Fasting, Taqwa

and Ashura
Virtues for the Seekers of Grace
He (‫ )ﷺ‬was asked about the fasting 
on the day of Ashura, whereupon he said 
“It expiates (the sins of) the past year” 
(Muslim, 1162b)

Samet Faruque
Table Of Contents

Preface 2

The Virtue of Fasting on Ashura 4

Moses Fasts Out of Gratitude 5

Fasting the Day Before or After Ashura 7

Fasting and Taqwa 9

Why Have Taqwa 11

The Tremendous Virtues of Fasting 13

Abu Huraira 13

Aisha 14

Uthman Ath-Thaqa 15

Sahl bin Sa’d 16

Abu Umamah 16

The Best Fast 17

Final Words 20

Page 1
Preface
Alhamdulillah, praise be to Allah, who gives chances and

opportunities.

Who dispels the darkness and brings about light. Who

makes the sun rise each day and brings about hope. 

ُ َ ِ ْ ُ َ َ ٌ ِ ْ ُ َ ُ ‫َذ َ ٍ ا ْو ا َ ٰ َو‬ ًِ َ َ َِ ْ َ
ً َ َ ‫َ َ ًة‬

Whoever does righteousness, whether

male or female, while he is a believer — We
will surely cause him to live a good life. (Al
Qur’an, Surah An Nahl, 16:97)

Each day is a new chance and each breath is a new

blessing. He made the past as history and experience to

derive lesson from. He made the the future as a

motivation to strive for and an objective to race for. And

He made the present as the time to perform and a

means to success.

Page 2
So good news to those who repent.

And gave in charity and spend.

And remembered His Lord and prayed.

And practiced restraint and turned away.

Indeed our sins are many, and our time is short.

And the journey forward is a journey long.

In this booklet you will read about some virtues related

to fasting, Taqwa and Ashura. May Allah help us

implement our knowledge with action. 

َ ْ ‫َ ْ َ ا َ َو َز َ ا ْ َ َ ْ ُ َ ْ َز َ ا‬ ِ ْ َ ‫ا ُ ا ِت‬

َ َ ْ َ ‫َو ِ َ َو‬

O Allah, grant my soul its taqwa (piety) and cleanse it, for

You are the best of (those) who cleanse it. You are its

Guardian and Master. (Muslim, 2722)

Ameen. And the nal of our call is praise be to Allah, Lord

of the worlds.

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The Virtue of Fasting on Ashura
Ashura is the tenth of Muharram. Muharram being the

rst month of the Islamic calendar.

You may search on the internet for the approximate date

of Ashura for the current year.

Fasting on this day is an expiation for the sins of the past

year, inshaAllah.

The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said, as reported by Abu Qatada:

َ َ ‫ِ َ ُم َ ْ ِم َ ُ َرا َء ا ْ َ ِ ُ َ َ ا ِ ا ْن ُ َ َ ا‬

ُ َ َْ ِ ‫ا‬

Fasting the day of ‘Ashoora I hope upon

Allaah that He will expiate the (sins of)
year that came before it. (Muslim, 1162a)

It is also narrated by Abu Qatada that he (the Prophet ‫)ﷺ‬

was asked about the fasting on the day of Ashura,

whereupon he said

Page 4
 It expiates (the sins of) the past year.

َ َ ِ َ ْ‫ُ َ ُ ا َ َ ا‬

(Muslim, 1162b)

Moses Fasts Out of Gratitude

On this day, Allah, blessed and Exalted, saved Musa and

his people, and drowned Pharaoh and his people, so

Musa fasted out of thankfulness. 

This is one historical signi cance of Ashura.

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Ibn ’Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him
and his father) reported that the
Messenger of Allah ‫ ﷺ‬arrived in Medina
and found the Jews observing fast on the
day of ‘Ashura. The Messenger of Allah ‫ﷺ‬
said to them:

ُ َ ُ ُ َ ‫َ َ َ ا ا ْ َ ْ ُم ا ِ ي‬

“What is (the signi cance of) this day that

you fast on it?”

