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This content has been automatically translated. View original in Arabic
Do not abandon fasting on the Day of Ashura by saying, “I fasted on the Day of Arafah.” While fasting on Arafah expiates sins for two years, you are still included in that two-year period.
Firstly, how do you know that God has accepted your fasting from you? The acceptance of fasting on these virtuous days is conditional upon fulfilling the conditions of acceptance and removing any obstacles to acceptance. God the Exalted says:
“God only accepts from the God-fearing.” (Quran 5:27)
Part of God-consciousness is to honor these days and strive for their reward. Feeling that you have secured acceptance is not a good sign of acceptance, whereas fearing that your deeds may not be accepted is one of the most important signs of acceptance.
Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha, may God be pleased with her, reported that she asked the Messenger of God, peace be upon him, about this verse:
“And those who give what they give while their hearts tremble with fear that they will return to their Lord.” (Quran 23:60)
She asked, “Are these the ones who drink wine and steal?”
He, peace be upon him, replied: “No, O daughter of al-Siddiq. Rather, they are those who fast, pray, and give charity while fearing that their deeds may not be accepted. They are the ones who hasten to good deeds and are foremost in them.”
Al-Hasan al-Basri said: “The believer combines excellence in deeds with compassion, while the hypocrite combines wrongdoing with a sense of security.” This means the believer excels in his actions and fears God’s punishment, while the hypocrite does wrong and feels secure from God’s punishment.
Secondly, a number of scholars have stated that committing major sins prevents the expiation of sins on the Day of Ashura or Arafah. This is supported by hadiths such as the Prophet’s saying, peace be upon him:
“The five daily prayers, Friday to Friday, and Ramadan to Ramadan expiate sins committed between them, provided one avoids major sins.”
Committing major sins may prevent the expiation of sins, even minor ones. Therefore, combining the Day of Ashura with the Day of Arafah is more likely to reduce the impact of major sins and lead to the forgiveness of your sins.
You might say, “I do not commit major sins, praise be to God.” Yet you may be committing them without realizing it, such as consuming unlawful wealth, backbiting, or severing family ties.
Among the major sins that many of us overlook are major sins of the heart, especially the worst of them: having evil thoughts about God’s decrees, particularly in times of intense trials, widespread pain, and afflictions. This is compounded by a lack of understanding that this world is a place of trial, not a place of recompense. Harboring evil thoughts about destiny may not expel one from the fold of Islam, but it remains one of the major sins of the heart.
Another major sin we forget is failing to support Muslims while neglecting to take the necessary long-term means to do so. You might say, “I do not know how to support them.”
By fasting, you strive against your desires, and God the Exalted says:
“As for those who strive for Us, We will surely guide them to Our ways.” (Quran 29:69)
Thus, your fasting is a means for God to guide you to ways of supporting your brothers and sisters in faith, helping you to follow these paths, and enabling you to abandon major sins of the limbs and major sins of the heart.