Source: Sermons of Hafiz Muhammad Ishaq Zahid, compiled by: Tauheed.com
Respected gentlemen! The month of Muharram is a great and blessed month. It is the first month of the Hijri year and one of the four sacred months. The Divine command is:
﴿إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِندَ اللَّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ ۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ وَقَاتِلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ كَافَّةً كَمَا يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ كَافَّةً ۚ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ﴾
Reference: (At-Tawbah 9:36)
"Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve in the Book of Allah from the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them."
That is, from the beginning of creation, the number of months in the year is twelve according to Allah, and among them, four months are sacred. Which are the four sacred months? Listen to a hadith regarding this: It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
(( اَلسَّنَةُ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَھْرًا مِنْہَا أَرْبَعَةُُ حُرُمٌ: ثَلاَثَةُ مُتَوَالِیَاتٌ: ذُوْالْقَعْدَۃِ، وَذُوْالْحَجَّةِ، وَالْمُحَرَّمُ، وَرَجَبُ مُضَر اَلَّذِیْ بَیْنَ جُمَادیٰ وَشَعْبَانَ۔))
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari, Tafsir, Chapter Surah At-Tawbah)
"The year consists of twelve months, of which four are sacred; three are consecutive, and they are Dhu al-Qi'dah, Dhu al-Hijjah, and Muharram, and the fourth sacred month is Rajab of Mudhar, which comes between Jumada al-Thani and Sha'ban."
"What is the wisdom behind three consecutive and one alone?" Hafiz Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, explained the wisdom as follows: In Dhu al-Qi'dah, which comes before the month of Hajj, fighting was prohibited. In the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, they performed Hajj, and then another month was declared sacred so that they could safely return to their homeland. Then, in the middle of the year, another month was declared sacred so that they could peacefully come for Umrah and visitation of the House of Allah.
Reference: (Tafsir Ibn Kathir:468/2)
Dear respected ones!
After mentioning the four sacred months in this verse, Allah Almighty said: فَلاَ تَظْلِمُوْا فِیْہِنَّ أَنْفُسَکُمْ meaning "Do not wrong yourselves during them (especially)."
Oppression is forbidden throughout the twelve months of the year, but due to the honor, sanctity, and sacredness of these four months, Allah Almighty has specifically prohibited oppression against lives during them.
What is meant by oppression?
◄ One meaning is that during these months, do not engage in war, conflict, and fighting. As Allah Almighty says:
﴿يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الشَّهْرِ الْحَرَامِ قِتَالٍ فِيهِ ۖ قُلْ قِتَالٌ فِيهِ كَبِيرٌ﴾
Reference: (Al-Baqarah: 2:217)
"People ask you about fighting in the sacred months. Say, 'Fighting in them is a great sin.'"
Even in the era of ignorance, people respected the sanctity of these four months and refrained from fighting and war during them. Then Islam also maintained their respect and sanctity and declared fighting in them a major sin. Oppression also means that you especially avoid disobedience to Allah Almighty during these four months, because the sin of disobedience increases manifold in them.
Hafiz Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, has narrated from Hazrat Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, that Allah Almighty has declared oppression forbidden in all twelve months of the year, then He has made four of these months special, because in them the sin of evil and disobedience increases, and the reward and recompense for good deeds and righteous actions also increases.
And Imam Qatadah, may Allah have mercy on him, says about فَلاَ تَظْلِمُوْا فِیْہِنَّ أَنْفُسَکُمْ:
"The sin and burden of oppression in the sacred months increases many times compared to other months. And although the sin of oppression is always great, Allah increases the sin of oppression in whichever month He wills, just as Allah chose the angelic messengers from among the angels, chose the Quran from among the scriptures, and chose mosques from the entire land. Similarly, He chose the month of Ramadan and the four sacred months from among the months, chose Friday from among the days, and chose Laylat al-Qadr from among the nights. So Allah grants greatness to whomever He wills; therefore, you should also consider great whomever Allah considers great."
Reference: (Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 468/2)
My Muslim brothers!
