Fasting 10th of Muharram on Wed, Jan 7th (Remember Gaza in your Dua')

According to scholars, you may choose to fast 'Ashura' on three days
(ninth, tenth, and eleventh); two days (ninth and tenth); or one day only
(the tenth). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Fasting
the day of 'Ashura' (is of great merits), I hope that Allah will accept it
as an expiation for (the sins committed in) the previous year." (Muslim)

'Ashura' commemorates the day that Allah saved the Children of Israel
from Pharaoh.

Fasting on Muharram 10, known as the Day of 'Ashura', expiates for the
sins of the past year. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
arrived in Madinah in 622 CE, he found that the Jews there fasted on
Muharram 10 and asked them the reason for their fasting on this day. They
said," This is a blessed day. On this day Allah saved the Children of
Israel from their enemy (in Egypt) and so Prophet Musa [Moses] fasted on
this day giving thanks to Allah."

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,

"We are closer to Musa than you are."

He fasted on that day and commanded Muslims to fast on this day.
(Al-Bukhari) The following year, Allah commanded the Muslims to fast the
month of Ramadan, and the fasting of 'Ashura' became optional. It is also
reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) intended to
fast on the ninth and tenth. Ibn 'Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah
fasted on the day of 'Ashura' and ordered the people to fast on it. The
people said, "O Messenger of Allah, it is a day that the Jews and
Christians honor." The Prophet said, "When the following year comes, Allah
willing, we shall fast on the ninth." The death of the Prophet came before
the following year. (Muslim and Abu Dawud) For more on 'Ashura' and
Muharram, please read:¤ The Significance of Fasting the Day of 'Ashura'
Virtues of the Month of Muharram & Fasting during It

Thus, according to scholars, you may choose to fast 'Ashura' on three days
(ninth, tenth, and eleventh); two days (ninth and tenth); or one day only
(the tenth). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Fasting
the day of 'Ashura' (is of great merits), I hope that Allah will accept it
as an expiation for (the sins committed in) the previous year." (Muslim)
But this expiation of minor sins comes only if you avoid major sins. It is
a big mistake to rely on fasting a single day to "wipe your slate clean."
If you neglect your daily Prayers or the fast of Ramadan, or if you
backbite, lie, commit adultery or other major sins, fasting on 'Ashura'
alone will not atone for your sins.

The great scholar Ibn Al-Qayyim Al-Jawziyya (b. 691 AH/1292 CE) wrote:
This misguided person does not know that fasting in Ramadan and praying
five times a day are much more important than fasting on the Day of Arafah
and the Day of 'Ashura', and that they expiate for the sins between one
Ramadan and the next, or between one Friday and the next, so long as one
avoids major sins. But they cannot expiate for minor sins unless one also
avoids major sins; when the two things are put together, they have the
strength to expiate for minor sins. Among those deceived people may be one
who thinks that his good deeds are more than his sins, because he does not
pay attention to his bad deeds or check on his sins, but if he does a good
deed he remembers it and relies on it.

This is like the one who seeks Allah's forgiveness with his tongue (that
is, by words only), and glorifies Allah by saying "subhan Allah" one
hundred times a day, then he backbites about the Muslims and slanders
their honor, and speaks all day long about things that are not pleasing to
Allah. This person is always thinking about the virtues of his saying
"subhan Allah" and saying "la ilaha illa Allah" but he pays no attention
to what has been reported concerning those who backbite, tell lies, and
slander others, or commit other sins of the tongue. They are completely
deceived. (Al-Mawsu'ah Al-Fiqhiyyah, part 31, Ghuroor) You may hear of
some customs associated with 'Ashura' such as cooking and eating certain
foods on that day, wearing kohl or henna, or even merrymaking. Others
consider this a day of mourning and wailing in honor of the Prophet's
grandson Al-Husayn, who was killed in battle on that day. The scholar Ibn
Taymiyah (b. 661 AH/1263 CE) stated that all of these are bid'ahs
(reprehensible innovations) that should be avoided. Take advantage of this
opportunity to bring yourself closer to Allah on 'Ashura' by fasting and
praying for forgiveness.