Ibn ‘Abbas said, "I never saw the Prophet singling out any day’s fast and considering it more excellent than another, except this day, the day of ‘Ashura’,* and this month, meaning the month of Ramadan."*The 10th of Muharram.(Bukhari and Muslim.)
The Excellence of 'Ashura and Ramadan
This noble hadith from the esteemed companion Ibn 'Abbas, as recorded in Mishkat al-Masabih 2040, establishes two periods of time that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) specifically distinguished for fasting beyond other days.
The Singular Status of 'Ashura
The day of 'Ashura (10th of Muharram) holds a unique position. Scholars explain that its virtue stems from it being the day Allah saved Prophet Musa and his people, drowning Pharaoh and his army. The Prophet (pbuh) fasted on this day and commanded its observance to express gratitude to Allah, aligning the Muslim Ummah with the legacy of the previous prophets.
It is recommended (mustahabb) to fast on the 9th and 10th, or the 10th and 11th of Muharram, to differentiate our practice from that of the Jews who fasted on the 10th alone.
The Supremacy of Ramadan
The month of Ramadan is singled out because fasting within it is one of the five pillars of Islam, obligatory upon every sane, adult Muslim. Its nights are filled with divine mercy, forgiveness, and emancipation from the Fire. The reward for obligatory acts multiplies beyond that of voluntary ones, and it contains the Night of Decree (Laylat al-Qadr), which is better than a thousand months.
Scholarly Insight
Ibn 'Abbas's statement, "I never saw," indicates his close and continuous observation of the Prophet's practices. It highlights that while the Prophet encouraged fasting on various days (like Mondays, Thursdays, the white days), he gave a specific, emphasized recommendation only for 'Ashura and the obligatory fasting of Ramadan, demonstrating their unparalleled spiritual rank and divine preference.