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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Understanding Karbala Appendix 4: Fasting on Ashura (Published in As-Serat Vol. VIII No. 3 & 4) Some traditions are found in Sunni books to the effect that the Prophet (s.a.w) on migrating to Medina found the Jews fasting on the 10th of Muharram. He asked them why, and was told: “It is an auspicious day; it is the day when God delivered the children of Israel from their enemy (i.e.

Pharaoh); and, therefore, Moses fasted on that day.” The Prophet (s.a.w) said, “I am worthier of Moses than you are.” Thereupon, he fasted on that day and ordered (the Muslims) to fast.[^1] It is noted by the commentator of Mishkatul Masabih that: “It was in the second year, because in the first year the Prophet had arrived at Medina after Ashura, in Rabi’ul-awwal.” How much importance was this fast supposed to have may be judged from another tradition narrated in Sahih Bukhari: “The Prophet (s.a.w) ordered a man from the (tribe of) Aslam: Announce to the people that whoever has eaten should fast the rest of the day, and whoever has not eaten should fast (the whole day), because today is the Ashura (10th day of Muharram).” That very year the fast of Ramadan was ordained and the obligation to fast on Ashura was abrogated, as has been claimed in other traditions narrated in the same book.

Still, reportedly, it carries much importance as a voluntary fast. Now let us look closely at these traditions: First: The Jews had their own calendar and months. There is no logic in saying that they fasted on the 10th of Muharram - unless it could be proved that this date always coincided with a Jewish day of fast.

It was mentioned in my article, “ Martyrdom of Imam Husayn and the Muslim and the Jewish Calendars ”[^2] that the first month of the Jews (Abib, later named Nisan) coincided with Rajab of the Arabs. W. O. E. Oesterley and Theodore H.

Robinson have written that in Arabia, “the most important of all the new-moon festivals was that which fell in the month of Ragab (sic), equivalent to the Hebrew month Abib, for this was the time when the ancient Arabs celebrated the Spring festival.”[^3] Probably, in ancient times the two branches of Abraham’s house followed the same system of intercalating an additional month 7 times in a cycle of 19 years. And in this way the 7th Jewish month, Tishri I, coincided with Muharram.

And the Ashura of Muharram synchronized with 10th of Tishri I, the Jewish Day of Atonement - a day of fast.