Fasting the Day of `Ashura

It was reported that the day the Children of Israel were saved from Fir`awn was called the day of `Ashura'.

Imam Ahmad

reported that Ibn `Abbas said that the Messenger of Allah came to Al-Madinah and found that the Jews were fasting the day of `Ashura'.

He asked them, "What is this day that you fast'' They said, "This is a good day during which Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy, and Musa used to fast this day.'' The Messenger of Allah said,

(I have more right to Musa than you have.)

So the Messenger of Allah fasted that day and ordered that it be fasted.

This Hadith was collected by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah.