In this blog, I have written about some significance of the Day of Ashura(10th of Muharram), the first month of the Islamic calendar year.
END OF SLAVERY FOR CHILDREN OF ISRAEL(BANI ISRAEL)
When Prophet Muhammad SAW arrived in Madinah he saw that the Jews were observing fast on the Day of Ashura and they said that they were doing so to celebrate the victory of Prophet Musa(Moses) over Pharoh.
Prophet Musa(AS) raised his voice against the tyranny of Pharoh and fought for the freedom of his nation (Bani Israel) from the shackles of slavery.
Significance of Fasting on the Day of Ashura
When the Prophet SAW arrived at Medina, the Jews were observing the fast on 'Ashura' (10th of Muharram) and they said, "This is the day when Moses became victorious over Pharaoh," On that, the Prophet SAW said to his companions, "You (Muslims) have more right to celebrate Moses' victory than they have, so observe the fast on this day." [Sahih Bukhari 4680]
Due to the victory of Prophet Moses(AS) and to show their love for Prophet Moses(AS) Muslims also fast on the day of Ashura but it is optional for them to fast on this day as is evident from the following hadith:
The people used to fast on 'Ashura' (the tenth day of the month of Muharram) before the fasting of Ramadan was made obligatory. And on that day, the Ka`ba used to be covered with a cover. When Allah made fasting during the month of Ramadan compulsory, Allah's Messenger SAW said, "Whoever wishes to fast (on the day of 'Ashura') may do so; and whoever wishes to leave it can do so." [Sahih Bukhari 1592]
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that he (the Messenger of Allah) was asked as to which prayer was most excellent after the prescribed prayer, and which fast was most excellent after the month of Ramadan. He said:
"Prayer offered in the middle of the night(Tahajjud) and the most excellent fast after (fasting) in the month of Ramadan is the fast in God's month al-Muharram."
As Jews also observe the fast on the day of Ashura so for Muslims who want to observe the fast on this day should also observe the fast on the day before that i.e. on the 9th of Muharram or the day after that i.e. 11th of Muharram to differentiate from the Jews. This is evident from the following hadith:
It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas that the Messenger of Allah SAW said:
"If I live until next year, I will fast the ninth day (of Muharram) too.” [Ibn Majah 1736]
It is also evident from the following hadith that fasting on the day of Ashura compensates for all the sins of the previous year:
“Fasting the day of ‘Ashura’, I hope, will expiate for the sins of the previous year.” [Ibn Majah 1738]
This does not mean major sins but rather minor ones.
MARTYRDOM OF IMAM HUSSAIN(AS)
This was the day when the tragedy of Karbala took place. Imam Husayn(AS) embraced martyrdom along with 72 members of his family. When Yazid ibn Muawaya came to power, many people were not happy with his reign as he was a tyrant and corrupt leader. His reign was based on rules that were contrary to Islam. It was in quite a contrast to the Rassidun Caliphate, which lasted for about 30 years and is a role model for governance not only for Muslims but the rest of the world as well.
Many Muslims across the world remember the tragedy of Karbala and the sacrifice made by Imam Husayn(AS) and the members of his family.
A true Husayni is not the one who only remembers him on the Day of Ashura but the true Husayni is the one who acts upon what Imam Husayn(AS) did i.e. to fight against oppression.
LESSONS FROM PROPHET MUSA(AS) AND IMAM HUSAYN'S FIGHT AGAINST TYRANNY
Yazid and Pharoh both were corrupt, violent rulers who oppressed their people. We learn a very valuable lesson from Prophet Moses's fight against Pharoh and Imam Husayn's sacrifice. That lesson is never to bow down against oppression, to fight till your last breath against those who oppose Allah Almighty. Just like there is a Pharoh or Yazeed at a time there must also be a Musa(AS) or Husayn(AS) to fight against them and that could be us as well. Prophet Musa(AS) taught us that if you rise against oppression and tyranny. Allah will help and guide you, and you will succeed in bringing an end to oppression and tyranny.
The sacrifice of Imam Husayn(AS) and his companions in Karbala taught us that even if you don't succeed against oppression in your life then the generations after you will achieve success because you will become a role model for them against oppression, injustice, cruelty and tyranny. This is what we learn from history those who martyred Imam Husayn(AS) were killed by the freedom fighters most prominent among them were Mukhtar al-Thaqafi and his followers. Even at present Imam Husayn(AS) is a role model for all Muslims to fight against oppression, injustice and tyranny whether it is in Palestine, Kashmir, Myanmar(Rohingya Muslims against the tyranny of Myanmar regime) or in Xinjiang(Uighur Muslims against oppressive Chinese regime) or anywhere around the world we should do what Imam Husayn(AS) did never to bow down against oppression and keep on fighting according to your capability and keep faith on Allah Almighty. These are the basic teachings of Islam. This is what all the Prophets and their (Sahaba)companions did. This is what our beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW and his companions(Sahaba) did. This is the real definition of Jihad. This is what great warriors and soldiers in the history of Islam such as Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi, Sultan Nuruddin Zangi, Sultan Alp Arsalan, Sultan Muhammad Fatih, Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and many others did. This is what we should do as well to rise against oppression and injustice according to our capabilities meanwhile increasing our capabilities as well to fight against tyranny.
Another interesting lesson which we learned from the incident of Karbala is what the people of Kufa and the rest of the Muslim Ummah at that time did. The people of Kufa were the ones sending letters calling Imam Husayn(AS) to Kufa but when they were required to stand by Imam they were absent and became neutral. You must have wondered and asked yourself this question how come Imam Husayn(AS) and his companions were massacred so mercilessly in Karbala while the whole Ummah, the Kufians and all of the Sahaba of Prophet Muhammad SAW who spent and devoted their lives for Islam and Prophet Muhammad SAW did not help Imam Husayn(AS) as much as they should have? What was the reason that prevented them from standing with Imam Husayn(AS)? It was the same reason that is preventing the Muslim Ummah today from standing with the Palestinians, the Kashmiris, the Rohingya Muslims, Uighur Muslims and anywhere around the world where Muslims are being persecuted. We are in no way different than the Kufians and the Ummah of that time. If you take Palestine as an example if we were different we would have done practical steps rather than just condemning and issuing statements. The Ummah is silent as it was at the time of the Imam doing almost nothing for the Muslims being persecuted around the world. In the case of Palestine, we haven't even done 10 per cent to help Palestinians what the West has done to help Israel.
OTHER SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DAY OF ASHURA
Some scholars have also narrated that Ashura was the day when:
- Prophet Ayub recovered from his disease.
- The ark of Prophet Nuh(AS)(Noah) stopped at Mount Judiyy.
- Allah created the skies and earth.
- Prophet Yunus was released from the belly of the Whale and Allah forgave his people.
- Prophet Adam(AS) repented and was forgiven by Allah for eating the forbidden fruit.
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