Khaberni - The date for Ashura fasting falls on the tenth of Muharram, and Muslims are keen to observe it by fasting due to the great virtue and expiation of sins associated with it, seeing it as a day linked with the saving of the Prophet of God, Moses, peace be upon him.
The interest of Muslims in knowing the date of Ashura fasting in 2026 and its virtue and the relevant Islamic rulings is increasing, as it is one of the days the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ recommended fasting, due to its religious significance linked to the event of saving our Master Moses, peace be upon him, and his people from Pharaoh, and the great reward and merit that follow.
Ashura day occurs on the tenth of the sacred month of Muharram, which is considered one of the preferable days to fast. The Egyptian Dar al-Ifta emphasizes explaining its rulings and stating its virtue to Muslims around the Islamic world.
As announced by the Egyptian Dar al-Ifta, the date for Ashura fasting in 2026 coincides with Wednesday, June 25, 2026, which is the tenth of Muharram.
Dar al-Ifta confirmed that fasting on this day is a strongly affirmed Sunnah by the Prophet ﷺ, and it is permissible for a Muslim to fast it individually. It is also recommended to fast a day before or after it to increase the reward, with different levels of virtue in these cases.
The Egyptian Dar al-Ifta clarified that fasting on the day of Ashura is among the recommended acts which the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ urged, as it entails the absolution of sins and doubling of the reward.
Sheikh Muhammad Kamal, the Secretary of Fatwa at Dar al-Ifta, mentioned that fasting on this day is one of the greatest acts of closeness to Allah Almighty. He confirmed that the minimum Sunnah is to fast on the tenth of Muharram, even if one does not fast the day before or after.
He added that whoever fasts on the day of Ashura individually will receive the virtue stated in the noble Hadith, which is the expiation of sins for a complete past year by the permission of Allah Almighty. He noted that the perfection in fasting is achieved by fasting both the ninth and the tenth days, or by adding the eleventh day for those who seek additional reward.
Several prophetic narrations highlight the virtue of the day of Ashura, one of the most notable being narrated by the Prophet ﷺ: «Fasting the day of Ashura, I hope Allah will expiate for the year that came before it.»
It was also narrated by Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, that he said: «I have not seen the Prophet ﷺ eager to fast any day and give it precedence over others except this day, the day of Ashura.»
The Egyptian Dar al-Ifta clarified that fasting on the day of Ashura alone is permissible by Sharia and there is no dislike in it, and it holds great reward, with a significant virtue in fasting it.
They explained that the best is to combine fasting the ninth and tenth days of Muharram, following the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ who said: «If I am still alive next year, I will certainly fast the ninth.» This is to differ from the Jews' practice, who used to fast only on the day of Ashura.
The Al-Azhar Global Center for Electronic Fatwa also mentioned that, generally, fasting during the month of Muharram is among the best fasts after Ramadan, and the day of Ashura represents a significant religious occasion associated with the saving of our Master Moses, peace be upon him, and the triumph of truth over falsehood.
