the ninth day (of Al-Muharram besides that day)”. But, it was not until the next year that the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam had died” 

(Saheeh Muslim 2666)

However, there are reasons why the ulama say it’s recommended to fast the eleventh as well. 

1. There’s a statement of Ibn Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhumaa that recommends fasting on the eleventh as well. 

Ibn Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhumaa said:

“Fast the day of Aashooraa, be different from Jews, fast one day before it or one day after it”

(At-Tabari in “Tahdheeb Al-Athar” (Musnad `Umar/1430); authentic by Al-Albaani as “Mawqoof”)

“Mawqoof” is a tradition attributed to a Companion.

And we all know that it’s ALL the Sahaabah are trustworthy and they would not say anything about the Deen that’s of their own thoughts.

They would only say that which was proven or approved by the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam. 

2. Also another reason to fast on the eleventh is to make sure that you have fasted on the tenth. 

That’s because sometimes there’s a mistake in the sighting of the moon.

So by fasting on the ninth, the tenth AND the eleventh, we can be SURE that we’ve fasted the day of Aashooraa. 

3. In any case, it’s good to fast as many days in Muharram as possible. 

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“The best fast after Ramadhaan is the month of Allaah, al-Muharram.” 

(Saheeh Muslim 1163)

That’s why the Salaf were keen to fast the ninth, tenth AND eleventh of al-Muharram. 

Imam Ahmad said: 

“whoever wants to fast ‘Ashooraa’ should fast on the ninth and the tenth, unless there is some uncertainty about the months, in which case he should fast for three days.” (Al-Mughni, 4/441)

Ibn Abi Shaybah reported:

“Tawoos used to fast one day before it and one day after it, for fear of missing it.” [al-Musannaf (2/313)]

Shaikh Muhammad Ali Ferkous said:

“It is also recommended to fast the day preceding Aashooraa’ which is the ninth day of the month 

al-Muharram as it is mentioned in the hadeeth of Ibn Abbaas. 

Furthermore, it is recommended to fast a day AFTER Aashooraa’, that is to say, the ELEVENTH day of the month of Al-Muharram, as it is narrated in an authentic and mawqoof text according to Ibn Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhumaa: “Fast the day of Aashooraa; be different from Jews, fast one day before it or one day after it” (Fatwa # 817)

And Shaikh Ibn Baaz said:

“One may also observe fast on *all three days*, i.e. the ninth, the tenth, and the eleventh of Muharram as is reported in some narrations: “Fast a day before (the Day of ‘Ashura’) and a day after it.”

And he said:

“fasting the ninth (of Muharram) along with the tenth is better. If one fasts the tenth along with the eleventh then that suffices due to differing from the Jews, and if one fasts them both together along with the tenth then there is no harm.”(Majmoo’ Fataawa vol 15 p.403)

And Allaah knows best.