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| A satellite
view of Sinai and the Red Sea. `Ashura’ commemorates the day that
Allah saved the Children of Israel from Pharaoh. |
Fasting
on Muharram 10, known as the Day of `Ashura’, expiates for the sins of the
past year. This year it corresponds with March 1, 2004.
When
the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived in Madinah in 622 CE, he
found that the Jews there fasted on Muharram 10 and
asked them the reason for their fasting on this day. They said, “This is a
blessed day. On this day Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy (in
Egypt) and so Prophet Musa [Moses]
fasted on this day giving thanks to Allah.” The Prophet (peace and blessings
be upon him) said, “We are closer to Musa than you are.” He fasted on that
day and commanded Muslims to fast on this day. (Al-Bukhari)
The
following year, Allah commanded the Muslims to fast the month of Ramadan, and
the fasting of `Ashura’ became optional.
It
is also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) intended to
fast on the ninth and tenth. Ibn `Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah fasted
on the day of `Ashura’ and ordered the people to fast on it. The people said,
"O Messenger of Allah, it is a day that the Jews and Christians
honor." The Prophet said, "When the following year comes, Allah
willing, we shall fast on the ninth." The death of the Prophet came before
the following year. (Muslim and Abu Dawud)
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For
more on `Ashura’ and Muharram, please read:
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Thus,
according to scholars, you may choose to fast `Ashura’ on three days (ninth,
tenth, and eleventh); two days (ninth and tenth); or one day only (the tenth).
The
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Fasting
the day of `Ashura’ (is of great merits), I hope that Allah will accept it as
an expiation for (the sins committed in) the previous year.” (Muslim)
But
this expiation of minor sins comes only if you avoid major sins.
It is a big mistake to rely on fasting a single day to “wipe your slate
clean.” If you neglect your daily Prayers or the fast of Ramadan, or if you
backbite, lie, commit adultery or other major sins, fasting on `Ashura’ alone
will not atone for your sins. The great scholar Ibn Al-Qayyim Al-Jawziyya (b.
691 AH/1292 CE) wrote:
This
misguided person does not know that fasting in Ramadan and praying five times a
day are much more important than fasting on the Day of Arafah and the Day of
`Ashura’, and that they expiate for the sins between one Ramadan and the next,
or between one Friday and the next, so long as one avoids major sins. But they
cannot expiate for minor sins unless one also avoids major sins; when the two
things are put together, they have the strength to expiate for minor sins. Among
those deceived people may be one who thinks that his good deeds are more than
his sins, because he does not pay attention to his bad deeds or check on his
sins, but if he does a good deed he remembers it and relies on it. This is like
the one who seeks Allah’s forgiveness with his tongue (that is, by words
only), and glorifies Allah by saying “subhan Allah” one hundred times a day,
then he backbites about the Muslims and slanders their honor, and speaks all day
long about things that are not pleasing to Allah. This person is always thinking
about the virtues of his saying “subhan Allah” and saying “la ilaha illa
Allah” but he pays no attention to what has been reported concerning those who
backbite, tell lies, and slander others, or commit other sins of the tongue.
They are completely deceived.
(Al-Mawsu`ah
Al-Fiqhiyyah, part 31, Ghuroor)
You
may hear of some customs associated with `Ashura’ such as cooking and eating
certain foods on that day, wearing kohl or henna, or even merrymaking. Others
consider this a day of mourning and wailing in honor of the Prophet’s grandson
Al-Husayn, who was killed in battle on that day. The scholar Ibn Taymiyah (b.
661 AH/1263 CE) stated that all of these are bid`ahs (reprehensible
innovations) that should be avoided.
Take
advantage of this opportunity to bring yourself closer to Allah on `Ashura’ by
fasting and praying for forgiveness.
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