65/2.24. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4503 — Ashura Was Left After Ramadan Was Revealed
“O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you that you, may become Al- Muttaqun (V.2:183).
Hadith About Ashura: Why Abdullah Invited Al-Ashath to Eat
Sahih Bukhari : 4503
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4503
حَدَّثَنِي مَحْمُودٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ إِسْرَائِيلَ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ الأَشْعَثُ وَهْوَ يَطْعَمُ فَقَالَ الْيَوْمُ عَاشُورَاءُ. فَقَالَ كَانَ يُصَامُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَنْزِلَ رَمَضَانُ، فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ رَمَضَانُ تُرِكَ، فَادْنُ فَكُلْ.
`Abdullah Narrated from:
Al-Ash'ath entered upon him while he was eating. Al-Ash'ath said, "Today is 'Ashura." I said (to him), "Fasting had been observed (on such a day) before (the order of compulsory fasting in) Ramadan was revealed. But when (the order of fasting in) Ramadan was revealed, fasting (on 'Ashura') was given up, so come and eat."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4503In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 30USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 30
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4503
This Hadith about Ashura gives a practical scene. Al-Ashath came to Abdullah while Abdullah was eating and reminded him that the day was Ashura. Abdullah answered that fasting on that day had been observed before the command of Ramadan fasting was revealed. After Ramadan was revealed, Ashura fasting was left, so he told Al-Ashath to come close and eat. The main lesson is not about disrespecting Ashura. It is about knowing what is compulsory and what is not. People searching for Ashura fasting optional, Ashura hadith in Bukhari, and Ramadan fasting command can see that Abdullah understood the matter through the change brought by the revelation of Ramadan.
What we learn from this hadith
- Knowing the ruling of an act matters before judging someone’s practice.
- Ashura fasting had been observed before Ramadan fasting was revealed.
- After Ramadan was revealed, Abdullah treated Ashura fasting as no longer required.
- A companion corrected a misunderstanding with a simple explanation.
