Significance of Day of Ashura(10th of Muharram)

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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.

SIGNIFICANCE OF FASTING ON THE DAY OF ASHURA

    When Prophet Muhammad SAW arrived in Madinah he saw that the Jews were observing fast on the Day of Ashura 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. 

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 Kaba 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 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 HUSAYN(AS)

    

     This was the day when the tragedy of Karbala took place in which Imam Husayn(AS) along with 72 members of his family were massacred by Yazid's army. 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 contrast to the Rashidun Caliphate, which lasted for about 30 years and serves as 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 a true Husayni is the one who acts upon what Imam Husayn(AS) did.

LESSONS FROM PROPHET MUSA(AS) AND IMAM HUSAYN'S FIGHT AGAINST TYRANNY

     Yazid and Pharoh both were corrupt and oppressive 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 their is always a Pharoh or Yazeed  their must also be a Musa(AS) or Husayn(AS) to fight against that Pharaoh or Yazid. Prophet Musa(AS)  taught us that if you rise against oppression and tyranny then 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 people 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 was Mukhtar al-Thaqafi and his followers. Even at present Imam Husayn(AS) serves as 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(Uyghur 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. The resistance to those who oppose the rule of Allah must continue. These are the basic teachings of Islam. This is what our beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW, his companions(Sahaba) did, warriors and soldiers in the history of Islam did. This is the real definition of Jihad. This is what we should do as well to rise against oppression and injustice as per our own capabilities. While doing so we should also increase our capabilities to fight against tyranny and injustice in a much better way.

    Another interesting lesson which we can learn 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 him 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 entire Ummah did not help Imam Husayn(AS) and they did not stand with him? 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 our oppressed brothers in Palestinians, the Kashmiris, the Rohingya Muslims, Uyghur Muslims etc. 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. The Ummah is doing almost nothing for the Muslims being persecuted around the world. In the case of Palestine, if we compare the help offered by the West to Israel with what the Ummah has done to help Palestine than our help is not even 10 percent of the help given by the West to Israel.

In short I would like to say that while striving against oppression and tyranny we should not think about our own lives because even if we are killed we will be martyred just like Imam Husayn. We should remember that our lives and everything bestowed upon us by Allah Almighty belongs to him so all these things should be used to please him. One day we will eventually die and all the provisions given to us by Allah Almighty will eventually be owned by someone else. The real success is not to live a long life or to be rich etc. but the real success is that you succeed in the hereafter infront of Allah Almighty at the day of Judgment. If the road to this success is long then we should not lose hope because Allah Almighty will not waste the sacrifices which we offer.

OTHER SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DAY OF ASHURA

     Some scholars have also narrated that Ashura was the day when:

1. Prophet Ayub recovered from his disease.
2. The ark of Prophet Nuh(AS)(Noah) stopped at Mount Judiyy.
3. Allah created the skies and earth.
4. Prophet Yunus was released from the belly of the Whale and Allah forgave his people.
5. Prophet Adam(AS) repented and was forgiven by Allah for eating the forbidden fruit.

My previous blog

Sahih Hadith regarding Obligatory prayers, Hadith regarding selling and trading, Sahih Hadith regarding Jihad (when it is unavoidable), Sahih Hadith regarding construction of a mosque, Sahih Hadith regarding Virtues of Ali(May Allah be pleased with him) (Hadith of Ghadeer e Khum), Sahih Hadith regarding virtues of Umar(May Allah be pleased with him)

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Sahih Hadith regarding gaining Knowledge, Hadith regarding Rain, Sahih Hadith Regarding Al-Qadar(Destiny), Hadith regarding fighting for the cause of Allah (Jihaad), Sahih Hadith Regarding Adornment (Dyeing Hair)

Palestine Issue

 

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  In this blog, I have written about the Palestine issue. The region has been under constant occupation for the past few decades. Before I begin, I want to make it clear that I am in favour of a Jewish state to safeguard the rights of the Jewish people, but it shouldn't be a territory that is already inhabited by another race.

    First, I would talk about the situation and the suffering Palestinians have gone through before the attack of Hamas in Israel, and then I would talk a bit about the current situation. For the past seven decades or so, the people of Palestine have been under constant occupation by the Zionist state, and I don't like to call Israel a Jewish state because I believe this is not what Judaism teaches. These are not the teachings of Abraham (AS). Israel, for the last few decades, has murdered countless children, men, women, elderly. They have massacred the Palestinians. They have deprived them of their basic human rights like food, shelter, medication, education, healthcare, etc. Gaza is the biggest prison in the world in which about 20 million people have been imprisoned for quite some time. They have been disconnected from the rest of the world. The drinking water of Palestine is 95% contaminated. 60% of children are suffering from malnutrition. As of 2022, 84% of the children in Palestine are fearful, as compared to 50% in 2018. 80% are nervous as compared to 55%. 77% are depressed. Source: (Save the Children). Unemployment and poverty are significant. More than 80% of the Palestinians rely on humanitarian aid. These are only some of the inhumane atrocities conducted by Israel for the past few decades. In response to all these atrocities that Palestinians have faced for the last Seven decades, which includes the illegal colonization of Palestinian lands by Israel, Hamas launched an attack on Israel. Did they have any other choice besides this?

