The Day of `Âshûrâ'

بسم الله والحمد لله, والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله

The day of `Âshûrâ' is the tenth day of the month of Allâh, al-Muharram.

Fasting

It is a confirmed sunnah to fast on both Tâsû`â' and `Ashûrâ', which are the ninth and tenth days of Muharram.

The evidence for fasting on `Âshûrâ' is the the hadîth in which Ibn `Abbâs (رضي الله عنه) says: "When the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) came to Madînah, he found (the Jews) fasting on the day of `Âshûrâ' (i.e. 10th of Muharram). They used to say: 'This is a great day on which Allâh saved Mûsâ and drowned the folk of Pharaoh. Mûsâ observed the fast on this day, as a sign of gratitude to Allâh.' The Prophet said, 'I am closer to Mûsâ than they.' So, he observed the fast (on that day) and ordered the Muslims to fast on it." [Narrated by al-Bukhâriyy, 4/609]

The evidence for fasting on Tâsû`â' is in the hadîth related by Ibn `Abbâs (رضي الله عنه), who reported the following: "[When] the Messenger of Allâh (صلى الله عليه وسلم) fasted on the day of `Âshûrâ' and commanded that it should he observed as a fast, they (his Companions) said to him: 'Messenger of Allâh, it is a day which the Jews and Christians hold in high esteem.' Thereupon the Messenger of Allâh said: 'When the next year comes, Inshâ'allâh, we would observe fast on the 9th.' But the Messenger of Allâh died before the advent of the next year." [Narrated by Muslim, 2528]

Imâm an-Nawawi (رحمه الله) said: The scholars among our companions and others said that there are several reasons for recommending fasting on the ninth day (Tâsû`â'):

1. The intention behind it is to be different from the Jews who limit their fasting to the tenth day.
2. The intention was to join the fast of `Âshûrâ' to another day, just as it is not allowed to fast on a Friday on its own [but it is allowed if one fasts the day before or the day after as well].
3. The idea is to be on the safe side and make sure one is fasting on the tenth, in case the moon sighting was not accurate and what people think is the ninth is actually the tenth.

In another hadîth, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: "...and I seek from Allâh that fasting on the day of `Âshûrâ' may atone for the sins of the preceding year." [Narrated by Muslim, 2602; Abî Dâwûd, 2419]

However, the atonement and expiation of sins from fasting `Âshûrâ', as well as fasting Ramadân, fasting `Arafah, etc. applies to minor sins only. Major sins need separate repentance.

Refutation of What the Shî`ah Do On `Âshûrâ'

With regard to what the Shî`ah do on `Âshûrâ' of slapping their cheeks, striking and cutting their heads, shedding their blood and making special foods, this is all bid`ah (objectionable innovation). It is not permissible to take part in that, or to help those who do it, or to eat this food that they have prepared for their innovation and misguidance, because that is cooperating in sin and transgression.

It was reported from `Abdullâh bin Mas`ûd (رضي الله عنه) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, "He who slaps his cheeks, tears his clothes and follows the ways and traditions of the Days of Ignorance is not one of us." (Narrated by al-Bukhâri, 2/382) A similar hadîth was narrated by Muslim (184)

The day of `Âshûrâ' is regarded by the Shî`ah as the day of mourning the martyrdom of Husayn (رضي الله عنه), and they mark this by harming themselves and shedding their blood. To attribute the significance of `Âshûrâ' to Husayn's martyrdom is totally baseless because the sanctity of `Âshûrâ' was proven, beyond doubt, from the time of the Messenger of Allâh (صلى الله عليه وسلم), whilst Husayn was martyred fifty years after the Prophet left this earth. The fact that the martyrdom of Husayn occurred on the day of `Âshûrâ' has absolutely no bearing on the significance of this day, nor is the sanctity of this day derived from this event. On the contrary, it is one of the merits of Husayn that he was martyred on the day of `Âshûrâ'.

