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`Ashoura' (the tenth of
Muharram) signifies a special date in the Islamic calendar.
Muslims, based on the Prophet's teachings, commemorate this
day by observing fast during it.
In this regard, Ibn `Abass
reported that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon
him) came to Madinah, he found the Jews fasting on the day
of 'Ashura' (i.e. 10th of
Muharram). They used to say: "This is a great day on
which Allah saved Musa and drowned the folk of Pharaoh. Musa
observed the fast on this day, as a sign of gratitude to
Allah." The Prophet said, "I am closer to Musa
than they." So, he observed the fast (on that day)
and ordered the Muslims to fast on it.ž (Al-Bukhari)
A Muslim may wonder why the
Prophet observed fast on the same day as the Jews while he
previously ordered the Muslims not to follow the
non-Muslims.
However, anyone who has
carefully studied the Hadiths concerning the fasting of
`Ashura' will discover that the Prophet (peace and blessings
be upon him) used to fast on this day even before he
migrated to Madinah. The Arabs before Islam used to fast on
that day and glorified it, and it was the day when they used
to cover the Ka`bah. In doing so, they were following their
predecessors. It is reported from `Ikramah that Quraysh
committed a sin in the Jahiliyah (pre-Islamic era) and they
regretted it and were sorry, so they were advised to fast
that day to expiate their sin.
Thus, the Prophet neither
fasted `Ashura' in accordance with the Jews nor did he
started fasting it in Madinah. When He (peace and blessings
be upon him) said, “We are closer to Musa than you
are,”, and when he fasted and ordered the Muslims to
fast on that day, he was, in fact, affirming the
significance of this day and delivering a message to the
Jews that Allah's religion is one at all times. All the
Prophets are brothers and each has contributed toward the
establishment of the truth. Thus, Muslims are more entitled
to follow all the previous prophets more than those who
claim adherence to the prophets while they falsified their
books and altered their religion.
So if the day of `Ashura'
celebrates the ill fate of Pharaoh and the victory of Musa,
it is also a victory for the truth; the same truth that was
revealed to Muhammad and upheld by him. Since Musa (peace
and blessings be upon him) fasted this day as a way of
showing gratitude to Almighty Allah, the Muslims are more
entitled to follow him than the Jews.
Besides, it is to be born
in mind that this agreement between the Muslims and the Jews
in fasting this day occurred in the early days of Muslims in
Madinah. The Prophet, in fact, liked to be in line with the
People of the Book in non-prohibited matters in pursuit of
attracting their hearts and winning them over to his cause.
Later, when their hatred
and animosity toward the Prophet and the Muslims were made
manifest he ordered the Muslims not to follow them in their
way of fasting. However, to keep the significance of the
day, the Prophet said,
“Observe fasting on the day of
`Ashura', but differ from the Jews and fast one day
before it Or one day after it.” (Ahmad)
In fact, the issue we are
handling had also confused the Companions of the Prophet
themselves; though the Prophet was keen that the Muslims
should not follow the Jews or the Christians, he observed
fasting `Ashura' and ordered them to observe it. So, they
said to him, as reported by Ibn `Abbas, “O Messenger of
Allah, this is a day that is glorified by the Jews and the
Christians.” The Prophet said, “In the following
year, Allah willing, I shall fast (also) on the 9th day.”
But the Prophet passed away before the coming of the next
year.(Muslim)
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