Fasting of Muharram and the day of ʿĀshoorā: by Shaikh Abdul-Azīz Ibn Bāz (rahimahullāh)

When does the fasting of Muharram begin or the fasting of ‘Āshūrā begin? Question to Shaikh Ibn Bāz (rahimahullaah):

When does the fasting of Muharram begin or the fasting of ‘Aashooraa begin? Does the fasting begin on the first day of Muharram or in the middle of the month or at the end of the month? And how many days are to be fasted; I heard that the fasting begins from the first of Muharram until the tenth. May Allaah grant you success.

Ibn Bāz (rahimahullāh) answered: 

“The Prophet (salallahu ‘alaihi wassallam) said: “The best fasts after Ramadan are in the month of Allah: Muharram.” And that is ‘Āshūrā. And the meaning is that he fasted it all, from the first day till the last, from the beginning till the end. This is the meaning of the hadeeth. However, he specified from this month, the 9th and the 10th day, or the 10th and the 11th day for the one who cannot fast the whole month.

The Messenger (salallahu ‘alaihi wassallam) would fast ‘Āshūrā in the days of Jaahiliyyah [prior to Revelation], and the people of Quraish would also fast it. Later on, when the Messenger (salallahu ‘alaihi wassallam) arrived in Madeenah, he found that the Jews were also fasting it. So he asked them concerning it, so they replied: “It is the day on which Allah saved Mūsā and his people, and He destroyed the Pharaoh and his people, so Mūsā fasted it in gratitude to Allaah, so we likewise fast it.”

Allah’s Messenger (salallahu ‘alaihi wassallam) said: “We have more right with respect to Mūsā and are more deserving of him.” So he (salallahu ‘alaihi wassallam) fasted and he commanded that it be fasted.

So it is a Sunnah (recommended) to fast the Day of ‘Āshūrā (10th Muharram) and it is from the Sunnah to fast the day before it or the day after, due to what is narrated from him (salallahu ‘alaihi wassallam), “Fast the day before it and the day after it.” And in a wording, there occurs: “A day before it or a day after it.” And in another narration: “If I live till next year, I will surely fast on the ninth,” meaning along with the tenth – and this is best, i.e., that a person fasts the tenth because that is a great day, wherein goodness was attained for Mūsā (‘alaihi salaam) and the Muslims with him, and our Prophet (salallahu ‘alaihi wassallam) fasted that day. So we fast the ninth with our Prophet in acting upon his legislation (salallahu ‘alaihi wassallam).

And we can fast along with the tenth, the day before it or the day after in order to differ from the Jews. And the best way is to fast the ninth and the tenth due to the hadeeth: “If I live till next year, I will surely fast the ninth.”

So, if a person was to fast the tenth and the eleventh, or all three days: the ninth, tenth and eleventh, it is all good. In that, there is differing from the Jews. And if one was was to fast the month, then that is more virtuous for him.”

Source: http://www.binbaz.org.sa/mat/13761
Translated: Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Waahid