Ashura: The Blessed Tenth Day of Muharram
Ashura is one of the most blessed days of the Islamic year, the tenth day of the sacred month of Muharram. It is a day rich with meaning, commemorating the great mercy by which Allah saved the Prophet Musa and his people from Pharaoh, and a day the Prophet (pbuh) honoured with fasting. Fasting on this day is said to wipe away the sins of the past year, making it a precious opportunity for forgiveness so early in the Hijri calendar. In this guide we explore what it is, its history, and the beautiful things every believer should know about this rewarding day.
The Quran recounts how Allah parted the sea and delivered Musa and his people, drowning Pharaoh and his army before their very eyes.
وَإِذۡ فَرَقۡنَا بِكُمُ ٱلۡبَحۡرَ فَأَنجَيۡنَٰكُمۡ وَأَغۡرَقۡنَآ ءَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَأَنتُمۡ تَنظُرُونَ
“And when We parted the sea for you and saved you and drowned the people of Pharaoh while you were looking on.”
What Is Ashura?
Ashura is the tenth day of Muharram, the first and one of the most sacred months of the Islamic year. The name itself comes from the Arabic word for ten, marking the day’s place in the month. It is a day of fasting and remembrance, observed by the Prophet (pbuh) and the believers as an act of gratitude to Allah.
Its significance reaches back through the prophets. The day commemorates how Allah rescued the Prophet Musa and the Children of Israel from the tyranny of Pharaoh, parting the sea for their escape. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) fasted on this day and encouraged the believers to do the same, in thankfulness for that great deliverance.
6 Beautiful Things to Know About Ashura
This blessed day holds deep meaning and reward. Here are six beautiful things to know about the day of Ashura:
- It falls on the tenth of the sacred month of Muharram.
- It commemorates the rescue of Musa and his people from Pharaoh.
- The Prophet fasted it and encouraged the believers to do the same.
- Fasting it is said to expiate the sins of the previous year.
- Fasting the ninth as well is recommended to follow the full Sunnah.
- It is a day of gratitude to Allah for His mercy and deliverance.
The Deliverance of Musa in the Quran
The story behind the day is told powerfully in the Quran, including in Surah Al-Baqarah, where Allah recalls how He parted the sea, saved Musa and his followers, and drowned Pharaoh’s army. When the Prophet (pbuh) came to Madinah, he found the Jewish community fasting on this day in memory of that salvation and declared that he had more right to Musa than they, fasting it himself.
And recall when We parted the sea for you and saved you from the people of Pharaoh while they drowned before your very eyes
Why Ashura Matters
The day matters because it is a rare and easy opportunity for great reward. The Prophet (pbuh) said that fasting on this day expiates the sins of the year that has passed, an immense mercy for a single day of worship at the start of the Hijri year. It is also a day that connects the believer to the long chain of prophets and the constant theme of Allah delivering the faithful.
Beyond the reward, the day teaches gratitude. Fasting in remembrance of Musa’s salvation reminds the believer that Allah is the protector of those who trust in Him, and that even in the face of the mightiest tyranny, His help is never far for those who remain patient and faithful.
Fasting the day of Ashura expiates the sins of the past year a mercy from Allah for a single day of worship
The History Behind the Day
The roots of this day stretch back to one of the greatest moments of deliverance in human history. The Prophet Musa, sent to free the Children of Israel from the oppression of Pharaoh, was pursued to the edge of the sea, where by the command of Allah the waters parted and his people crossed to safety. Pharaoh and his army, following in arrogance, were drowned, and Musa fasted in gratitude for this salvation.
The Sunnah of Fasting on Ashura
Fasting is the central worship of the day, a Sunnah firmly established by the Prophet (pbuh). He fasted on the tenth and intended, before his passing, to also fast the ninth in order to distinguish the practice of the believers. Following this guidance, many fast both the ninth and the tenth, embracing the full Sunnah and multiplying the reward of fasting in Islam.
