The Garden of Knowledge

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

05 Muharram 1446/12 July 2024

All praise is due to Allah, the Cherisher, Sustainer, Nourisher and Provider of the entire creation. May peace, blessings and salutations be upon our Beloved Prophet Muhammed ﷺ.

Muharram, the first month of the lunar calendar year as we know it, is a month of great virtue and significance.

Abu Bakr (R.A) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said,

إِنَّ الزَّمَانَ قَدِ اسْتَدَارَ كَهَيْئَتِهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ، السَّنَةُ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا مِنْهَا، أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ، ثَلاَثٌ مُتَوَالِيَاتٌ، ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ وَذُو الْحِجَّةِ وَالْمُحَرَّمُ وَرَجَبُ مُضَرَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ جُمَادَى وَشَعْبَانَ ‏”‏‏.‏

“Time has come back to its original state which it had when Allah created the Heavens and the Earth; the year is twelve months, four of which are sacred. Three of them are in succession; Dhul-Qa’da, Dhul-Hijja and Al-Muharram, and (the fourth being) Rajab Mudar (named after the tribe of Mudar as they used to respect this month) which stands between Jumad (ath-thani) and Sha’ban.” – Sahih al-Bukhari 4662

The sacred nature of these months were ordained and decreed by Allah to be so.

What is the day of Ashura?

Ashura literally means ‘the tenth’ and refers to the 10th day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar year. It is a day that our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ fasted and encouraged us to fast as well.

Some of the events of Ashura:

Musa (A.S)  and his followers (Bani Israel) were being chased by Firawn and his army.

The incident as described in the Quran:

فَلَمَّا تَرَٰٓءَا ٱلْجَمْعَانِ قَالَ أَصْحَـٰبُ مُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّا لَمُدْرَكُونَ

When the two groups came face to face, the companions of Moses cried out, “We are overtaken for sure.”

قَالَ كَلَّآ ۖ إِنَّ مَعِىَ رَبِّى سَيَهْدِينِ

Moses reassured ˹them˺, “Absolutely not! My Lord is certainly with me—He will guide me.”

فَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنِ ٱضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ ٱلْبَحْرَ ۖ فَٱنفَلَقَ فَكَانَ كُلُّ فِرْقٍۢ كَٱلطَّوْدِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

So We inspired Moses: “Strike the sea with your staff,” and the sea was split, each part was like a huge mountain. (26;61-63)

As a result of his patience and firm faith in Allah’s help, Allah parted the Red Sea so that Prophet Musa (AS) and his followers could pass to safety. As punishment, the Pharaoh and his army were then submerged in the sea.

Other events that have occurred on Ashura is Allah saving Yunus (A.S) from the belly of the whale, the martydom of the beloved grandson of the Prophet Muhammed ﷺ, Imam Hussain (R.A) amongst others.

Three things to do on Ashura

1) Fast

Abu Qatadah (R.A) reported:

عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ فَقَالَ يُكَفِّرُ السَّنَةَ الْمَاضِيَةَ

The Prophet ﷺ was asked about fasting the day of Ashura and he said, “It will expiate the sins of the past year.” – Sahih Muslim 1162

Narrated by Ibn Abbas (R.A) :

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ قَدِمَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْمَدِينَةَ وَالْيَهُودُ تَصُومُ عَاشُورَاءَ فَقَالُوا هَذَا يَوْمٌ ظَهَرَ فِيهِ مُوسَى عَلَى فِرْعَوْنَ‏.‏ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لأَصْحَابِهِ ‏ “‏ أَنْتُمْ أَحَقُّ بِمُوسَى مِنْهُمْ، فَصُومُوا ‏”‏‏.‏

When the Prophet ﷺ 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 ﷺ said to his companions, “You (Muslims) have more right to celebrate Moses’ victory than they have, so observe the fast on this day.” – Sahih al-Bukhari 4680

In another narration it was reported:

  قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ” صُومُوا يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ، وَخَالِفُوا فِيهِ الْيَهُودَ، صُومُوا قَبْلَهُ يَوْمًا، أَوْ بَعْدَه يَوْمًا

Fast on the day of Ashura, and differ from the Jews on it, so fast a day before it, or a day after it. – Musnad Ahmed 6153

2) Night prayer

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، – رضى الله عنه – قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ وَأَفْضَلُ الصَّلاَةِ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Abu Huraira (ٌR.A) reported Allah’s Messenger ﷺ saying: “The most excellent fast after Ramadan is God’s month. al-Muharram, and the most excellent prayer after what is prescribed is prayer during the night. “- Sahih Muslim 1163a

3) Spend on one’s family

 من وسّع على عياله يوم عاشوراء وسّع اللَّه عليه سائر سنته”. – كتاب الجامع لعلوم الإمام أحمد – الفقه 942″

“Whoever expands (his expenditure) on his family on the day of Ashura (10^th Muḥarram), Allah will expand (his sustenance and mercy) on him for his entire year”.

We ask Allah to accept our efforts from us and grant us understanding In Sha Allah!