Moharram-ul-harram

What is Ashurah ?

The conventional meaning of Ashura in the Shariah refers to the 10th of Muharram-ul-Haram. In his distinguished book, “Ghuniyatut Taalibeen”, Sayyiduna Ghaus-ul-Azam, Sheikh Abdul Qaadir Jilani (radi Allahu anhu) writes that the Ulema have a difference of opinion, as to why this day is known as Aashura. Since the reason has been explained in various ways, the consensus of the majority of the Ulema is that it is known as Ashurah because it is the 10th day of Muharram, while certain Ulema say that from the sacred days that Almighty Allah blessed the Ummat-e-Muhammadi with, this day is the 10th most important day, and it is for this reason that it is known as Ashurah. (Ghuniyatut Taalibeen, Pg. 428)

Significant Events concerning Ashurah

With the exception of the Martyrdom of Sayyiduna Imam-e-Hussain (radi Allahu anhu) there are also various other incidents which occurred on Yaum-e-Ashurah. It is also for those reasons that this day has received such excellence. In his internationally renowned Kitaab, “Nuzhatul Majaalis”, Sayyiduna Sheikh Abdur Rahman Safoori (radi Allahu anhu) explains the following important events which took place on Yaum-e-Ashurah:

1. It was on this day that the Skies earth and the Lauw-e-Qalam came into existence.

2. It was on this day that Sayyiduna Adam (alaihis salaam) and Sayyiduna Hawa were created.

3. Sayyiduna Adam’s (alaihis salaam) Tauba was accepted.

4. Sayyiduna Nooh’s (alaihis salaam) Ark came on land.

5. Sayyiduna Ibrahim (alaihis salaam) received the status of Khaleelullah.

6. Sayyiduna Yaqub (alaihis salaam) met Sayyiduna Yusuf (alaihis salaam) after 40 years.

7. Sayyiduna Idrees (alaihis salaam) was raised into the skies.

8. Sayyiduna Ayub (alaihis salaam) regained his health.

9. Sayyiduna Yunus (alaihis salaam) was released from the stomach of the fish.

10. Sayyiduna Dawud’s (alaihis salaam) Tauba was accepted.

11. Sayyiduna Sulaiman (alaihis salaam) received his Kingdom.

12. Sayyiduna Esa (alaihis salaam) was raised into the skies.

13. Sayyiduna Muhammad Mustapha (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) made Nikah to Sayyiduna Bibi Khadija (radi Allahu anha).

14. It is on this day that Qiyamat will occur.

The Salaah of Yaum-e-Ashurah

The Holy Prophet Muhammad Mustapha (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has stated, “That person who performs four rakaats of Salaah on the day of Ashurah in this way, that he reads the entire Sura Ikhlaas (Qulhuwal laa) 11 times after Sura Fatiha in every rakaat, then Almighty Allah will forgive fifty years of his sins, and he will blessed with a Mimbar (pulpit) of Noor.” (Nuzhatul Majalis, Vol.1, Pg. 181)

The Fasting of Yaum-e-Ashurah

To keep fast on the day of Ashurah is worthy of great reward. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) used to even fast on this day and He used to also command others to fast on this day. It is recorded in “Sahihain” from Sayyiduna Abu Moosa Ash’ari (radi Allahu anhu) that the Jews used to respect the day of Ashura and they also rejoiced on this day. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) commanded, “You too should fast in this day”. In one Hadith of “Muslim”, it is recorded that the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said, “On the day of Ashurah, the People of Khaibar keep fast, rejoice and dress their wives in good clothes and jewellery. O Muslims! You too should fast on this day.”

Sayyiduna Qatadah (radi Allahu anhu) reports that the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has stated, “On the day of Ashurah I hope that through this (Ashurah) Almighty Allah will make it a means of Kafaara for past sins.” (Mishkat Shareef, Pg. 179)

In the year 10 A.H., when the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) was keeping the fast of Ashurah, the Sahaba-e-Kiraam (ridwaan nulahi ta’ala ajma’in) requested, “This is that day which is honoured by the Jews and Christians.” The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said, “If I am here next year, then I shall also fast on the 9th (of Muharram).” (Mishkat Shareef, Pg. 179) If is for this reason that we should not only fast on the tenth, but also on the ninth of Muharram-ul-Haraam.