     After the Hamas attack on Israel, the situation has become even worse. Israel has laid a 'complete siege' on Gaza. Israel has now completely shut down electricity and water supplies. As of now, about 1500 people have been killed because of the Israeli raids in Gaza. According to Red Cross, due to the complete blockade imposed by Israel,, the hospitals in Gaza are on the verge of turning into Graveyards. Israel has continuously raided the civilian unarmed areas of Gaza. According to Gaza's Deputy Health Minister Yusuf Abu al Reesh, 60% of those injured by the Israeli airstrikes are women and children.

     I am writing this blog not to advocate Hamas but I am writing this blog in support of the people of Palestine. Hamas launched this attack in response to the raids conducted by the Israeli army in the West Bank for the past couple of days. Now  I want to ask the West and Western media why are you silent in this? Why aren't you condemning Israel? You condemned China for its treatment of Uyghurs, and you also condemned Russia when it attacked Ukraine, and I also condemn both of them for the atrocities conducted by them. Western media says that due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, many people have been killed and injured, including women and children, but aren't the Palestinians killed by Israel for the past few decades also human? Are those children and women murdered by Israel, not human beings just like the Ukrainians and just like you? Why shouldn't Israel be held accountable for the genocide of the Palestinians conducted by them for the past few decades which has even become worse for the last seven days. When Ukraine was invaded by Russia, you condemned Russia, which you were right. You supplied Ukraine with arms to support them in their resistance against Russia. Now, when Palestinians rise against the tyranny of Israel, you are condemning the oppressed people of Palestine. Ukraine has only endured this for the past year or so, what Palestinians have been going through daily for the past decades. Israel has to be condemned and held accountable just like China and Russia. You are condemning Palestinians and supplying weapons to Israel against unarmed Palestinians while sympathizing with Israel. How could you equate the genocide conducted by Israel for the last couple of decades to the resistance given by Hamas for the past couple of days? It's not Hamas who is the invader, but it is Israel who has colonized Palestine for the last seven decades or so, and in response to that, when Palestinians resist Israel just in the same way as Ukrainians did against Russia, you are calling terrorists. Isn't it your hypocrisy that when Palestinians are killed or massacred, then you are silent, and when Ukrainians are killed, you take the whole world by storm? Aren't Palestinian lives as important as Ukrainian lives? Yes, they are Ukrainian lives, European lives, American lives, Jewish lives are just as precious as Palestinian lives, Muslim lives, and Black lives because we are all human beings. You say that condemning or criticizing Israel is anti-semitic but isn't killing Muslims Islamophobic or anti-human. You all call yourself democracies while you have barred people from condemning Israel and holding rallies in support of Palestine. Isn't this undemocratic? Just consider yourself in place of those Palestinians for a moment. If the same is done to your children, to your loved ones, not for two or three days but for the past few decades, what would you do? Wouldn't you retaliate? Wouldn't you cry for help when you have your little child in your arms who was killed by the raids of the occupant army? How would it feel when one of your children is badly injured? His wounds are so serious, and you can't go to the hospital because it is full or it doesn't have the medication to cure him, and when you rise against all this oppression and the whole world, instead of aiding, you call you a terrorist? That Is What Palestinians are going through at the moment. Some people support the two-state solution in Palestine, which is unacceptable because this land belongs to Palestinians,s, and nothing could change this or legalize the illegal state of Israel. What if Russia takes control of the whole of Ukraine and then they propose a two-state solution in which they say that half of it belongs to them and the rest belongs to Ukrainians? Then would it legalize their illegal occupation of Ukraine? No, it won't. In the same way, the illegal occupation of all of Palestine can't be legalized by the two-state solution. All of Palestine belongs to Palestinians. It belongs to Muslims and nothing can change this.

     In the end, I would just say that you don't need to be a Palestinian or a Muslim to realize what I have written above. You just need to be a human or have some humanity within yourself, but unfortunately, that doesn't appear to be the case, which is quite shameful for humanity.

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Dressing of Prophet Muhammad SAW

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Role Muslims Should Play in Resolving the conflict in Palestine