What is the significance of fasting on Ashura, the 10th of Muharram?

Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, is one of the oldest fasting traditions associated with the Prophet, who found the Jewish community of Medina fasting it in commemoration of Musa's deliverance from Pharaoh, and said 'we have more right to Musa than you,' fasting it himself and encouraging others to do so. Asked about its merit, he said fasting Ashura expiates the sins of the preceding year (Sahih Muslim 1162). Before Ramadan was made obligatory, Ashura is understood by many scholars to have held a more central place in the yearly calendar; afterward it became a strongly recommended voluntary fast rather than an obligatory one. To distinguish the practice from a simple imitation of the earlier Jewish fast, the Prophet expressed the intention to also fast the 9th (Tasu'a) alongside or instead of relying on the 10th alone, and many scholars recommend fasting either the 9th and 10th together, or the 10th and 11th, rather than the 10th in isolation. Like the Arafah fast, the expiation here is understood to cover minor sins. Ashura also carries broader significance in Islamic history tied to the deliverance of earlier prophets, making it a day of gratitude as well as personal spiritual renewal.

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