Ashura in Islam
ASHURA IN ISLAM
The day of Ashura is an important time for Muslims as well as the nations before us. Many events and occurrences took place on this date and it has great virtue in the Islamic tradition. The ummah remembers the Prophets prior to our Prophet ﷺ and this day is specified for voluntary fasting. In this article, we will discuss the virtue of this day and its rich history within and prior to Islam.
Ashura is on the tenth of the first Islamic month (Muharram) according to the majority. However, some companions believed it to be on the ninth and others believed it to be the eleventh.
Muharram marks the arrival of the Prophet ﷺ to Madinah, the first and original Islamic state - it was from his entering that the second caliph; Sayyiduna Umar b. al-Kattab (Allah is pleased with him) set the Hijri calendar as we know it today. As well as being the first Islamic month it is also included amongst the four holy months wherein war is prohibited, good and bad deeds multiply in number.
The word Ashura is derived from the Arabic word for ten, it is placed on this scale for an emphasised meaning and for honour of this day. One of the reasons given for this name is because it was said Allah honoured ten of His Prophets with ten miracles on this very day.
FASTING ON ASHURA
The fast of Ashura was regarded as the first obligatory (wajib) fast in Islam and later its obligatoriness was abrogated due to the command of fasting in the month of Ramadan. It is the opinion of Imam Abu Hanifah that the fasting of Ashura was wajib upon this nation.
Narrated by Aisha (Allah is pleased with her) she said, ‘The Messenger ﷺ ordered fasting on the day of Ashura, and when the fasting of Ramadan was prescribed - it became optional for one to fast on that day or to not fast’. (Bukhari, 2001)
WHY WAS THE FASTING OF ASHURA LEGISLATED?
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered Madinah from his migration with Abu Bakr (Allah is pleased with him) they witnessed the Jews of Madinah fasting. Madinah was heavily populated by the Jews due to King Tubba who passed by this land, then known as Yathrib. The Rabbis alongside him recognised the signs of this land and knew it to be the land of the final promised Prophet, so they settled therein anticipating his arrival.
Upon witnessing the Jews fasting on this day they were asked as to why they observed this day for fasting, we will mention the complete narration shortly.
The fasting of Ashura was not something new to the Prophet ﷺ as the Quraysh would also fast on this day.
Sayyidah Aisha narrates, ‘Quraysh would fast on the day of Ashura - pre Islam - and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would also fast on that day’ (Bukhari, 2002)
WE ARE CLOSER TO MUSA THAN THEM!
Sayyiduna Abdullah b. Abbas (Allah is pleased with them both) narrates, ‘When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ arrived in Madinah, the Jews were fasting. He ﷺ asked them (as to why they were fasting), They replied, ‘This is the day Allah granted victory to Musa over Pharoah’. The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘We are closer to Musa than them, so fast’ (Bukhari, 4736)
In another narration of Ibn Maja, The Prophet ﷺ said to the Jews, ‘We have more right to Musa than you’ (Ibn Maja, 1734)
THE VIRTUES OF THIS DAY
The virtues of Ashura are many, books have been compiled specifically on this topic with many narrations having been gathered by the scholars of Hadith. We will suffice with the following narrations in virtue of fasting on this day:
FASTING ON ASHURA REMOVES THE SINS OF A YEAR
Narrated by Abu Qatadah, ‘The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘I have hope that for fasting the day of Ashura, Allah will forgive the sins of the previous year’ and in the variant of at-Tirmidhi the following is added: ‘and the year preceding’. (Tirmidhi 749, Muslim 1162a and Ibn Maja 1738)
Note: Major sins require sincere repentance, regret and a firm intention not to return to the sin. If one has wronged another person or taken their right - part of repentance is to also seek their forgiveness.
THE PROPHETS FASTED ON THIS DAY
The greatest guide is our Prophet ﷺ and his brethren are the Prophets, by imitating them not only will we receive reward but also the honour of continuing the way of the chosen emissaries of Allah.
Narrated by Abu Hurairah ‘The Prophets (peace be upon them) would fast the day of Ashura, so fast on it!’ (Ibn Abi Shaybah, 9605)
THE BEST OF FASTS AFTER RAMADAN
Fasting is a means for our piety and God-consciousness to increase, the reward of fasting is well established for Ramadan, and the best of fasts thereafter is that of Ashura.
Narrated by Ali (Allah is pleased with him) ‘A man asked the Prophet ﷺ ‘When do you order me to fast after the fasting of Ramadan?’ The Prophet ﷺ replied, ‘Fast Muharram! For it is the month of Allah…’ (Tirmidhi, 741)
Not only did the Prophet ﷺ advise its fasting but He ﷺ further emphasised its importance by associating the sacredness of this month with Allah.
THE FASTING OF A LIFETIME
Imam Badr ad-Din al-Ayni also quotes from ‘Kitab al-Ashura’ with the following narration:
‘Whoever fasts Ashura, it is as if he has fasted a lifetime and stood in prayer all of its nights’.
Ten miracles were given to ten Prophets on this day
Sayyiduna Musa was aided on this day by the sea splitting for him and Pharoah and his army drowning,
Sayyiduna Nuh’s ark reached shore on this day,
Sayyiduna Yunus exited the stomach of the whale on this day,
Sayyiduna Adam’s repentance was accepted by Allah on this day,
Sayyiduna Yusuf was released from jail on this day,
Sayyiduna Isa was born and raised to the heavens on this day,
Sayyiduna Dawud’s repentance was accepted by Allah on this day,
Sayyiduna Ibrahim was born on this day,
Sayyiduna Ya’qub’s eyesight was restored on this day,
Sayyiduna Muhammad’s past and prior were forgiven for him on this day.
After presenting the above ten miracles, Imam Badr ad-Din al-Ayni also records the following miracles which occurred for other Prophets on this day: Sayyiduna Idris was raised to the heavens, Sayyiduna Ayub was cured and Sayyiduna Sulayman was given his kingdom on this day.
Ashura also marks the martyrdom of the grandson of the Prophet ﷺ, Sayyiduna Imam al-Husayn. As Sunni Muslims we do not mourn the death of those who have passed for more than three days, nor do we show exaggerated sadness by tearing clothes, beating ourselves and wailing. We celebrate the life of Imam al-Husayn and make mention of his virtue amongst the Companions and the Honorable Cleansed Household.
Allah allow us to honour this day as it ought to be honoured and uphold the sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the Prophets prior to him.
Written by Ustadh Umer Asif
Bibliography
Sahih al-Bukhari, Bukhari
Sahih Muslim, Muslim
Jami at-Tirmidhi, Tirmidhi
Sunnan Ibn Maja, Ibn Maja
Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Ibn Abi Shaybah
Umdat al-Qari fi Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, Ayni
