Fasting on the 9th, 10th and 11th of Muharram

It is recorded in a narration that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “If I remain alive until the following year then I will fast on the ninth (of Muharram).” This was to contradict the Jews who fasted on the 10th of Muharram only. Thus, Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam intended to fast on the ninth and tenth. If one is unable to fast on the ninth and tenth, then he may fast on the 10th and 11th of Muharram, and in doing so, one will be contradicting the Jews as well. In conclusion, the joining of an additional fast was to avoid fasting on the 10th of Muharram only.

Since this objective is fulfilled by fasting a day before the 10th of Muharram (by fasting on the 9th and 10th) or by fasting a day after the 10th of Muharram (by fasting on the 10th and 11th of Muharram), keeping two fasts are sufficient in contradicting the Jews and are in accordance to the teachings of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam. We haven’t come across any narration which discusses any additional virtue for fasting on all three days, nor have we been commanded to fast on all three days (in any narration) for Aashurah.

However, Hadrat Maulana Khalil Ahmad Saheb Saharanpuri Rahimahullah has written in Bazlul Majhood that there are there stages in regards to the fast of Aashurah, the minimal is to fast only on the day of Aashurah. A higher level is to fast on the 9th and 10th, and even higher than that is to fast on the 9th, 10th and 11th.