Why did the Prophet ﷺ want to add the 9th?

The story behind Tasu'a is documented in a single hadith that transformed how Muslims observe this month forever.

This hadith is the sole textual basis for fasting the 9th of Muharram. Because the Prophet ﷺ passed away before fulfilling this intention, scholars treated his expressed wish as a Sunnah — what he willed for the Ummah. Imam al-Nawawi outlines three reasons why adding the 9th is recommended:

#	Reason (Imam al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim)
1	To differ from the People of the Book who fast the 10th only — the strongest reason according to Ibn Taymiyyah (al-Fatāwā al-Kubrā, Vol. 6)
2	To join the 10th to another day, just as Friday fasting requires adding another day (combining is more rewarding)
3	As a precaution — in case the lunar date was calculated incorrectly, fasting the 9th ensures the 10th is covered

Ashura and the Battle of Karbala

For millions of Muslims worldwide — particularly Shia communities — Ashura carries a second, devastating significance: on 10 Muharram 61 AH (10 October 680 CE), Imam Husayn ibn Ali (RA), the grandson of the Prophet ﷺ, was martyred with his companions in the Battle of Karbala, modern-day Iraq.

He had refused to give his bay'ah (pledge of allegiance) to Yazid ibn Mu'awiyah, believing his leadership to be unjust. Surrounded and denied access to water, Imam Husayn (RA) and approximately 72 of his companions were killed. His stand is remembered across the Muslim world as a defining act of principled resistance to tyranny.

The sacredness of Ashura in Islamic tradition — established years before Karbala — was not created by this event. But for much of the global Ummah, 10 Muharram now carries the weight of both: the salvation of Musa (AS) and the martyrdom of Husayn (RA). Both deserve sincere reflection.

What to do on 9th and 10th Muharram

Beyond the fast, there are established, authenticated practices for these days — and some non-established ones that have drifted into common practice without basis.

How to observe the Ashura fast — step by step

1. Make your niyyah (intention) before Fajr. A voluntary fast requires intention before dawn. No specific words are necessary — sincerity in the heart suffices.
2. Eat suhoor if possible. It is a Sunnah of all voluntary fasts. Even a glass of water before Fajr fulfils this recommendation.
3. Abstain from food, drink, and all invalidators from Fajr to Maghrib — the same rules as Ramadan apply to any voluntary fast.
4. Break your fast at Maghrib with dates and water before eating, following the general Sunnah of iftar.
5. If you forget and eat accidentally, your fast is still valid — continue and complete it. This applies to voluntary fasts under the majority scholarly opinion (Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki).
6. There is no specific dua for Ashura. Make any dua, with extra focus on seeking forgiveness, mercy, and gratitude — this is the spirit of the day.

Misconceptions about Ashura — cleared

IslamicFinder and several other ranking sites note these, but none lists them with direct scholar citations. Here they are, sourced.

Ashura across the Muslim community in the UK

Britain's Muslim communities are diverse — South Asian Sunni communities, Arab communities, and British Shia communities all observe Ashura, and their practices reflect genuinely different scholarly traditions rooted in centuries of Islamic jurisprudence.

For most British Sunni communities — the majority in the UK — Ashura is primarily observed through fasting on the 9th and 10th of Muharram, with increased charity, Quran recitation, and remembrance of the Prophet Musa's (AS) deliverance.

For British Shia Muslims, Ashura is the culmination of the Mourning of Muharram — ten days of gathering, remembrance, and lamentation for the martyrdom of Imam Husayn (RA) at Karbala. Majālis (commemorative gatherings), elegies (marāthī), and reflection on justice, sacrifice, and loyalty to truth are central. Many British Shia mosques and Husayniyyas in London, Birmingham, and Manchester hold public gatherings through the first ten days.

Both traditions have deep, legitimate scholarly roots. The month's shared foundation — reverence for Ahl al-Bayt, rejection of oppression, and increased worship in a sacred month — is common ground for the whole Ummah.

Frequently asked questions

QWhen is Ashura 2026 in the UK?

Ashura (10th Muharram 1448 AH) falls on Thursday 25 June 2026 in the UK, based on the confirmed moon sighting that began Muharram on 16 June 2026. The 9th Muharram (Tasu'a) was Wednesday 24 June 2026. Always confirm with your local mosque, as a one-day variation is possible in some areas.

QWhat is the reward of fasting on Ashura?

The Prophet ﷺ said it expiates the minor sins of the year before it (Sahih Muslim 1162b). Scholars clarify this covers minor sins only — major sins (kabā'ir) require sincere, specific tawbah. The expiation is additional to, not a substitute for, repentance.

QCan I fast only on the 10th of Muharram without the 9th?

Yes — it is permissible and carries reward. The British Fatwa Council (2026 ruling) confirmed there is no sin in fasting only on the 10th. However, fasting both the 9th and 10th is better, following the Prophet's ﷺ expressed intention (Sahih Muslim 1134a).

QIf I couldn't fast yesterday (9th Muharram), can I fast today (10th) alone?

Yes. Fasting the 10th alone is entirely permissible and carries the Ashura reward. If you can also fast tomorrow (11th Muharram / 26 June) as well, that makes it the 10th and 11th option — also a valid and rewarded combination according to scholars including Imam al-Nawawi.

QDid I miss the niyyah for the fast? Can I still make the intention now?

For a voluntary fast, the Hanafi school allows making the intention before the midday point (Zawal), provided you have not eaten since Fajr. The Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali schools generally require the intention before Fajr. Follow your madhab's ruling — if in doubt, ask your local Imam.

QIs the Ashura fast connected to Karbala?

No — the Ashura fast pre-dates Karbala by over fifty years. The Prophet ﷺ established fasting on Ashura during his time in Madinah (around 1–2 AH) to commemorate Allah's deliverance of Prophet Musa (AS) from Pharaoh. Karbala occurred in 61 AH / 680 CE. The two events share the same calendar date but are historically and theologically separate.

QCan I fast Ashura if I have missed days of Ramadan to make up?

Scholars differ on this. The Shafi'i school holds that whoever has missed Ramadan fasts should prioritise making those up before performing voluntary fasts. The Hanafi school allows voluntary fasts even while having Ramadan fasts to make up, though making up the obligatory fasts first is preferred. Check with your local scholar or follow your madhab's ruling.

QWhat should I do if I'm too ill to fast on Ashura?

If genuine illness prevents you from fasting, leave the fast — there is no fidyah or expiation required for a voluntary fast that couldn't be completed due to illness. Allah says: "Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear" (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:286). Make the most of the day with dhikr, Quran, charity, and dua instead.