Important A’maal (practices) on Yaum-e-Ashurah

 1. It is recorded in “Tafseer Roohul Bayaan” that the person who stays awake on the night of Ashurah gains the Sawaab of the Mala’ikah.

2. The Masha’ikh have stated that by making Ghusl on this day, the sicknesses for the entire year are washed away.

3. Shaami in “Kitaabus Saum” states that using surma on this day will not cause they eye to pain for the entire year.

Why is Kichra cooked during Aashurah?

 It is in Shaami, “That person who cooks good food on the day of Ashurah, will Insha- Allah, gain Barkat from Almighty Allah in his home for the entire year.” Commenting on this in “Tafseer Na’eemi”, Sayyiduna Allama Mufti Ahmad Yaar Khan (rahmatullah alaih) writes: “In our country Haleem (kichra) is cooked because it contain all types of grains and meat, through which we have hope that their will be barkat in the grain for the entire year. In certain narrations, it has been stated that the day on which the Ark of Sayyiduna Nooh (alaihis salaam) came onto land, the inhabitants of the Ark disembarked and gathered all types of grain and cooked it into Haleem (Kichra).”

MUHARRAM

 Muharram also brings with it the brilliant lesson from the History of Islam, in the Hijrat of Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) from Mecca to Madinatul Munawwarah. According to history, when Rasool-e-Paak (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) arrived in Madina, Abdullah bin Salaam, the famous Jewish scholar was busy breaking dates in his garden. When news of Rasoolullah’s (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) arrival reached him, he immediately set out to observe Rasoolullah’s (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) activities. Before long he found himself in the midst of the Muslims of Madina where Nabi-e-Paak (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) was addressing the Muslims thus, “O people! Get into the habit of greeting one another at all times, and feed one another, and treat your relatives and friends with love and kindness. And when everyone is asleep at night, remember to pray to Almighty Allah at that time. If you keep up in practice with these things then you shall enter Jannah in peace.”

 This Prophetic advice bears glad tidings for Muslims throughout the ages. Alas! Had the Muslims of today only given heed to, and practised upon this advice, it would have produced the solutions to nearly all their problems. Hidden embodied in this advice is the secrets of the success of this world and the Hereafter.

 This advice had produced a deeply profound effect on Abdullah bin Salaam, so much so that he went to the house of Sayyiduna Abu Ayoob Ansari (radi Allahu anhu) and addressed the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) in the following manner, “I accept your claim of Prophethood and I sincerely believe that your religion (Islam) is a true religion.” Having made this announcement, he accepted Islam.

 It was also during the month of Muharram that history had recorded the events of Karbala regarding Sayyiduna Sayyiduna Imam Husain (radi Allahu anhu). The martyrdom of Sayyiduna Imam Husain (radi Allahu anhu) had breathed new life into the spirit of Islam regarding the values of Imaan.

 Sunni Muslims the world over, in their remembrance of the Ahle-Bait and Sayyiduna Imam Husain (radi Allahu anhum ajma’in), engage themselves in feeding the poor in their memory as a mark of respect. On this ocassion, it is imperative to reflect as to what aspect of the great Imam’s life we Muslims are emulating to improve ourselves spiritually. Should we lack the enthusiasm to put into practice the teachings of the Sunnah which Sayyiduna Imam Husain (radi Allahu anhu) followed so truthfully that he paid the ultimate price for it, we should sit back and question our sincerity in the love for Almighty Allah, His Rasool (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), the Ahle-Bait, and the beloved Sahaba like Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, Sayyiduna Umar, Sayyiduna Uthman and Sayyiduna Ali (ridwanullahi ta’ala ajma’in).

 It is the love of the Ahle-Bait and the Sahaba-e-Kiraam (ridwanullahi ta’ala ajma’in) that should produce the driving force in emulating closely in our lives the Sunnah of Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). This alone in these times would not only provide the guiding light spiritually, but also be a source of great Barakah and reward in this world and the Hereafter.