Why do the Sunnis Fast on the Day of Ashura? - Qazwini

Some traditions are found in Sunni books to the effect that the Prophet SAWW on migrating to Medina found the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. He asked them why, and was told: “It is an auspicious day; it is the day when God delivered the children of Israel from their enemy (i.e. Pharaoh); and, therefore, Moses fasted on that day.”

The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “I am worthier of Moses than you are.” Thereupon, he fasted on that day and ordered (the Muslims) to fast.

The above hadith is problematic due to the following reasons:
1. The chain is not authentic. Ibn Abbas, who was one the narrators, was 4 years old at that time. Abu Musa al-Ashari was, who was also a narrator, was not even in Medina at that time. Another narrator is Mu’awiya, who was in Mekkah at that time and he was a musyrik.
2. When we look at the calendar of the Jews, the events where they observe the fast didn’t coincide with the 10th of Muharram.
3. The word Ashura during the time of the Prophet means the 10th of any month. How did the people at that time know it was the 10th of Muharram? Only after Imam Hussein’s martyrdom did people know that Ashura is the label of the 10th of Muharram. Hence it can be said that this hadith was fabricated after Imam Hussein’s martyrdom.
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