They said:

‫َ َ ا َ ْ ٌم َ ِ ٌ ا ْ َ ا ُ ِ ِ ُ َ َو َ ْ َ ُ َو َ َق‬

ُ ُ ُ َ ُ ْ َ َ ‫ُ ْ ًا‬ َ ُ ُ َ َ َ ُ َ ْ َ ‫ِ ْ َ ْ نَ َو‬

“This is a great day, in it Allah saved

Moses and his people, and drowned
Pharaoh and his people, so Moses fasted
out of gratitude, so we also fast it.”

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 Upon this the Messenger of Allah ‫ ﷺ‬said:

ْ ُ ِْ َ ُِ َ ‫َ َ ْ ُ ا َ َوا ْو‬

“We have more right, and closer to (or

having better claim to) Moses than you”

So Allah’s Messenger ‫ ﷺ‬fasted it, and

ordered to fast it. (Muslim, 1130c )

Fasting the Day Before or After

Ashura
It is a good idea to fast on the day before Ashura as well

(the 9th of Muharram), because the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬intended

to fast it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported that when the Messenger of Allah

(‫ )ﷺ‬fasted on the day of ‘Ashura and commanded that it

should he observed as a fast, they (his Companions) said

to him: “O Messenger of Allah, it is a day which the Jews

and Christians venerate.” Thereupon the Messenger of

Allah ‫ ﷺ‬said:

Page 7
 Next year, if Allah wills, we will fast on
the ninth day (too).

‫َ ِٕ َذا َ نَ ا ْ َ ُم ا ْ ُ ْ ِ ُ — إ ِْن َ َء ا ُ — ُ ْ َ ا ْ َ ْ َم‬

َ ِ ‫ا‬

But the next year did not come until the Messenger of

Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) had

passed away. (Muslim, 1134)

Along with Ashura (10th Muharram), one may chose to

fast the day before (9th Muharram) or the day after

Ashura (11th Muharram). That is to fast the 9th and 10th

or the 10th and 11th of Muharram.

Narrated by Ibn 'Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him)

that the Messenger of Allah ‫ ﷺ‬said:

Page 8
 Fast the day of 'Ashoora', and be different
from the Jews with regard to it; fast the
day before it or the day after it.

ُ َ ْ َ ‫ ُ ُ ا‬، ‫ َو َ ِ ُ ا ِ ِ ا ْ َ ُ َد‬، ‫ُ ُ ا َ ْ َم َ ُ َرا َء‬

ً ْ َ  ‫َ ْ ً ا ْو َ ْ َ ُه‬
(Ahmed, Islamqa:128423, scholars differed regarding the
soundness of this hadeeth. Hasan according to Shaakir, Da'eef
according to editors of the Musnad)

Fasting and Taqwa

One of the most beautiful teachings of Islam is Taqwa.

Allah says:

And take provisions, but indeed, the best

provision is Taqwa. And be cautious of Me,
O you of understanding. (Al Qur'an, 2:197)

‫َو َ َ و ُدوا َ ِٕن َ ْ َ ا ا ِد ا ْ َ ٰى ۚ َوا ُ ِن َ او ِ ا ْ ْ َ ِب‬

(Al Qur'an, Surah Al Baqarah, 2:197)

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Taqwa implies "to be cautious". 

Taqwa involves fearing Allah, protecting oneself from sin

and displeasing Allah, and being on guard against sin.  

The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said, as narrated by Abu Huraira:

Taqwa is here

َ ُ   َ ‫ا ْ َى‬

And he pointed towards his chest thrice.

(Muslim, 2564a )

It is the people of Taqwa (the Muttaqoon) who will

receive guidance from the Honored Qur'an. Allah says:

That is the Book, there is no doubt in it, a

guidance to the Muttaqoon (godfearing).

ٰ
َ ِ ُ ْ ‫َذ ِ َ ا ْ ِ َ ُب َ َر ْ َ ۛ ِ ِ ۛ ُ ً ى‬
(Al Qur'an, Surah Al Baqarah, 2:2)

Page 10
Fasting can help one to obtain Taqwa (godfearliness), as

Allah says:

O you who have believed, decreed upon you

is fasting as it was decreed upon those
before you that you may obtain Taqwa.

