How Many Days Of Ashura Fasting? Know When, Intentions, And Prayers To Break The Ashura Fast

Illustration of when and how many days of the Ashura Fast complete with intentions and prayers for breaking the fast (Unsplash/Abdullah Arif)

YOGYAKARTA - Ashura fasting is a sunnah act of worship that is recommended to be done in order to obtain reward and forgiveness. Based on the Hijri calendar, on the ninth and tenth days after 1 Muharram, the Sunnah fasts are performed, namely Tasu'a and Ashura fasts. This sunnah fast is recommended by the Prophet Muhammad to be done. When is the Ashura Fast done and how many days is the Ashura Fast? Here is a complete explanation along with the intention and prayer for breaking the fast.

History of Ashura Fasting

The month of Muharram, included in the forbidden month or called ashhurul humur. In that month, God has a day that is a glorious day in Islam, namely the day of Ashura. Ashura comes from the word asyirah which means 'tenth' or is understood as 'the tenth day of the Muharram bull'.

History begins when the Prophet SAW migrated from Mecca to Medina. Prophet Muhammad SAW fasting Ashura. At that time, the Prophet had not ordered Muslims to fast.

Illustration of when and how many days of the Ashura Fast complete with intentions and prayers for breaking the fast (Unsplash/YK)

On the way to Medina, Prophet Muhammad met Jews who were fasting Ashura. From the companion of Abdullah bin Abbas, he said:

"When the Prophet Muhammad came to the city of Medina, he found the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura, so he said to them, 'What day are you fasting today?'

They replied, 'Today is a great day. God saved Musa and his people on this day and drowned Pharaoh and his army. So Musa fasted on this day as a sign of gratitude and we also fasted'."

Therefore, the words of the Prophet in the narration of HR Bukhari and Muslim:

'Then Musa and I are more entitled and more important than you.' So the Messenger of Allah fasted and ordered to fast.

Not only the Ashura fast is recommended, the Tasu'a fast which is carried out on the ninth day of the month of Muharram and the eleventh day is also ordered to be fasted by the Prophet Muhammad SAW. Narrated by the friend Abdullah bin Abbas, the Messenger of Allah said:

"The Prophet Muhammad said: 'If I am still alive until next year, I will certainly fast on the ninth day'. (HR Muslim)

When and how many days of Ashura fasting?

Narrated by Imam Ahmad from the companion of Ibnu Abbas, launching NU Online, Prophet Muhammad SAW said:

"Fast on the day of Ashura and distinguish yourselves from the Jews. Fast the day before or the day after.”

The explanation of when and how many days of Ashura Fasting, is explained in the book al-Um and al-Imla' by Imam Shafi'I. In the book it is confirmed that it is sunnah to fast for 3 days, namely the Tasu'a Fast, the Ashura Fast, and the eleventh day fast. Thus, the Ashura Fast has 3 levels, the lowest level is the Ashura Fast, then the Ashura Fast and the Tasu'a Fast, and the highest is the Ashura Fast, the Tasu'a Fast, and the eleventh day of Muharram.

Illustration of when and how many days of Ashura fasting complete with intentions and prayers for breaking the fast (Unsplash/Rauf Alvi)

This year, the Ashura Fast is held on August 8, 2022. While the Tasu'a Fast is on August 7 and the eleventh day of Muharram is on August 9, 2022.

Intentions and prayers to open the Ashura Fast

Ashura Fasting Intentions:

"Nawaitu shauma ghadin 'an ada'i sunnatil âsyûrâ lillâhi ta'âlâ."

Meaning: "I intend to fast the sunnah of Ashura tomorrow for the sake of Allah SWT."

Ashura fasting prayer:

"Dzahabazh zhoma'u wabtallatil 'uruqu wa tsabatal ajru God willing"

Meaning: "The thirst has disappeared, the throat has been moistened, may there be a fixed reward, if God wills."

That is a complete explanation of when and how long the Ashura Fast is, as well as the intention and prayer of breaking the fast.