eDawah

Fasting Muharram, Shabaan, and 10 days of Thul-Hijjah
By His Eminence The Great Scholar
Shaikh Abdul-Azeez ibn Baz

Q:  What is the ruling of fasting the last 10 days of Thul-Hijjah and the entire months of Muharram and Shabaan? Please benefit us, may Allah bless you.

A:  In the name if Allah, all praise is for Allah.  Fasting in the months of Muharram and Shabaan is legislated, as for the last 10 days of Thul-Hijjah then there is no evidence for this but if one was to fast them without believing that they were special or have some specific reason to fast only those 10 days then there is no problem with this.  Regarding the month of Muharram the messenger صلى اللّه عليه وسلم said, “The best fast after Ramadan is Muharram” thus if it was fasted in its entirety then this is good and if the 9th, 10th, and 11th were fasted then this is the sunnah.  The prophet صلى اللّه عليه وسلم would fast all of Shabaan according to the hadeeth of Aisha and Umm Salamah.  As for the 10 days of Thul-Hijjah then what is meant is actually 9 as the day of Eid is not fasted and if it is then there is no problem due to the generality of the prophets صلى اللّه عليه وسلم statement, “There are no days in which righteous days are more beloved to Allah than in these 10 days” and they (his companions) said, “O messenger of Allah, not even striving in the way of Allah?” and he said, “not even striving in the way of Allah except for the one who goes out with his self and his wealth and does not return with anything”.  Regarding the prophet صلى اللّه عليه وسلم, it has been reported that he used to fast it and it was also reported that he left off fasting it and there has not been anything authentically reported in regards to his fasting or leaving it.

Translated by Eesa John Starling
July 1, 2009
For E-Dawah.com

Source:  http://www.binbaz.org.sa/mat/629