Is it Obligatory To Fast The 9th Along With The Tenth of Muharram?

 Is it obligatory to fast the tenth along with the ninth?

Shaykh Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani: Yes

Questioner: Assalamu alaikum.

Shaykh Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani: Wa alaikum salam wa rahmatullah.

Questioner: I have a question.

Shaykh Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani: Please, go ahead.

Questioner: Regarding fasting on the ninth and tenth (of Muharram), is it obligatory to fast the tenth along with the ninth?

Shaykh Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani: Is it obligatory to what?

Questioner: Is it obligatory to fast the ninth (along with the tenth)?

Shaykh Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani: If you mean by what you said, my brother, if it is a legislative obligation, the answer is the origin of fasting on the tenth (of Muharram) aside from the ninth (of Muharram), it is not obligatory. It is only something that is recommended.

Questioner interrupts…

Shaykh Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani: Listen my brother. Listen to the answer and pay attention so that you understand. 

I say: You said, “Is it obligatory?” And the answer is: a legislative obligation is something that is not permissible to leave off and the one who leaves it off is punished. So draw your attention to that if fasting on the tenth (of Muharram) aside from the ninth (of Muharaam) is not obligatory, rather it is something recommended. However, this recommendation is of two levels. The first, which is the higher of the two is that he fasts the ninth and the tenth (of Muharram) and the second, and it is the lower of the two, is that he fasts the tenth alone. 

Questioner: May Allāh preserve and reward you.

Shaykh Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani: And the same for you Inshallah.