Fasting the Ninth and Tenth
To complete the Sunnah, the Prophet (pbuh) recommended fasting the ninth day alongside the tenth. Toward the end of his life he said that if he lived to the next year, he would fast the ninth as well. The believer therefore fasts both days where they are able, or at the very least the tenth, gaining the great reward promised for this blessed day.
A Day of Gratitude and Mercy
At its heart, the day is about thankfulness to Allah. Musa fasted in gratitude for the rescue of his people, and the believer fasts in the same spirit, recognising the countless ways Allah delivers and protects His servants. It is a day to reflect on Allah’s mercy, to give thanks for His blessings, and to renew trust in His care and protection.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
To observe the day in keeping with the Sunnah, it helps to avoid the following:
- Letting the day pass without fasting or any extra worship.
- Adding customs and rituals that have no basis in the Sunnah.
- Treating the day as one of sorrow rather than gratitude and worship.
- Forgetting the recommendation to fast the ninth alongside the tenth.
- Overlooking the wider blessings of the sacred month of Muharram.
Observing Ashura with Sincerity
The believer honours the day best through sincere, simple worship: fasting for the sake of Allah, making dua, giving thanks, and reflecting on His mercy. Keeping the worship rooted in the Sunnah, free of invented practices, ensures the day brings the great reward intended for it and draws the heart closer to Allah at the very start of the year.
Following Musa in Gratitude
When the Prophet (pbuh) arrived in Madinah and found the Jewish community fasting on this day in memory of the deliverance of Musa, he affirmed the practice and said that he and the believers had more right to Musa than they did. He then fasted the day and instructed the believers to do the same, honouring a great prophet and the mercy of Allah that saved his people.
This teaches the believer that the prophets share a single message and a single Lord, and that honouring the deliverance of Musa is part of honouring the long chain of faith that leads to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) himself.
We are closer to Musa than you are so the Prophet fasted the day and ordered the believers to fast it
The Reward of a Single Day
Few acts of worship offer such reward for so little effort. A single day of fasting, undertaken with sincerity, is a means by which Allah wipes away the sins of an entire year. This generosity at the very start of the Hijri calendar fills the believer with hope and gives the year a clean and blessed beginning. It is a mercy not to be missed by anyone able to fast.
Across the world, believers seize this opportunity each year, fasting the ninth and tenth together in the spirit of the Sunnah. Joining this global act of worship connects the believer to the wider community and to the constant theme of gratitude for the deliverance Allah grants the faithful.
On this single day believers around the world fast together in gratitude to Allah and hope for His forgiveness
Lessons Ashura Teaches Us
The blessed tenth day teaches the believer gratitude, trust in Allah’s help, and the value of following the Sunnah. It reminds us that Allah is the deliverer of the faithful, that a single day of worship can wipe away a year of sins, and that patience and faith are always met by the mercy of our Creator.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ashura
Ashura is the tenth day of Muharram, a blessed day of fasting that commemorates Allah saving the Prophet Musa and his people from Pharaoh. The Prophet (pbuh) fasted it and encouraged the believers to do the same.
Muslims fast on Ashura in gratitude for the deliverance of Musa and following the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh), who said that fasting it expiates the sins of the past year.
Ashura falls on the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. Many also fast the ninth day alongside it to follow the complete Sunnah.
The Prophet (pbuh) said that fasting the day of Ashura expiates the sins of the previous year, making it a precious and easy opportunity for forgiveness.
Yes, fasting the ninth alongside the tenth follows the full Sunnah. The Prophet (pbuh) intended to fast the ninth as well, so believers fast both days where they are able.
Ashura commemorates the great mercy by which Allah parted the sea, saved the Prophet Musa and his people, and drowned Pharaoh, a day Musa himself fasted in gratitude.
Embracing the Blessings of Ashura
Ashura is a beautiful day of gratitude and forgiveness, recalling how Allah delivered the Prophet Musa and his people from Pharaoh. By fasting the ninth and tenth, giving thanks, and observing the day in sincere keeping with the Sunnah, the believer earns immense reward at the start of the Hijri year. May Allah accept your fasting and forgive the sins of the year that has passed.