Category: Q n A

Abdullah b. Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that the day of ‘Ashura was mentioned before the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he narrated a hadith like one (narrated above).

It is a day when the people in the pre-Islamic days need to observe fast, so he who wishes to observe fast should do so, and he who wishes to abandon it should do so.

When al-Ash’ath b. Qais entered the house of ‘Abdullah he was having his breakfast. He (‘Abdullah b. Umar) said: Abd Muhammad (al-Asha’th), come near to the breakfast. Thereupon he said: Is not today the day of ‘Ashura? He (‘Abd al-Rahman) said: Do you know what the day of ‘Ashura is? He said: What is it? He said: It is a day on which the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe fast before the (fasting) in the month of Ramadan (became) obligatory. But when it became obligatory the (fasting of ‘Ashura) was abandoned (as compulsory). Abu Kuraib said: He (the Holy Prophet) abandoned it.

When (fasting) in Ramadan was (made) obligatory, he abandoned it (the practice of observing fast on Ashura).

Abu Muhammad, come near and dine. Upon this he said: I am fasting. Thereupon he said: We used to observe fast and then (this practice) was abandoned.

He who wishes to fast should do so, and he who wishes to break it may do so.

‘Ashura is one of the days of Allah, so he who wished should observe fast and he who wished otherwise should abandon it.

A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Abdullah through the same chain of transmitters.

That was a day on which the people of pre-Islamic days used to observe fast. So he who amongst you likes to observe fast should do so, and he who does not like it should abandon it.

It is a day on which the people of pre-Islamic days observed fast. So he who liked to fast on this day should do so, and he who liked to abandon it should abandon it. ‘Abdullah (Allah be pleased with him) did not observe fast except when it coincided (with the days when he was in the habit of observing voluntary fasts during every month).