Fasting on the 9th and 11th of Muharram

 Fasting on the 9th and 11th of Muharram

Along with fasting on the 10th of Muḥarram, we should try to fast on the 9th and 11th as well due to the following narrations:

ʿAbdullāh b. ʿAbbās (radiy Allāhu ʿanhumā) said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘If I live to see the next year, if Allah wills, we will fast on the 9th day too (alongside the 10th Muḥarram).’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed away before the next year came.” (Muslim 1134)

He ﷺ also said, “Fast the Day of ʿĀshūrā’, and be different from the Jews by fasting a day before it or a day after it.” (Aḥmad 2155, Ibn Khuzaymah 2095)

On this basis it may be said that there are varying degrees of fasting ʿĀshūrā’, the least of which is to fast only on the 10th and the best of which is to fast the 9th, 10th and 11th. The more one fasts in Muḥarram, the better it is.

Option 1: (and this is the best option): Fast the 9th, 10th and 11th

Option 2: Fast the 9th and 10th

Option 3: Fast the 10th and 11th

Option 4: Fast only the 10th

There are three levels of fasting on ‘Āshūrā’:

1. Fasting on the 9th, 10th and 11th which is the most complete.

2. Fasting on the 9th and 10th

3. Fasting only on the 10th.

(Ibn Ḥajar & Ibn al-Qayyim)