Fasting on Ninth of Dhul Hajjah and on Tenth of Muharram

“I once asked one of the two Imam, (abu Ja’far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about fasting on the ninth of Dhul Hajjah (day of ‘Arafah). He (the Imam) said, ‘I do not fast that day. It is the day of imploring and pleading before Allah.”’

““I once heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), say, ‘The Messenger of Allah did not fast on the day of ‘Arafah from the time fasting of the month of Ramadan came down.’”

“Abu Ja‘far, and abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), have said, ‘You must not fast on the day of ‘Ashura’ (tenth of Muharram) and on the day of ‘Arafah in Makkah, in al-Madinah, in your homeland or in any other city.’”

narrated to me Najabah ibn al-Harith al-‘ Attar who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about fasting on the day of ‘Ashura’ (tenth of Muharram). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is a discarded fast after the coming of the month of Ramadan, and what is discarded and abandoned is heresy.’ Najabah has said that I then asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), after his father about it and he answered me just like the answer of his father. He (the Imam) then said, ‘It is a fast about which there is nothing in the book or an established Sunnah except the Sunnah of the family of Ziyad for their murdering al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.).’”

narrated to me Ja’far ibn ’Isa his brother who has said the following: “I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about fasting on ‘Ashura’ and what people say about it. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is the fast of ibn Marjanah. You are asking me about the day in which the adopted ones of the family of Ziyad for their murdering al-Husayn (a.s.), were fasting. It is an ominous day for the family of Muhammad (a.s.). For people of Islam it is an ominous day. A day, which is ominous for the people of Islam is not a day of fasting or a day of blessing. Monday is an unblessed day because Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, took His Holy prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, from this world. The family of Muhammad, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has been hurt on Monday, so we took it as an ominous day and our enemies took it as a day of blessing. On the day of ‘Ashura’ al-Husayn (a.s.), was murdered and ibn Marjanah took it for blessing but the family of Muhammad, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, took it as an ominous day. Whoever fasts on this day or takes it for blessing will come in the presence of Allah, most Blessed, most High, with metamorphosed heart and will be raised with those who established the Sunnah of fasting on that day and took it for blessing.’”

“I heard Zurarah asking abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the fast on the day of ‘Ashura’. He (the Imam) said, ‘Whoever fasts that day, his share for such fast is like the share of ibn Marjanah and the family of Ziyad.’ I then asked, ‘What was their share of that day? He (the Imam) said, ‘It is the fire, I seek protection with Allah against it and against the deeds that take one closer to the fire.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the fast on the day of ‘Ashura’ of the month of Muharram. He (the Imam) said, ‘Tasu‘a’ (ninth of Muharram) was the day when they had surrounded al-Husayn (a.s.), and his friends, may Allah be pleased with them, in Karbala’. The horsemen of al-Sham had come together against him (a.s.), and had taken him under siege. Ibn Marjanah and ‘Umar ibn Sa‘d were happy because of the huge number of horsemen on their side, and they made al-Husayn (a.s.), and his friends, may Allah be pleased with them, very weak. They became certain that no one will come to help al-Husayn (a.s.), and people of Iraq will not support him. I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for the cause of my great-grandfather who had very few supporters.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘The day of ‘Ashura’ is the day on which al-Husayn (a.s.), was murdered and his friends around him were all murdered and looted. How can there be fast on that day! No, by the Lord of the sacred house there is no fasting on such a day. It is only a day of mourning and lamentation that came upon the inhabitants of the sky and earth and all believing people. It is a day of happiness and joy for ibn Marjanah and family of Ziyad and people of al-Sham, may Allah subject them to His anger as well as their offspring. This was a day when all locations of earth wept except al-Sham. Those who fast on this day or take it for blessing will be raised, by Allah, with the family of Ziyad with their hearts metamorphosed and subjected to anger. Whoever seeks any saving for their homes on this day will be made by Allah as a seed of hypocrisy in his heart up to the Day of Judgment, blessing is removed thereof, from his family, and children. Satan will share him in all of such savings.’”