“FOR FASTING THE day of ʿAshura, I hope that Allah will accept it as expiation for the year that came before,” said our beloved Prophet ﷺ (Ibn Majah)
As the sacred day of ʿAshura draws near, many of us prepare to fast on the 9th (Tasu’a) and 10th of Muharram, seeking the immense reward of having the past year’s sins forgiven.
Yet, as with any act of worship, its value increases when it is rooted in understanding. To truly benefit from the fast of ‘Ashura, we should reflect on its deeper significance, both spiritually and historically.
1. Reclaiming Musa (as)
“The Prophet ﷺ came to Madinah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of ʿAshura. He asked, ‘What is this?’ They replied: ‘This is a righteous day—it is the day when Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy, so Musa fasted on this day.’ The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘We have more right to Musa than you,’ so he fasted on that day and instructed the Muslims to do so as well.” (Bukhari)
The core of ʿAshura is about reclaiming the legacy of Musa (as) as part of our ummah’s spiritual heritage. He is one of the greatest prophets, whose life and struggles are intimately connected to our own journey as believers.
The Prophet ﷺ showed great respect for Musa (as). When a companion debated a Jew about Muhammad ﷺ being better than Musa (as), the Prophet ﷺ replied humbly: “Do not prefer me over Musa. On the Day of Resurrection, people will fall unconscious, and I will be among them. I will be the first to regain consciousness, and I will see Musa holding onto the Throne. I do not know if he was among those who fainted and then regained consciousness before me, or if he was exempted by Allah.” (Bukhari)
Musa (as) is the most frequently mentioned individual in the Qur’an—named 136 times—appearing from the first juz (surah al-Baqarah) to the last (surah al-‘Ala). His story is deeply woven into the fabric of our deen. Even our daily prayer has a connection to him: it was Musa (as) who advised our Prophet ﷺ during the Miʿraj to ask Allah for a reduction in the number of daily prayers—from fifty to five.
Just as the days of Dhul Hijjah invite us to reflect on the life and sacrifice of Ibrahim (as), the days of ‘Ashura calls us to revisit the life of Musa (as). What traits made him deserving of Allah’s help? What lessons lie in his struggles and triumphs? Why is his story so central to the Qur’an and to us? We will look at some of these traits in the following days.
2. A Distinct Ummah
The Sunnah encourages fasting for two days for ʿAshura. This is based on a narration where the Prophet ﷺ fasted on the 10th and said: “If I live until next year, I will also fast on the 9th.” (Muslim)
Though he passed away before the following year, his intent set a precedent—to distinguish the Muslim practice from that of the Jews.
This desire for distinction is a recurring theme in our tradition. For instance, during the time of Umar (ra), the companions established the Islamic calendar starting from the Hijrah, setting our history apart. Similarly, during Hajj, although many rites trace back to Ibrahim (as), the Prophet ﷺ introduced unique elements—such as men uncovering their shoulders and jogging during tawaf—to assert the strength and identity of the Muslim ummah before the Quraysh.
We fast on ʿAshura as previous nations did, but we do so with greater clarity and distinctiveness—fasting on both the 9th and 10th.
This distinctiveness matters more than ever today when Islam is often reduced in society to just another religion—stripped of its comprehensive world view and truth. Understanding the deeper meaning behind our rituals should deepen our pride in being Muslim and strengthen our confidence in the timeless relevance of our deen.