َ ِ ُ َ َ ‫َ ا َ ا ِ َ ا َ ُ ا ُ ِ َ َ َ ْ ُ ُ ا َ ُم‬
َ‫َ ْ ِ ُ ْ َ َ ُ ْ َ ُ ن‬ ِ َ ِ ‫ََ ا‬

(Al Qur'an, Surah Al Baqarah, 2:183)

Why Have Taqwa
it is important we have taqwa in our life. Taqwa of Allah

is the means of our success and salvation. Allah says:

Page 11
 On the Day We will gather the pious
[muttaqoon] to the Compassionate as a
delegation.

‫َ ْ َم َ ْ ُ ُ ا ْ ُ ِ َ ِٕا َ ا ْ َ ٰ ِ َو ْ ً ا‬
(Al Qur'an, Surah Maryam, 19:85)

Allah further says:

Indeed, the pious will be among gardens

and rivers,

In a seat of truth near a Mighty King.

َ ِ ‫َ ْ َ ِ ِ ْ ٍق‬ ِ * ٍ َ َ ‫َ ٍت َو‬ ِ َ ِ ُ ْ ‫ٕاِن ا‬

ٍ‫ْ َ ِ ر‬ ٍ َِ

(Al Qur'an, Surah Al Qamar, 55:54–55)

And Allah says:

Page 12
 And whoever is cautious of Allah - He will
expiate for him his misdeeds and make
great for him his reward.

‫ا ْ ً ا‬  ُ َ ْ ِ ْ ُ ‫َو َ َ ِ ا َ ُ َ ْ َ ْ ُ َ َ ِ ِ َو‬

(Al Qur'an, Surah At-Talaq, 65:5)

The Tremendous Virtues of Fasting

Fasting has great rewards and tremendous virtues. Let

us look at some rewards that has been narrated about

fasting.

Abu Huraira
Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬said that

Allah said:

“Every good deed of Adam’s son is for him

except fasting; it is for Me. and I shall
recompense (the fasting person) for it.”

ِ ِ ‫ َوا َ ا ْ ِي‬، ِ ُ ِٕ َ ‫ْ َم‬ ‫ إِ ا‬، ُ َ ‫َ َ ِ ا ْ ِ ا َد َم‬ ُ

(Bukhari, 5927)

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Aisha
‘Aisha reported that the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said:

Every (good) deed of the son of Adam

would be multiplied — a good deed (will
receive) ten times like it to seven hundred
times. Allah, Mighty and Majestic said
“Except fasting, for indeed it is for me and
I will recompense for it. He (the fasting
person) leaves his desire and food for Me.
(Muslim, 1151e )

َ ِ‫َ َ ِ ا ْ ِ ا َد َم ُ َ َ ُ ا ْ َ َ َ ُ َ ْ ُ ا ْ َ ِ َ ٕا‬ ُ
ِ ُ ِٕ َ ‫ْ َم‬ ‫َ ْ ِ ِ َ ِ ِ ْ ٍ َ لَ ا ُ َ َو َ ِإ ا‬
ِ ْ ‫َوا َ ا ْ ِي ِ ِ َ َ عُ َ ْ َ َ ُ َو َ َ َ ُ ِ ْ ا‬

A good deed will receive ten times like it to seven

hundred times to as much as Allah wills according to the

hadith in Ibn Majah 1638(Hadith Sahih — Darussalam).

Except fasting, whose rewards has been kept as a

secret. 

Page 14
 The fasting person has two joys, a joy when
he breaks his fast and a joy when he meets
his Lord. (Muslim, 1151e)

ِ ‫ِ ِ َ ْ َ َ ِن َ ْ َ ٌ ِ ْ َ ِ ْ ِ ِه َو َ ْ َ ٌ ِ ْ َ ِ َ ِء َر‬ ِ

ِ‫ا َ ُم ُ ٌ ِ َ ا ر‬

Fasting is a shield against the Fire (of hell)

(Nasai, 2234 , Hasan — Darussalam)

Uthman Ath-Thaqa
‘Uthman bin Abul-‘As Ath-Thaqa said, I heard the

Messenger of Allah ‫ ﷺ‬say:

