Question:
Prophet Mohammad migrated to Medina and saw Jews of Medina fasting on Ashoorah. He said: if I am alive next year, I will fast 9th and 10th (or 10th and 11th?) and he died before next Muharram. Prophet Mohammad stayed 10 years in Medina after migrating from Makkah. With reference to the Hadith of fasting on Ashoorah, how do we explain the above delay of 9 years. Am I mixing the text of more than 1 hadith and getting confused? Please clarify.
Fatwa:
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.
Dear brother
Please refer to fatwa:81899.
As for the cause of Prophet's delay of observing the fast of the Ninth of Muharram - as a disagreement with Jews - till the end of his life, we quote Ibn Hajar's words in his book "al-Fath". The Prophet Muhammad was used to conforming with the People of the Book in matters that he was not given a Divine order, especially if such matters contradicted Pagan's actions. But, when the Prophet Muhammad conquered Makkah and Islam became known, he wanted to disagree even with the People of the Book as proved in sound narrations. At first, he agreed with them and said: "We have more of a right to Moses than you". Then, he wanted to disagree with them.
Allah Knows best.