65/2.24. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4504 — Ashura Practice Before and After Ramadan
“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).
Ashura Fasting Hadith: From Early Practice to Optional Fast
Sahih Bukhari : 4504
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4504
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ كَانَ يَوْمُ عَاشُورَاءَ تَصُومُهُ قُرَيْشٌ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَصُومُهُ، فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ صَامَهُ وَأَمَرَ بِصِيَامِهِ، فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ رَمَضَانُ كَانَ رَمَضَانُ الْفَرِيضَةَ، وَتُرِكَ عَاشُورَاءُ، فَكَانَ مَنْ شَاءَ صَامَهُ، وَمَنْ شَاءَ لَمْ يَصُمْهُ.
A'isha Narrated from:
During the Pre-Islamic Period of ignorance the Quraish used to observe fasting on the day of 'Ashura', and the Prophet (ﷺ) himself used to observe fasting on it too. But when he came to Medina, he fasted on that day and ordered the Muslims to fast on it. When (the order of compulsory fasting in) Ramadan was revealed, fasting in Ramadan became an obligation, and fasting on 'Ashura' was given up, and who ever wished to fast (on it) did so, and whoever did not wish to fast on it, did not fast.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4504In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 31USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 31
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4504
This Hadith about Ashura fasting gives a fuller picture from Aisha. She said Quraish used to fast Ashura in the Pre-Islamic Period, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم also used to fast it. After he came to Medina, he fasted it and ordered Muslims to fast it. Then Ramadan fasting was revealed and became the obligation. At that point, Ashura was left as a choice: whoever wished fasted it, and whoever wished did not. This is important for searches like Ashura fast hadith, 10th Muharram fasting, and fasting Ramadan obligation. The Hadith teaches the order of events without adding other rulings beyond what is mentioned in the text.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ashura fasting was practiced by Quraish before Islam.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم fasted Ashura and ordered it before Ramadan became obligatory.
- When Ramadan became obligatory, Ashura fasting was no longer treated as required.
- Optional worship should be understood without turning it into an obligation.