Fasting is a shield against the Fire just like

the shield of anyone of you against
ghting. (Ibn Majah 1639, Sahih — Darussalam)

‫ا َ ُم ُ ٌ ِ َ ا رِ َ ُ ِ ا َ ِ ُ ْ ِ َ ا ْ ِ َ ِل‬

Page 15
Sahl bin Sa’d
Narrated Sahl bin Sa`d, the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said:

َ َ‫ا ن‬ َ ُ ‫ ِ َ ب‬،‫اب‬
ٍ َ ْ‫ِ اْ َ ِ َ َ َِ ُ ا‬

َ‫ِ ُ ن‬ ‫َ ْ ُ ُ ُ إِ ا‬

In Paradise there are eight gates, in it is a

gate called Ar-Raiyan through which none
will enter but those who observe fasting.
(Bukhari, 3257)

Abu Umamah
Abu Umamah narrated: "I came to the Messenger of

Allah ‫ﷺ‬ and said: Order me a matter that I may take

from you. He said:

ُ َ َ ْ ِ َ ُ ِٕ َ ‫ْ ِم‬ ِ َ َْ َ
Take to fasting for there is nothing like it. 

(Nasai 2220, Sahih - Darussalam)

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The Best Fast
We are always after the best deals, the best education,

job and so forth. Why not search for the best fasting.

The most virtues fasting after Ramadan is that on the

month of Allah — Muharram.

Abu Hurairah narrated that Allah’s Messenger ‫ ﷺ‬said:

‫ا ْ َ ُ ا َ مِ َ ْ َ َ ْ ِ َر َ َ نَ َ ْ ُ ا ِ ا ْ ُ َ ُم‬
ِ ْ ‫َوا ْ َ ُ ا َ ِة َ ْ َ ا ْ َ ِ َ ِ َ َ ُة ا‬
The most virtuous fasting after the month
of Ramadan is that of Allah's month Al-
Muharram. And the most virtuous prayer
after the obligatory is the night prayer.
(Tirmizi, 438, Sahih - Darussalam)

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said, A man came to

the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬and said: ‘Which fasting is most virtuous

after the month of Ramadan?’ The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said:

Page 17
 The most virtuous fasting after the month
of Ramadan is that of Allah’s month Al-
Muharram. And the most virtuous prayer
after the obligatory is the night prayer.
(Tirmizi, 438, Sahih — Darussalam)

‫ا ْ َ ُ ا َ ِم َ ْ َ َ ْ ِ َر َ َ نَ َ ْ ُ ا ِ ا ْ ُ َ ُم‬
ِ ْ ‫َوا ْ َ ُ ا َ ِة َ ْ َ ا ْ َ ِ َ ِ َ َ ُة ا‬

The fasting of Ramadan is a great and virtuous act,

because it is enjoined by Allah. The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said, as

narrated by Abu Huraira, that Allah said:

ُ ْ َ َ ْ ‫َ َ َ َب ٕاِ َ َ ْ ِ ي ِ َ ْ ٍء ا َ ِٕا َ ِ ا‬
، ُ ِ ‫ َو َ َ َ الُ َ ْ ِ ي َ َ َ ُب ِٕا َ ِ َ ا ِ ِ َ ا‬، ِ ْ َ َ
‫ َو َ َ َ ُه ا ِ ي‬، ِ ِ ُ َ ْ َ ‫َ ِٕ َذا ا ْ َ ْ ُ ُ ُ ْ ُ َ ْ َ ُ ا ِ ي‬
ِ ْ َ ِ ‫ َو َ َ ُه ا ِ َ ْ ُ ُ ِ َ َورِ ْ َ ُ ا‬، ِ ِ ُ ِ ْ ُ
،ُ َ ِ ِ ‫ َو َ ِ ِ ا ْ َ َ َذ‬، ُ َ ِ ْ ِ َ َ ‫ َو ٕا ِْن‬، َ ِ
ِ ْ َ ْ َ ‫َو َ َ َد ْد ُت َ ْ َ ْ ٍء ا َ َ ِ ُ ُ َ َد ِدي‬
ُ َ ‫ َ ْ َ ُه ا ْ َ ْ َت َوا َ ا ْ َ ُه َ َ َء‬، ِ ِ ْ ُ ْ ‫ا‬

Page 18
 My slave does not draw near to Me with
anything more loved to Me than what I
have obligated upon him. 

