Fasting the day of ‘Ashoora’ does expiate for the
past year, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“Fasting the day of ‘Arafah I hope Allaah will expiate thereby for the year
before it and the year after it, and fasting the day of ‘Ashoora’ I hope Allaah
will expiate thereby for the year that came before it.” Narrated by Muslim,
1162. This is by the bounty that Allaah bestows upon us, whereby fasting one day
expiates for the sins of a whole year. And Allaah is the Owner of great bounty.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) used to be very keen to make sure he fasted on the day of ‘Ashoora’ because
of its great status. It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased
with him) said: I never saw the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) so keen to make sure he fasted any day and preferring it over another
except this day, the day of ‘Ashoora’, and this month – meaning Ramadaan.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1867.
What is meant by being keen to make sure he fasted
it is so as to earn its reward.
Secondly:
With regard to the reason why the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) fasted on the day of ‘Ashoora’ and urged
the people to do likewise is mentioned in the hadeeth narrated by al-Bukhaari
(1865) from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him), who said: The Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came to Madeenah and saw the Jews
fasting on the day of ‘Ashoora’. He said, “What is this?” They said, “This is a
good day, this is the day when Allaah saved the Children of Israel from their
enemy and Moosa fasted on this day.” He said, “We have closer to Moosa than
you.” So he fasted on this day and told the people to fast.
The words “this is a good day” – according to a
version narrated by Muslim, “This is a great day when Allaah saved Moosa and his
people and drowned Pharaoh and his people.”
The words “so Moosa fasted on this day” – Muslim
added in his report: “In gratitude to Allaah, so that is we fast on this day.”
According to another version narrated by
al-Bukhaari, “So we fast it out of respect for it.”
The words “and told the people to fast” – according
to another version narrated by al-Bukhaari, “He said to his companions, ‘You are
closer to Moosa than them, so fast this day.”
Thirdly:
The expiation of sins that is achieved by fasting
‘Ashoora’ refers to minor sins; with regard to major sins, they need separate
repentance.
Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
Fasting the day of ‘Arafaah expiates for all minor
sins, in othr words this brings forgiveness for all sins except for major sins.
Then he said:
Fasting the day of ‘Arafaah is an expiation for two
years, and the day of ‘Ashoora is an expiation for one year, and if a person’s
Ameen coincides with the Ameen of the angels, his previous sins will be
forgiven… Each of the things mentioned may bring expiation. If he does something
that expiates for minor sins he will be expiated, and if there are no minor or
major sins, it will be recorded for him as good deeds and he will rise in status
thereby… If there is one or more major sins and no minor sins, we hope that it
will reduce his major sins. Al-Majmoo’ Sharh al-Muhadhdhab, part 6.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy
on him) said: The expiation of purification, prayer, and fasting Ramadaan,
‘Arafah and ‘Ashoora’ applies to minor sins only. Al-Fataawa al-Kubra,
part 5.