Al-Hâfiz ibn Kathîr said (رحمه الله): Every Muslim should mourn the killing of al-Husayn (رضي الله عنه), for he is one of the leaders of the Muslims, one of the scholars of the Sahâbah, and the son of the daughter of the Messenger of Allâh, who was the best of his daughters. He was a devoted worshipper, and a courageous and generous man. But there is nothing good in what the Shî`ah do of expressing distress and grief, most of which may be done in order to show off. His father was better than him and he was killed, but they do not take his death as an anniversary as they do with the death of al-Husayn. His father was killed on a Friday as he was leaving the mosque after Fajr prayer, on the 17th of Ramadân in 40 AH. [...] The Messenger of Allâh (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is the leader of the sons of Adam in this world and the Hereafter, and Allâh took him to Him as the Prophets died before him, but no one took the dates of their deaths as anniversaries on which they do what these ignorant Raafidis (Shi`ahs) do on the day that al-Husayn was killed.

والله أعلم و أحكم

The Month of Muharram

بسم الله والحمد لله, والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله

The first month of the Islamic year 1433 has arrived. Indeed, month of Muharram is one that has virtues in it. This is explained below.

Muharram -- One of the Four Sacred Months of Allâh

Allâh (سبحانه وتعالى) says in the Qur'ân:

"Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them." (TMQ at-Tawbah 9:36)

It was narrated from Abî Bakrah (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allâh (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: "Time has come back to its original state which it had on the day Allah created the Heavens and the Earth. The year is twelve months, four of which are sacred, three of them are in succession, namely Dhu-l-Qa`dah, Dhu-l-Hijjah and Muharram, [the fourth being the] Rajab of [the tribe of] Mudar which is between Jumadâ [ath-Thâni] and Sha`bân. (Narrated by al-Bukhâri (7/458) and Muslim (4160))

Allâh’s (سبحانه وتعالى) words (interpretation of the meaning): “do not wrong yourselves during them…” mean do not wrong yourselves by sinning in these sacred months, because sin in these months is worse than in other months. It was reported that Ibn `Abbâs said that this phrase (do not wrong yourselves during them…) referred to all the months, then these four were singled out and made sacred, so that sin in these months is more serious and good deeds bring a greater reward.

Qatâdah (رضي الله عنه) said about Allâh's (سبحانه وتعالى) Statement “do not wrong yourselves during them…”: "Injustice during the Sacred Months is worse and graver than injustice in other months. Verily, injustice is always wrong, but Allah makes things graver than others as He will.''
He also said, "Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) has chosen some of His creation above others. He chose Messengers from angels and from men. He also chose His Speech above all speech, the Masâjid above other areas of the earth, Ramadan and the Sacred Months above all months, Friday above the other days and Laylatu-l-Qadr (The Night of Decree) above all nights. Therefore, sanctify what Allah has sanctified, for doing so is the practice of people of understanding and comprehension.'' (See Tafsîr Ibn Kathîr: Tafsîr of Surah at-Tawbah, âyah 36).

Fasting the Month of Muharram

During the month of Muharram, the Muslim is encouraged to fast as many days as he can. This is proven by the Hadîth reported by Abû Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: "The most excellent fast after Ramadân is Allâh's (سبحانه وتعالى) month, al-Muharram, and the most excellent prayer after what is prescribed is prayer during the night." (Narrated by Muslim, 2611)

The fact that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) called Muharram the month of Allâh further elevates the status of this month.

However, it was proven that the only month the Messenger of Allâh (صلى الله عليه وسلم) used to fast in its entirety was Ramadân, so this hadîth is probably meant to encourage the Muslim to fast more in Muharram.

Also, it was proven that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) used to fast the most in the month of Sha`bân [apart from Ramadân], as can be seen from what `Â'ishah (رضي الله عنها) said: "I never saw Allah's Apostle fasting for a whole month except the month of Ramadan, and did not see him fasting in any month more than in the month of Sha`ban." (Narrated by al-Bukhâri, 3/190)

It is likely that the virtue of Muharram was not revealed to him until the end of his life, before he was able to fast during this month. (See Sharh Sahîh Muslim by Imâm an-Nawawi).

`Âshûrâ'

[Click here to read about the day of `Âshûrâ']

Warfare in Muharram

To initiate warfare is forbidden in all four sacred months, which includes Muharram.

Allâh (سبحانه وتعالى) says:

"They ask you concerning fighting in the Sacred Months (i.e. 1st, 7th, 11th and 12th months of the Islamic calendar). Say, "Fighting therein is a great (transgression)..."(TMQ al-Baqarah 2:217)

والله أعلم و أحكم