The virtue of fasting ‘Ashoora’

I heard that fasting the day of ‘Ashoora’ expiates for the past


year, is this true?


Does it expiate for everything, even major sins? What is the


reason for venerating this day?.


Praise be to Allaah.


Firstly:


Fasting the day of ‘Ashoora’ does expiate for the past year,


because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)


said: “Fasting the day of ‘Arafah I hope Allaah will expiate


thereby for the year before it and the year after it, and fasting the


day of ‘Ashoora’ I hope Allaah will expiate thereby for the year


that came before it.” Narrated by Muslim, 1162. This is by the


bounty that Allaah bestows upon us, whereby fasting one day


expiates for the sins of a whole year. And Allaah is the Owner of


great bounty.


The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used


to be very keen to make sure he fasted on the day of ‘Ashoora’


because of its great status. It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may


Allaah be pleased with him) said: I never saw the Prophet (peace


and blessings of Allaah be upon him) so keen to make sure he


fasted any day and preferring it over another except this day, the


day of ‘Ashoora’, and this month – meaning Ramadaan. Narrated


by al-Bukhaari, 1867.


What is meant by being keen to make sure he fasted it is so as


to earn its reward.


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Secondly:


With regard to the reason why the Prophet (peace and blessings


of Allaah be upon him) fasted on the day of ‘Ashoora’ and urged


the people to do likewise is mentioned in the hadeeth narrated by


al-Bukhaari (1865) from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with


him), who said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be


upon him) came to Madeenah and saw the Jews fasting on the day


of ‘Ashoora’. He said, “What is this?” They said, “This is a good


day, this is the day when Allaah saved the Children of Israel from


their enemy and Moosa fasted on this day.” He said, “We are


closer to Moosa than you.” So he fasted on this day and told the


people to fast.


The words “this is a good day” – according to a version


narrated by Muslim, “This is a great day when Allaah saved


Moosa and his people and drowned Pharaoh and his people.”


The words “so Moosa fasted on this day” – Muslim added in


his report: “In gratitude to Allaah, so that is we fast on this day.”


According to another version narrated by al-Bukhaari, “So we


fast it out of respect for it.”


The words “and told the people to fast” – according to another


version narrated by al-Bukhaari, “He said to his companions, ‘You


are closer to Moosa than them, so fast this day.”


Thirdly:


The expiation of sins that is achieved by fasting ‘Ashoora’


refers to minor sins; with regard to major sins, they need separate


repentance.


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Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:


Fasting the day of ‘Arafaah expiates for all minor sins, in othr


words this brings forgiveness for all sins except for major sins.


Then he said:


Fasting the day of ‘Arafaah is an expiation for two years, and


the day of ‘Ashoora is an expiation for one year, and if a person’s


Ameen coincides with the Ameen of the angels, his previous sins


will be forgiven… Each of the things mentioned may bring


expiation. If he does something that expiates for minor sins he will


be expiated, and if there are no minor or major sins, it will be


recorded for him as good deeds and he will rise in status thereby…


If there is one or more major sins and no minor sins, we hope that


it will reduce his major sins. Al-Majmoo’ Sharh al-Muhadhdhab,


part 6.


Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on


him) said: The expiation of purification, prayer, and fasting


Ramadaan, ‘Arafah and ‘Ashoora’ applies to minor sins only. Al-


Fataawa al-Kubra, part 5.