The Day of Ashura (10th Muharram)!! Although the month of Muharram is a sacred month as a whole, the 10th of Muharram is the most sacred among all its days. The day is named ‘Ashura. It is one of the most important and blessed days of ALLAH (SWT) in the Islamic calendar. According to the Holy companion, Ibn Abbas (ra) when the Prophet (SWS) migrated to Madinah, he found that the Jews of Madinah used to fast on the 10th day of Muharram. They said that it was the day on which the Prophet Musa and his followers crossed the Red Sea miraculously, and the Pharaoh was drowned in its water. On hearing this from the Jews, the Prophet (SWS) said, “We are more closely related to Musa than you.” So the Prophet (SWS) directed the Muslims to fast on the day of Ashura. [Abu Dawood] According to another Hadith, it is more advisable that the fast of Ashura should be either preceded or succeeded by an additional fast. It means that one should fast two days: the 9th and 10th of Muharram or the 10th and 11th. The reason of this additional fast as mentioned by the Prophet (SWS) is that the Jews used to fast on the day of Ashura alone, and the Prophet (SWS) wanted to distinguish the Islamic-way of fasting from that of the Jews. Therefore, he advised the Muslims to add another fast to the day of Ashura. Some Ulama are of the opinion that before the fasts of Ramadhan were made compulsory, the fast of the day of Ashura was compulsory upon the Ummah. This is stated in a Hadeeth reported by Aisha (ra) that the Prophet (SWS) ordered the observance of the fast of Ashura. However, when the fast of Ramadhan became compulsory, then whosoever wished, kept this fast and whosoever desired did not observe this fast. [Sahih Al Bukhari] But, nevertheless the Prophet (SWS) continued to fast this day and encouraged his Companions to do the same. And ALLAH (SWT) knows best.
Posted on: Mon, 27 Oct 2014 13:36:18 +0000
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