Throughout the year in general, and especially in these four months, we all should avoid disobedience to Allah and keep ourselves free from sins, because sins and disobedience cause the heart to become rusted. As Allah Almighty says:
﴿کَلَّا بَلْ رَانَ عَلیٰ قُلُوْبِہِمْ مَّا کَانُوْا یَکْسِبُوْنَ﴾
Reference: (Al-Mutaffifin 83:14)
"It is not so, but rather their hearts have become rusted due to their deeds."
And the honorable saying of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is:
إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ إِذَا أَذْنَبَ کَانَتْ نُکْتَةََ سَوْدَاءَ فِیْ قَلْبِهِ،فَإِنْ تَابَ وَنَزَعَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ صُقِلَ قَلْبُہُ،وَإِنْ زَادَ زَادَتْ حَتّٰی یَعْلُوَ قَلْبَہُ ،فَذَلِكَ الرَّیْنُ الَّذِیْ ذَکَرَ اﷲُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِیْ الْقُرْآنِ:{کَلَّا بَلْ رَانَ عَلیٰ قُلُوْبِہِمْ مَّا کَانُوْا یَکْسِبُوْنَ۔
Reference: (Sunan al-Tirmidhi:3334: Hasan Sahih, Ibn Majah 4244, Hasanah al-Albani)
"When a believer commits a sin, a black spot appears on his heart. Then if he repents and leaves that sin and asks for forgiveness, his heart is cleansed. But if he continues to commit sin after sin, the blackness increases until it covers his heart. This is the (rā’in) 'rust' which Allah Almighty mentioned in the Qur'an."
And remember! Due to sins, life passes in distress and a person does not attain true peace and tranquility. Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكًا وَنَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَعْمَىٰ ﴿١٢٤﴾ قَالَ رَبِّ لِمَ حَشَرْتَنِي أَعْمَىٰ وَقَدْ كُنتُ بَصِيرًا ﴿١٢٥﴾قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ أَتَتْكَ آيَاتُنَا فَنَسِيتَهَا ۖ وَكَذَٰلِكَ الْيَوْمَ تُنسَىٰ﴾
Reference: (Taha 20:124-126)
"And whoever turns away from My remembrance, indeed, he will have a depressed life, and We will raise him on the Day of Resurrection blind." He will say, "My Lord, why have You raised me blind while I was [once] seeing?" Allah will say, "Thus did Our signs come to you, and you forgot them; and thus will you this Day be forgotten."
That is, by turning away from the divine religion, not reciting the Quranic verses, and not acting upon them, one becomes surrounded by distress from all sides, and despite the abundance of sustenance, their peace and tranquility are destroyed. Then, after death, the grave becomes narrow, and the long life in the Barzakh (intermediate state) is spent in bitterness and misfortunes. When they are raised on the Day of Resurrection, they will be blind in both sight and insight.
Reference: (والعیاذ باﷲ تعالیٰ)
And due to sins and evils, the current blessings are taken away and the future blessings are withheld. Just as our parents, Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) and Hawwa (Eve) (peace be upon her), were deprived of the blessings of Paradise because of one mistake. The Divine command is:
﴿وَقُلْنَا يَا آدَمُ اسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَكُلَا مِنْهَا رَغَدًا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿٣٥﴾ فَأَزَلَّهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ عَنْهَا فَأَخْرَجَهُمَا مِمَّا كَانَا فِيهِ ۖ﴾
Reference: (Al-Baqarah 2:36-35)
"And We said: O Adam! You and your wife dwell in Paradise and eat freely wherever you wish, but do not approach this tree, lest you become among the wrongdoers. Then Satan caused them to slip out of it and removed them from the state they were in."
Similarly, regarding the bad consequences of evils, Allah Almighty's command is:
﴿أَلَمْ يَرَوْا كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن قَرْنٍ مَّكَّنَّاهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَا لَمْ نُمَكِّن لَّكُمْ وَأَرْسَلْنَا السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْهِم مِّدْرَارًا وَجَعَلْنَا الْأَنْهَارَ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهِمْ فَأَهْلَكْنَاهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَأَنشَأْنَا مِن بَعْدِهِمْ قَرْنًا آخَرِينَ ﴾
Reference: (Al-An'am 6:6)
"Have you not seen that We destroyed many generations before them, to whom We had given power in the land, which We have not given to you? And We sent down rain from the sky in abundance, and made rivers flow beneath them. Then We destroyed them for their sins and brought forth after them another generation."
Reflect carefully on this verse! Allah Almighty says that We gave the previous nations power and authority which We have not given to you, and We blessed them with abundant blessings, but when they were ungrateful, We took away all those blessings and destroyed them utterly. If you also follow the same path, will it be difficult for Us to destroy you? Therefore, we must be grateful for the countless blessings of Allah Almighty, and the only way to do so is to become obedient servants of Allah and avoid disobedience to Him.
Dear respected ones!
At the beginning of this sermon, we have already mentioned that Allah Almighty has specifically forbidden oppressing oneself in the sacred months, and regarding the month of Muharram, it is necessary to clarify two points here.
➊ The Month of Muharram and Lamentation
You know that in the month of Muharram, many people wear mourning clothes and perform lamentation and chest-beating. In our view, this is also a form of oppression from which one is forbidden. Regarding these actions, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
((أَرْبَعٌ فِیْ أمَّتِیْ مِنْ أَمْرِ الْجَاھِلِیَّةِ لاَ یَتْرُکُوْنَہُنَّ: اَلْفَخْرُ فِیْ الْأحْسَابِ، وَالطَّعْنُ فِیْ الْأنْسَابِ، وَالْإِسْتِسْقَاءُ بِالنُّجُوْمِ، وَالنِّیَاحَةُ، وَقَالَ: اَلنَّائِحَةُ إِذَا لَمْ تَتُبْ قَبْلَ مَوْتِہَا تُقَامُ یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَةِ وَعَلَیْہَا سِرْبَالٌ مِنْ قَطِرَانٍ وَدِرْعٌ مِنْ جَرْبٍ۔))
Reference: (Sahih Muslim, Al-Jana'iz, Chapter on Strictness in Lamentation: 934)
"Among the acts of ignorance, there will be four acts in my Ummah which they will not be willing to abandon: boasting based on lineage (tribalism), insulting someone's ancestry, seeking knowledge of fate through the stars (or requesting rain through the stars), and lamentation." The Prophet ﷺ also said: "If a woman who laments does not repent before death, she will be raised on the Day of Resurrection wearing a shirt of tar mixed with pitch, and the garment of scabies will cover her body."
From this hadith, it is understood that lamentation and the like are among the matters of ignorance and have absolutely no connection with Islam. Therefore, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ expressed disassociation from the person who laments and said:
((لَیْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ لَطَمَ الْخُدُوْدَ وَشَقَّ الْجُیُوْبَ وَدَعَا بِدَعْوَی الْجَاہِلِیَّة۔))
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari, Al-Jana'iz, Chapter: Not one of us is the one who tears his clothes: 1294)
"That person is not one of us who slaps his cheeks, tears his collar, cries out with the claim of ignorance, that is, wails loudly, and calls for destruction and death in times of calamity."
And Hazrat Abu Burda bin Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari رضي الله عنه says that Hazrat Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari رضي الله عنه once suffered severe pain and fainted. His head was resting in the lap of one of his wives. She began to cry loudly, but he could not respond to her. Then when he regained consciousness, he said:
"I am worse than every person from whom the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم declared disassociation. Indeed, the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم declared disassociation from the woman who cries loudly, shaves her head in times of calamity, and tears her clothes."
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari, Al-Jana'iz, Chapter on what is forbidden regarding shaving the head during calamity: 1296, Sahih Muslim, Al-Iman, Chapter on the prohibition of slapping cheeks and tearing clothes: 167)
These hadiths prove that wailing and chest-beating are forbidden, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ expressed disassociation and repudiation from these acts and those who perform them. Therefore, all Muslims should desist from them and sincerely repent immediately.
Honorable listeners!
In the month of Muharram, lamentation and mourning are done over the martyrdom of the grandson of the Prophet, Hazrat Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him). And who is there who would not feel grief and sorrow over his martyrdom? Certainly, every Muslim feels sadness over it, but just as patience and endurance are necessary in every calamity, similarly, patience and endurance should be shown over the martyrdom of Hazrat Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him). Not lamentation, mourning, and chest-beating, which are acts of ignorance. Allah, the Almighty, says:
﴿وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ ﴿١٥٥﴾ الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ ﴿١٥٦﴾ أُولَٰئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُهْتَدُونَ﴾
Reference: (Al-Baqarah 2:155-157)
"And We will surely test you with some fear and hunger, and a loss of wealth, lives, and fruits. And give good tidings to the patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say: إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ Upon them are blessings and mercy from Allah, and it is those who are the rightly guided."
Allah grants the patient their reward without measure. The Divine command is:
﴿إِنَّمَا یُوَفَّی الصَّابِرُوْنَ أَجْرَہُمْ بِغَیْرِ حِسَابٍ﴾
Reference: (Az-Zumar 39:10)
"Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account."
There is no doubt that Hazrat Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him) was a noble companion. It is enough to establish his virtue that he was the beloved son of the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) youngest and dearest daughter, Hazrat Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her), and the Prophet (peace be upon him) had immense love for him and similarly for Hazrat Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him). Ata bin Yasar (may Allah have mercy on him) says that a companion informed me that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) embraced Hazrat Hasan and Hazrat Hussain (may Allah be pleased with them) to his chest and said:
اَللّٰہُمَّ إِنِّیْ أُحِبُّہُمَا فَأَحِبَّہُمَا۔
Reference: (Musnad Ahmad: 211/38 :23133, and its chain of narration is authentic, narrated by Tirmidhi from Al-Bara bin Azib: 3782 and authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahihah: 2789)
Meaning: "O Allah! I love them, so love them too."
➋ The month of Muharram and the Companions of the Prophet (may Allah be pleased with them)
Especially in the month of Muharram, another injustice occurs where the noble companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (the Sahabah, may Allah be pleased with them) are insulted and cursed. Whereas it is forbidden to insult and curse the Sahabah, may Allah be pleased with them.
Imam Tahawi, may Allah have mercy on him, states the belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah regarding the Sahabah, may Allah be pleased with them:
نحبّ أصحاب رسول ﷲ صلي الله عليه وسلم ،ولا نفرط فی حبّ أحد منھم،ولا نتبرأ من أحد منہم،ونبغض من یبغضہم وبغیر الخیر یذکرہم،ولا نذکرہم إلاّ بخیر،وحبّہم دین وإیمان وإحسان،وبغضہم کفر ونفاق وطغیان
"We love the companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and do not exaggerate in the love of any one companion, nor do we declare disassociation from any companion. We hold enmity towards every person who harbors hatred against the noble companions and does not mention them with goodness. We mention them only with goodness and consider their love to be the essence of religion, the essence of faith, and the essence of benevolence, while harboring hatred towards them is considered disbelief, hypocrisy, and rebellion."
Reference: Matn al-Aqeedah al-Tahawiyyah - Sharh wa Ta'leeq al-Albani (al-Tahawi) 93,81
In the Holy Quran, after mentioning the virtues of the Noble Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, Allah Almighty says that the disbelievers are resentful towards the Noble Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and they are angry with them, as if harboring resentment, hatred, and enmity towards the Noble Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, is the characteristic of the disbelievers and not of the Muslims.
The Divine command is:
﴿مُّحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ اللَّهِ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ أَشِدَّاءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَاءُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ تَرَاهُمْ رُكَّعًا سُجَّدًا يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانًا ۖ سِيمَاهُمْ فِي وُجُوهِهِم مِّنْ أَثَرِ السُّجُودِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مَثَلُهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ ۚ وَمَثَلُهُمْ فِي الْإِنجِيلِ كَزَرْعٍ أَخْرَجَ شَطْأَهُ فَآزَرَهُ فَاسْتَغْلَظَ فَاسْتَوَىٰ عَلَىٰ سُوقِهِ يُعْجِبُ الزُّرَّاعَ لِيَغِيظَ بِهِمُ الْكُفَّارَ ۗ وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ مِنْهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا ﴿٢٩﴾
’’Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are severe against disbelievers and merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating, seeking Allah’s bounty and pleasure. Their mark is on their faces from the effect of prostration. Their example is like that of the Torah and the Gospel. Like a seed that sends forth its shoot, then strengthens it, and it becomes thick and stands firm on its stem, delighting the sowers—so that Allah may enrage by them the disbelievers. Indeed, those who believed and did righteous deeds—Allah has promised them forgiveness and a great reward.
Reference: Surah Al-Fath:29
And the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) forbade the companions (may Allah be pleased with them) from insulting others. His noble saying is:
(( لاَ تَسُبُّوْ أَصْحَابِیْ،فَوَالَّذِیْ نَفْسِیْ بِیَدِہٖ لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَکُمْ أَنْفَقَ مِثْلَ أُحُدٍ ذَھَبًا مَا بَلَغَ مُدَّ أَحَدِہِمْ وَلاَ نَصِیْفَہُ ))
"Do not insult my companions, by the One in Whose hand is my soul! If any one of you were to spend gold equal to the mountain of Uhud, it would not equal a single mud or even half a mud of their worth."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari:3673
And Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (RA) used to say:
(لاَ تَسُبُّوْا أَصْحَابَ مُحَمَّدٍ صلي الله عليه وسلم ، فَلَمُقَامُ أَحَدِہِمْ سَاعَةٌ خَیْرٌ مِنْ عَمَلِ أَحَدِکُمْ عُمُرَہُ )
"Do not speak ill of the companions of Muhammad (peace be upon him), for standing with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) for one moment is better than your entire lifetime of deeds."
Reference: Sunan Ibn Majah:162
And Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (RA) used to say:
(لاَ تَسُبُّوْا أَصْحَابَ مُحَمَّدٍ صلي الله عليه وسلم ، فَلَمُقَامُ أَحَدِہِمْ سَاعَةٌ یَعْنِیْ مَعَ النَّبِیِّ صلي الله عليه وسلم خَیْرٌ مِنْ عَمَلِ أَحَدِکُمْ أَرْبَعِیْنَ سَنَةٌ)
"Do not insult the companions of Muhammad (peace be upon him), for one companion standing with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) for one moment is better than the deeds of one of you for forty years."
Reference: Sharh al-Aqeedah al-Tahawiyyah, Saudi Endowments Edition, with comments by Ahmad Shakir (Ibn Abi al-Izz), p. 478
We pray to Allah Almighty to grant us the ability to love the Companions of the Messenger ﷺ and to respect and honor them.
Respected gentlemen! In the first sermon, we have already mentioned that the month of Muharram is one of the four sacred months. Allah Almighty has specifically forbidden oppression against lives (i.e., disobedience to Allah) during these months. Therefore, along with avoiding disobedience to Allah, we should perform as many righteous deeds as possible during this month, especially observing more voluntary fasts, because the Noble Messenger ﷺ said:
(( أَفْضَلُ الصِّیَامِ بَعْدَ رَمَضَانَ شَہْرُ اﷲِ الْمُحَرَّمُ،وَأَفْضَلُ الصَّلاَۃِ بَعْدَ الْفَرِیْضَةِ صَلاَۃُ اللَّیْل))
"After Ramadan, the best fasts are the fasts of the month of Muharram, which is the month of Allah. And after the obligatory prayers, the best prayer is the night prayer."
Reference: Sunan Tirmidhi:438
Especially, the fast of the Day of Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, must be observed, because the Holy Prophet ﷺ, as long as he stayed in Makkah Mukarramah, continuously fasted on this day. Then, when he migrated to Madinah Munawwarah, he also fasted on this day there and used to command the companions (may Allah be pleased with them) to do the same. After the fasts of Ramadan were made obligatory, the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever wishes may fast on this day, and whoever wishes may not fast."
Some Ahadith about the Day of Ashura
➊ Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says that I never saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prefer fasting any day over other days except the Day of Ashura and the month of Ramadan.
➋ Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that during the time of ignorance, the Quraysh used to fast on the day of Ashura, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ also used to fast on that day. Then, when you migrated to Medina, you continued to fast on that day and commanded the companions (may Allah be pleased with them) to do so. After the fasts of Ramadan were made obligatory, the Prophet ﷺ gave the option and said:
"Whoever wishes may fast on that day, and whoever wishes may leave it."
➌ Hazrat Rabi' bint Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with her) said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent a command to the settlements around Medina that the people of those settlements should fast on the day of Ashura. Accordingly, we ourselves fasted and also made our young children fast. And when the children cried for food, we used to give them toys so that they would be entertained with them until iftar.
➍ Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas رضي الله عنهما says that when the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم came to Madinah Munawwarah, he saw that the Jews fasted on the day of Ashura. He asked them: Why do you fast on this day? They said: It is a great day, on which Allah saved Prophet Musa عليه السلام and his people and drowned Pharaoh and his people. Therefore, Prophet Musa عليه السلام fasted on this day as a form of gratitude. That is why we also fast on this day. Upon this, the Prophet said:
( فَنَحْنُ أَحَقُّ وَأَوْلٰی بِمُوْسیٰ مِنْکُمْ )
"Then we have more right to it, and we are closer to Prophet Musa عليه السلام than you." Then the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم himself fasted on this day and also commanded the companions رضي الله عنهم to fast on it.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari:2004
The Importance of the Day of Ashura
What was the significance of the day of Ashura in ancient times? Although many things are popularly known among common people about this, from authentic traditions we only learn that Allah Almighty saved Prophet Musa (Moses) عليه السلام and his people, the Children of Israel, on this day and drowned Pharaoh and his army. For this reason, the Jews used to fast on this day. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ also commanded the Muslims to fast on this day.
And Abu Musa رضي الله عنه reported that the Jews considered the day of Ashura as a day of celebration, and the people of Khyber (Jews) used to celebrate by adorning their women with special jewelry on this day. Accordingly, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
( فَصُوْمُوْہُ أَنْتُمْ)
"Fast on this day."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 2005
As for the story of the salvation of Musa (Moses) عليه السلام and the Children of Israel and the drowning of Pharaoh, it is detailed in the Holy Quran. Similarly, authentic narrations also indicate that people in the pre-Islamic era used to honor this day. Apart from this, no other matter is proven with an authentic chain of narration.
Warning
In a narration from Musnad Ahmad, it is stated:
(وَہُوَ الْیَوْمُ الَّذِیْ اسْتَوَتْ فِیْہِ السَّفِیْنَةُ عَلَی الْجُوْدِیِّ فَصَامَہُ نُوْحٌ شُکْرًا)
"Yawm Ashura is the day on which the Ark of Noah عليه السلام came to rest on Mount Judi, so Prophet Noah عليه السلام fasted on this day as a form of gratitude."
Reference: Musnad Ahmad: 8702
However, in the chain of this narration, one narrator, Abd al-Samad ibn Habib, is weak, and the other narrator, Shabeel ibn Awf, is unknown.
Similarly, in a narration from Tabarani, it is stated:
(وَفِیْ یَوْمِ عَاشُوْرَاءَ تَابَ اللّٰہُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلیٰ آدَمَ عَلَیْہِ السَّلاَمُ،وَعَلیٰ مَدِیْنَةِ یُوْنُسَ،وَفِیْہِ وُلِدَ إِبْرَاہِیْمُ عَلَیْہِ السَّلاَمُ )
"On Yawm Ashura, Allah accepted the repentance of Prophet Adam عليه السلام. Likewise, Allah showed special attention to the people of the city of Prophet Yunus عليه السلام on this day, and on this day, Prophet Ibrahim عليه السلام was born."
But regarding its chain of narration, Al-Hafiz Al-Haythami says that it includes a narrator named Abdul Ghafoor who is considered weak.
The Virtue of Fasting on the Day of Ashura
Hazrat Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that when the Prophet ﷺ was asked about fasting on the day of Ashura, he ﷺ said:
(یُکَفِّرُ السَّنَةَ الْمَاضِیَةَ )
Meaning, "It expiates the sins of the past year." In light of this hadith, every Muslim should observe fasting on the day of Ashura, and when given the opportunity to attain such a great virtue, one should not let it go to waste.
Reference: Sahih Muslim:1162
But alas, a hundred times alas! In this era, the standards have changed; people have invented many innovations regarding this day. Sunnah has become an innovation, and innovation is considered Sunnah! Instead of fasting on this day and taking advantage of the golden opportunity to have the sins of the past year forgiven, people have come to regard this day as a day of eating and drinking. Therefore, great preparations for eating and drinking are made, special dishes are prepared, water and milk are distributed freely, and the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ is mocked... It is not known whether this is grief for the martyrdom of Hazrat Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him) or a celebration of his martyrdom!
Opposition of the Jews to the Fasting of Ashura
When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was not given any command from Allah regarding a matter, he ﷺ preferred to agree with the People of the Book. Until he ﷺ was commanded not to oppose the People of the Book and not to agree with them.
Therefore, when it was informed to the Prophet ﷺ that the Jews and Christians also honor the tenth of Muharram, he ﷺ resolved to oppose them in this matter.
It is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas رضي الله عنه that when the Prophet ﷺ fasted on the day of Ashura and commanded the companions رضي الله عنهم to do so, they informed him that the Jews and Christians also honor this day!
Then the Prophet ﷺ said:
(( فَإِذَا کَانَ الْعَامُ الْمُقْبِلُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللّٰہُ ، صُمْنَا الْیَوْمَ التَّاسِعَ ))
"When the next year comes, if Allah wills, we will also fast on the ninth of Muharram."
Reference: Sahih Muslim:1134
Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (RA) says:
"The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) passed away before the next year arrived."
How will the opposition to Jews and Christians be in the fasting of Ashura? From this hadith, it is proven that to oppose the Jews and Christians in the fasting of Ashura, one should fast on the 9th of Muharram along with the fast of the 10th of Muharram, and this is what Hazrat Ibn Abbas (RA) believed, as he said:
(خَالِفُوْا الْیَہُوْدَ،وَصُوْمُوْا التَّاسِعَ وَالْعَاشِرَ )
"Oppose the Jews, and fast on the 9th and 10th of Muharram."
Reference: Al-Sunan al-Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi 287/4, Musannaf Abdul Razzaq: 7869 with authentic chain
Additionally, in another narration of Hazrat Ibn Abbas (RA), the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
(( صُوْمُوْا یَوْمَ عَاشُوْرَاءَ،وَخَالِفُوْا فِیْہِ الْیَہُوْدَ،وَصُوْمُوْا قَبْلَہُ یَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْدَہُ یَوْمًا))
"Fast on the day of Ashura and oppose the Jews in it. And fast either a day before it or a day after it."
Reference: Musnad Ahmad 241/1, Hadith 2154, Ibn Khuzaymah: 2095
In view of this hadith, some scholars say that a person who cannot fast on the ninth of Muharram should fast on the eleventh of Muharram after fasting on the tenth of Muharram to oppose the Jews and Christians.
And in another narration of the same hadith, the words are as follows:
(( صُوْمُوْا قَبْلَہُ یَوْمًا، وَبَعْدَہُ یَوْمًا ))
"Fast a day before the tenth of Muharram and a day after it as well."
And perhaps in view of this narration, Allama Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) and Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) say that there are three levels of fasting on Ashura:
◄ The lowest level is to fast only on the tenth of Muharram.
◄ The next higher level is to fast on the ninth along with it.
◄ And the highest level is to fast on the eleventh along with these two, because the more fasts observed in this month, the greater the reward and merit. And Allah knows best.
In the end, we pray to Allah Almighty to grant us the ability to respect the sacred months and to avoid disobedience in them as well as in the other months. Ameen