And My slave continues to draw near to

me with the nawa l (supererogatory, extra
besides the obligatory) deeds until I love
him. 

Then when I love him I become his hearing

with which he hears, and his sight with
which he sees, and his hand with which he
grips, and his leg with which he walks; 

and if he asks Me, I will surely give him,

and if he surely refuge in me, I will surely
grant him and I do not hesitate to do
anything as I hesitate upon (taking) the
self of the believer, for he hates death, and
I hate to grieve him. 

(Bukhari, 6502)

The most beloved fast to Allah is the fast of Dawood,

alaihis salam, who used to fast on alternate days.

Page 19
'Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`As narrated that the

Messenger of Allah ‫ ﷺ‬said:

‫َ ُم ـ‬ ‫ا َ ِة ِإ َ ا ِ َ َ ُة َد ُاو َد ـ َ َ ْ ِ ا‬ َ ‫ا‬

َ ِْ ‫ َو َ نَ َ َ ُم‬،‫ا َ مِ ِٕا َ ا ِ ِ َ ُم َد ُاو َد‬ َ ‫َوا‬
ًَْ ُ ِ ْ ُ ‫ َو َ ُ ُم َ ْ ً َو‬، ُ َ ُ ُ ‫َو َ ُ ُم ُ ُ َ ُ َو َ َ ُم‬ ِْ ‫ا‬
The most beloved prayer to Allah is that of
David, peace be upon him, and the most
beloved fasts to Allah are the fasts of
David. 

He used to sleep for half of the night and

(then) stand (in prayer) for one third and
sleep for one sixth and used to fast one day
and break his fast one day (meaning fast
on alternate days). 

(Bukhari, 1131)

Final Words

Page 20
Alhamdulillah who has taught us how to worship Him,

through our Prophet Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬who puri es us

through his teachings.

َ َ ْ ِ ْ ‫ِ ْ َو ُ َ ُ ُ ُ ا ْ ِ َ َب َوا‬ َ ُ ‫َ ْ ُ َ َ ْ ِ ْ ا َ ِ ِ َو‬
ٍ ِ ‫َ َ ٍل‬ ِ َ ُ َْ ِ ‫َو إِن َ ُ ا‬

Reading His signs to them and purifying

them and teaching them the Book and
wisdom — although they were indeed in
evident misguidance before that 
(Al Qur’an, Surah Al Jumu'ah, 62:2)

َ‫َ ْ َ ُ ُ ا َ ْ َ ُ ن‬ ُ ُ َ ُ ‫َو‬

And teaching you what you did not know.

(Al Qur’an, Surah Al Baqarah, 2:151 )

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The fast on the day of Ashura is an opportunity to have

your sins forgiven, so take it. Fasting on the month of

Allah, Muharram, is the most virtuous of fasting after

Ramadan, so make efforts to fast some of its days if you

wish.

Fasting has tremendous bene ts, including being a

shield from the Fire. Fasting can be a means to develop

Taqwa, which is the way of success and salvation.

How beautiful when you have the means, yet you desist

food and drink voluntarily for your Lord.

‫ْ ُ ًرا‬ ُ ُ ْ َ َ‫َو َ ن‬

And your effort has been appreciated. 

(Al Qur’an, Surah Al Insan, 76:22 )

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"O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was

decreed upon those before you that you may obtain Taqwa (caution of

God)." (Al Qur'an, 2:183)

“Every good deed of Adam’s son is for him except fasting; it is for Me.

and I shall recompense (the fasting person) for it." (Bukhari, 5927)

In this book, you will discover about some of the tremendous virtues of

fasting, and the best times and ways of fasting and about the virtue of

fasting on Ashura. You will learn about Taqwa and some of its merits.

"Fasting the day of 'Ashoora I hope upon Allaah that He will expiate the

(sins of) year that came before it." (Muslim, 1162a)

The Author Samet Faruque is a student of the Qur'an and Islam. He

humbly presents this booklet to you, asking Allah to make it of bene t

and of acceptance.