Uncovering the Truth: Ashura Fasting and Yazid’s Mother’s Vow
Did Yazid’s Mother Vow to Fast on the Day of Hussain’s Killing?
Shia people are spreading among Muslims that there is no significance of fasting on Ashura in Islam, and that the fasting on Ashura is established based on weak and fabricated narrations.
(1) The reality is that “Yazid’s mother had vowed that if my son succeeds and Imam Hussain is killed, then I will fast every year on this day, and this tradition is being followed until today.”
(2) Some Shia spread the news that “Yazid’s mother had vowed that if Hussain kills Yazid, then I will fast on the 9th and 10th of Muharram, and then she fasted, and whoever is related to Yazid can fast on the 9th and 10th of Muharram.” The Shia have given the reference of this in the book: Sahih Bukhari, Chapter: Explanation of the issues of fasting, Hadith number 2004, page number 237,238.
We seek refuge in Allah from this. Now, the religion is being mocked in this way, and why not, since the Barelvi fully supports the Shia and considers them as brothers.
In Islam, the fasting on Ashura is established. The Prophet ﷺ himself fasted on it, ordered the companions to fast, and since that time, Muslims have been fasting on this day. Ashura has no connection with the incident of Karbala; it has been present even before this Shia fitna, more than fifty years before, when the Prophet ﷺ migrated from Mecca to Medina, and even before that migration, evidence of Ashura is found, not from any weak or fabricated narration, but from that book of Hadith whose authenticity is agreed upon by the entire Ummah, as narrated by Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her):
كان يومُ عاشوراءَ تصومُه قريشٌ في الجاهليةِ، وكان رسولُ اللهِ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّم يصومُه، فلما قَدِمَ المدينةَ صامه وأمَر بصيامِه، فلما فُرِضَ رمضانُ ترك يومَ عاشوراءَ، فمَن شاء صامه ومَن شاء ترَكَه .(صحيح البخاري:2002)
Translation: The people of Quraish used to fast on the day of Ashura in the pre-Islamic period, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ also used to fast on it. Then, when he came to Medina, he fasted on it and ordered the companions to fast on it. However, when the fasting of Ramadan was prescribed, the obligation of fasting on Ashura was lifted. Therefore, now whoever wishes may fast on it, and whoever wishes may leave it.
Thus, Ashura is an established matter in Islam, and whoever denies it is a denier of Hadith. As for the vow of Yazid’s mother, it is a complete lie and a slander against Yazid’s mother because Yazid never intended to kill Imam Hussain nor did he kill him. Moreover, this lie is evident from the words of the Shia themselves.
Firstly: To say that there is no concept of fasting on Ashura in Islam, while there are many authentic Hadiths about it, all Muslims know about it, and they have been fasting on this day since the beginning of Islam.
Secondly: The reference given by the Shia in point number two is a Shia fraud, just as they accused Yazid of killing Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him). In Sahih Bukhari, Hadith number 2004, there is mention of fasting on Ashura. The same Ashura that the Shia themselves deny, they also give its reference. It is said that when a thief runs away, he leaves some evidence behind. See Hadith number 2004 of Bukhari:
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مَعْمَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ قَدِمَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْمَدِينَةَ فَرَأَى الْيَهُودَ تَصُومُ يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ فَقَالَ مَا هَذَا قَالُوا هَذَا يَوْمٌ صَالِحٌ هَذَا يَوْمٌ نَجَّى اللَّهُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ مِنْ عَدُوِّهِمْ فَصَامَهُ مُوسَى قَالَ فَأَنَا أَحَقُّ بِمُوسَى مِنْكُمْ فَصَامَهُ وَأَمَرَ بِصِيَامِهِ (صحیح البخاری ، حدیث نمبر: 2004)
Translation: Abu Ma’mar narrated to us, he said that Abdul Warith narrated to us, he said that Ayyub narrated to us, he said that Abdullah bin Sa’eed bin Jubair narrated to us, from his father, from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said that the Prophet ﷺ came to Medina and saw the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. He asked them about it, and they said, “This is a good day, the day on which Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy (Pharaoh), so Moses fasted on it.” He said, “I have more right to Moses than you.” So he fasted on it and ordered the companions to fast on it.
Thirdly: How did Yazid’s mother know that Hussain would be killed on the 9th and 10th of Muharram so that she could fast on those days? And there is another doubt: the killing happens on one day, so why fast for two days? There must be something fishy here.
In summary, this is a Shia deceit through which an attempt is being made to mislead ordinary Muslims. I request all Muslims that if they come across any such suspicious material through social media, they should immediately contact the scholars to find out the truth and not share any post without verification.
May Allah protect us from all kinds of fitna. Ameen.
✒️ Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi, may Allah preserve him
Jeddah Dawah Center, Hayy Al-Salamah (Saudi Arabia)
