Ashura (عاشوراء) refers to the 10th day of Muharram. The word comes from the Arabic ‘ashara (عشرة), meaning "ten." This day holds deep significance across Islamic tradition as a day when Allah saved Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) and the Children of Israel from Pharaoh. This day connects Muslims to the wider Abrahamic tradition shared with Judaism and Christianity.
The story behind Ashura
When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) arrived in Madinah (the city he migrated to from Makkah), he found the Jewish community fasting on this day. He asked about it, and they said it was the day God saved Moses and his people from Pharaoh by parting the sea. The Prophet (peace be upon him) responded: "We are closer to Musa than you." He then fasted on that day and instructed the Muslims to fast. (Sahih al-Bukhari 2004) [Hadith = the recorded sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).]
نَحْنُ أَحَقُّ بِمُوسَى مِنْكُمْ
We are closer to Musa than you.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2004
Fasting on Ashura
Fasting on the Day of Ashura is a strongly recommended practice. The Prophet (peace be upon him) described its reward: "Fasting the Day of Ashura, I hope that Allah will accept it as expiation for the previous year." (Sahih Muslim 1162)
صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ
Fasting the Day of Ashura, I hope that Allah will accept it as expiation for the previous year.
Sahih Muslim 1162
Muslims understand fasting on this day as a kind of spiritual reset, wiping away minor sins of the past year. Scholars note that this beautiful promise of expiation refers to everyday shortcomings. Major mistakes still require sincere repentance (tawbah — turning back to God), trusting in His endless forgiveness.
Which days to fast
The Prophet (peace be upon him) expressed the intention to fast the 9th of Muharram alongside the 10th: "If I live until next year, I will fast the ninth day (alongside the tenth)." (Sahih Muslim 1134)
لَئِنْ بَقِيتُ إِلَى قَابِلٍ لأَصُومَنَّ التَّاسِعَ
If I live until next year, I will fast the ninth day (alongside the tenth).
Sahih Muslim 1134
He passed away before the following Muharram, but scholars have taken this as a clear indication of his preference.
Scholarly positions on the recommended combination
Islamic law has four traditional Sunni schools of legal thought (Hanafi, Shafi’i, Maliki, and Hanbali), each with their own scholarly tradition. They agree on fundamentals but differ on some details.
All four Sunni schools agree that fasting the 10th of Muharram alone is a valid and rewarded practice. They differ on the recommended combination:
- Preferred by the majority (Hanafi, Shafi’i, Hanbali): fast the 9th and 10th together. This is based on the hadith above expressing the Prophet’s intention (peace be upon him), and serves to distinguish Muslim practice from that of other communities.
- The Hanafi school considers it mildly disliked to fast the 10th alone without adding the 9th or the 11th, based on the principle of differing from other religious communities. However, the fast itself remains valid and rewarded even if observed alone.
- The Maliki school permits fasting the 10th alone without any dislike, viewing the hadith about adding the 9th as a recommendation rather than a condition.
- Some scholars (such as Ibn al-Qayyim) recommend fasting the 9th, 10th, and 11th to maximise reward and as a safeguard in case of errors in moon sighting.
The simplest practice: fast the 9th and 10th of Muharram. If you can only fast one day, the 10th alone is sufficient and rewarded in all schools.
What Ashura is not
Ashura is a day of gratitude and fasting. It is not a day of mourning, celebration, or festival in mainstream Sunni practice. There are no authentic Sunnah practices for this day beyond fasting — no special prayers, foods, or gatherings have been reliably reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him).
The wider context for the Day of Ashura — why this month is sacred and what fasting in it means.