History of The Day of Ashura (The 10th of Muharram)

09/07/2008

History of The Day of Ashura (The 10th of Muharram)

When
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) arrived in
Madinah in 622 CE, he found that the Jews there fasted on the 10th of
Muharram 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 fasted on this
day giving thanks to Allah.”

The Prophet (sa) said:“We are closer to Musa than you are.” He fasted on that day and commanded Muslims to fast on this day.(Al-Bukhari)

Fasting The Day of Ashura and The Day before it (These are voluntary fasts, they are not obligatory)[/size]

When the Messenger of Allah (sa) fasted on `Ashura’ and commanded the Muslims to fast as well.

They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, it is a day that the Jews and Christians honour.’

The Messenger of Allah (sa) said:‘If
I live to see the next year, insha’Allah, we will fast on the ninth day
too.’ But it so happened that the Messenger of Allah (sa) passed away
before the next year came.”(Reported by Muslim, 1916).

09 Muharram 1431 = Saturday 26 December 2009

10 Muharram (day of 'Aashooraa) 1431 = Sunday 27 December 2009

Al-Shaafa’i
and his companions, Ahmad, Ishaaq and others said: It is mustahabb to
fast both the ninth and the tenth, because the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) fasted the tenth and intended to fast
the ninth.

The
intention behind this (fasting on the 9th of Muharram), is to be
different from the Jews who limit their fasting to the 10th day. This
was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas.

If
‘Ashoora’ coincides with a Friday, he may fast, because his intention
is to fast ‘Ashoora’ and not to fast on a Friday. And Allaah is the
Source of strength. (This is the opinion of Sheikh Muhammed Salih
Al-Munajjid, some other Sheikhs have adviced that if ‘Ashoora’ falls on
a Friday one should either fast the day before it or after it, in order
of avoiding singling out the Friday, as the Prophet (s) instructed us
not to single out Fridays for fasting…wAllahu ‘Alam)

NB:
You should not observe voluntary fasts when you still owe one or more
days from Ramadaan, rather you should start with the fasts that you owe
from Ramadaan, and then observe voluntary fasts.

The Reward for Fasting The Day of Ashura

The Prophet (sa) said:“For
fasting the day of ‘Ashura, I hope that Allah will accept it as
expiation for (the sins committed in) the year that went before.”[Reported by Muslim, 1976]

Al-Nawawi
(may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Fasting the day of ‘Arafaah
expiates for all minor sins, in other words this brings forgiveness for
all sins except for major sins. (As they need separate repentance)

The
Prophet (sa) used to be very keen to make sure he fasted on the day of
‘Ashoora’ because of its great status. It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas
(may Allaah be pleased with him) said:I
never saw the Prophet (sa) so keen to make sure he fasted any day and
preferring it over another except this day, the day of ‘Ashoora’, and
this month – meaning Ramadaan. (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1867.)

Stick to the Sunnah – and avoid all Innovations (Bid’aa)

You
may of heard of some customs associated with `Ashura’ such as: cooking
and eating certain foods, making specific dhikr, du’a or to read
certain surahs a certain number of times, or to make nafl salaah, etc

^
NB: Specifying specific ibadah (worship) on specific days must be
backed up with Evidence from one of two sources: The Book Of Allah (The
Qur’aan) or the Hadiths (Sunnah of Our Prophet Muhammad – sa);
otherwise this action becomes a Bid’aa and its reward becomes
fruitless. If one simply wants to make dhikr or wants to read abit
extra nafl salaats, there is nothing wrong with this, as this should be
done all year round, but to specify it to this day – is innovation.

And
you may of also heard of others who consider this day as a day of
mourning, wailing, hitting themselves in honour of the Prophet
Muhammads (sa) grandson Al-Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) who
was killed.

Shaykh
al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Because of
the killing of al-Husayn, the Shaytaan started to spread two kinds of
bidah (innovation) amongst the people: the bidah of grieving and
wailing on the Day of Aashooraa, striking the cheeks, screaming,
weeping and reciting eulogies ; and the bidah of expressing happiness
and joy. So some express grief and others express joy, so they started
to like the idea of wearing kohl, taking a bath, spending on their
families and preparing special kinds of food on the day of Aashooraa
and every bidah is a going astray; none of the four imams of the
Muslims or others approved of either of these things (either expressing
grief or expressing joy)”

^
This is all Bid’aa, and we need to stay well away from it — and
remember the deen of Islaam is complete and is in no need of any
addition or alterations.

As Allaah Subhanahu-wa-Ta’alaa says:“This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.”[al-Maa’idah 5:3].

It is reported from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (sa) said: “Whoever innovates something in this matter of ours that is not part of it, will have it rejected.”

Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (sa) used to say in his Friday khutbahs:“The
best of speech is the Book of Allah and the best of guidance is the
guidance of Muhammad (sa). The most evil of things are those which are
newly-invented, and every innovation (bid’ah) is a going-astray.”

NB: For any action to be accepted by Allah it must meet the following 2 conditions:

Sincerity of Intentions – it must be done soley for the sake of Allah, and for no other reason

The
action must be done the way Allah legislated, and the way His Prophet
Muhammad (sa) legislated (clear evidence from the Qur’aan and Sunnah)

Who would refuse to Enter Paradise?

Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be please with him) reported that the Prophet (sa) said:“All
of my Ummah will enter Paradise except those that refuse.” Those who
were with him (the Sahaabah/companions) said, “And who will refuse?” He
(sa) said: “Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise and whoever disobeys
me will have refused.”(Sahih Al- Bukhari)

May
Allah accept from us all; allow us to gain the rewards of the day of
Ashura and may He (SWT) gather us all together with our Prophet
Muhammad (s) in Jannah. Ameen

Source: Adapted from Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid