The Beloved Messenger of Allah said,
"The year is twelve months of which four are sacred, the three consecutive months of Dhul-Qa'dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab which comes between Jumada and Shaban."
[Bukhari, Hadith no. 2958]
The month of Muharram marks the beginning of the Islamic New Year.
Youm-e-Ashura, or the day of Ashura, falls on the 10th of the Islamic month Muharram.
Its meaning is derived from the word 'asha nura' which translates as 'enlightened day'.
An important date in the Islamic calendar, it holds to its significance many key events which occurred on it, including the events of Karbala and the tragic martyrdom of Sayyidina Imam Hussain, the dear grandson of the Beloved Messenger of Allah.
Events which Occurred on Youm-e-Ashura:
In Sayyidina Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani's Ghunya li-Talibi Tariq al-Haqq, he writes of the following incidents in history which have occurred on 10th Muharram i.e. Youm-e-Ashura:
• Allah accepted the repentance of Prophet Adam after his exile from Jannah;
• Allah saved Prophet Nuh and his companions in the ark;
• Allah protected Prophet Ibrahim from the blaze of the fire which Pharaoh threw him into;
• Allah spoke directly to Prophet Musa and delivered to him the Commandments;
• Prophet Ayyub was restored to full health (from leprosy);
• Prophet Yusuf was reunited with his father Prophet Yaqub after many years of separation;
• Prophet Yunus was released from the belly of the fish which had swallowed him;
• Prophet Musa parted the sea, allowing him to deliver the nation of Israel from captivity;
• Pharoah's army was destroyed;
• Prophet Dawud was forgiven after Allah tested his level of justice;
• The kingdom of Prophet Sulayman was restored;
• Prophet Isa was raised from the earth and elevated to Jannah;
• Sayyidina Imam Hussain achieved the honourable status of martyrdom at Karbala.
Voluntary Fasting on Youm-e-Ashura:
• The Beloved Messenger of Allah said, "For fasting the day of Ashura, I hope that Allah will accept it as expiation for the year that went before."[Muslim, Hadith no. 1976]
Imam an-Nawawi said, "It expiates for all minor sins, i.e. it brings forgiveness of all sins except major sins." [Al-Majmu Sharh al-Muhadhdhab]
• The Beloved Messenger of Allah said, "The best fasting after Ramadan is fasting Allah's month of Muharram." [Muslim, Hadith no. 1982]
• Sayyidina ibn Abbas reported that the Beloved Prophet came to Madinah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. He asked, "What is this?"
They said, "This is a righteous day, it is the day when Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemies, so Musa fasted on this day."
He said, "We have more right to Musa than you," so he fasted on that day and commanded [the Muslims] to fast on that day. [Bukhari, Hadith no. 1865]
It was also reported that the Beloved Prophet used to fast on Ashura in Makkah, before he migrated to Madinah. When he migrated to Madinah, he found the Jews commemorating this day as a festival so he enquired as to the reason why, and they replied as above.
Regarding fasting on the ninth and tenth days, Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Abbas reports: "When the Messenger of Allah fasted on Ashura and commanded the Muslims to fast as well, they said, 'O Messenger of Allah, it is a day that is venerated by the Jews and Christians.' The Messenger of Allah said, 'If I live to see the next year, God willing, we will fast on the ninth day too.'
But it so happened that the Messenger of Allah passed away before the next year came." [Muslim, Hadith no. 1916]
Imam ibn Hajar al-Asqalani writes about this, "What he meant by fasting on the ninth day was probably not that he would limit himself to that day, but would add it to the tenth, either to be on the safe side or to be different from the Jews and Christians, which is more likely. This is also what we can understand from some of the reports narrated by Muslim."[Fath-ul Bari, 4/245]
Therefore, it is mustahabb (recommended) to fast on both the ninth and tenth days, because the Prophet, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, fasted on the tenth day, and intended to fast on the ninth
Other Worship and Virtues on Youm-e-Ashura:
Shaykh Isma'il Haqqi writes, "One who stays awake on the night of Ashura gains the reward of the Angels." [Tafseer Ruhul Bayaan]
Sayyidina Abdul Qadir Jilani mentions the following forms of virtue for Ashura in Ghunya li-Talibi Tariq al-Haqq:
• Whoever fasts on this day is like one who fasts all his life;
• Whoever clothes a naked person on this day, Allah will release him from a painful punishment;
• He who visits a sick person on this day, Allah will grant him a reward that will not be decreased;
• Whoever places his hand on an orphan's head, or feeds a hungry person or gives water to a thirsty man on this day, Allah will feed him a feast from Paradise and will quench his thirst withSalsabil (a wine that does not intoxicate);
• Whoever bathes on this day will enjoy excellent health and freedom from sickness and indolence;
• Whoever provides generously for his family on this day, Allah will be generous to him throughout this year;
• And whoever applies Kohl to his eyes will never again suffer from eye pains.
