Question:

I fasted the tenth of Muharram to compensate for one of the days that I had not fasted and I was intending to fast the eleventh of Muharram as I know that it is impermissible to fast the tenth of Muharram alone. However, I had my menstruation on the eleventh of Muharram and could not fast that day. Is my fasting the tenth of Muharram alone permissible?


Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger.

It is permissible to fast the tenth of Muharram alone as there is no text that forbids this, although there are Hadeeths that indicate the favorability of fasting the ninth or the eleventh along with the tenth of Muharram. Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "When the Messenger of Allah fasted the tenth of Muharram and commanded that it should be fasted, they (his Companions) said to him, 'O Messenger of Allah, it is a day which the Jews and Christians glorify.’ Thereupon the Messenger of Allah said: 'When the next year comes, in shaa’ Allah, we will fast the ninth (along with the tenth in order to differ from the Jews and Christians).' However, the Messenger of Allah died before the advent of the next year." [Muslim]

Ash-Shawkaani said, "It appears that what is more prudent is to fast three days: the ninth, the tenth and the eleventh. Thus, fasting the tenth of Muharram is of three ranks: