Fasting on the day of Ashura

The Day of `Ashura’

When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) came to Medina he found the Jews fasting the day of Ashura, the tenth of Muharram. He asked them why they were fasting, and they told him it was an auspicious day: the day on which Allah saved Musa and his people and drowned Firaun and his people. Musa fasted out of gratitude to Allah and his people continued to practice after him. The messenger
of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) told the Jews that his nation was closer to Musa than them. He then fasted that day and ordered his Companions to fast. (1)

Several narrations point to the significance of this day from the earliest of times. It has been narrated that it was the day on which Allah forgave our father Adam, the day on which the Ark of Nuh came to rest on the mountain known as al‐Judi and the day on which Allah forgave the people of Yunus (peace be upon him and all the Prophets).

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) taught us to commemorate this day, primarily by fasting . He informed us that if we do so, Allah (swt) wipes out the sins of the previous year.(2) We may ask: if we have already fasted the Day of `Arafat then Allah has already erased our sins in the previous and coming year so what more can be gained from fasting on Ashura? Some scholars mentions that continuously fasting both days leads to a deeper erasure of of ones wrongdoings, protection from falling into sin and also has the effect of wiping out the wrongdoings of one’s family and neighbours.

Why does fasting on the day of Arafat wipe out the sins of two years whereas the day of`Ashura’ only wipes out the sins of one year? One reason, the scholars say, is that the Day of `Arafat is a day attributed to Sayyiduna Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) which is clearly superior to `Ashura’ which is attributed to Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him).

He recommended (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) that his Ummah also fast the day before or the day after so that our tradition be different from that of the Jews. We should also renew our repentance on `Ashura.’ The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said that it is a day on which Allah allowed a certain people to repent and He will continue to allow others to do the same. (3)

(1) Narrated by al‐Bukhari and Muslim
(2) Narrated by Muslim
(3) Narrated by al‐Tirmidhi

It has been narrated that if someone spends generously upon his family on the Day of`Ashura’ Allah will treat with him generosity for the rest of the year. Sufyan bin `Uyayna said, “We tried this for fifty years and all that we saw was good.” It has likewise been narrated that the one who gives charity on this day will have the reward of a whole year’s charity.

In Tarim people gather in Masjid Ba `Alawi on the eve of `Ashura’ to read the merits of the day and to make du`a. The day itself is a day of Eid. Children wear their best clothes,amusements are provided for them and gifts are given to them.

Shehnaz Karim

Pre-Ramadan Checklist

1) Prepare Eid Clothes (so you don't waste time in Ramadan shopping for them)

2) Prayer Clothes (Buy/ make new ones or wash, iron and perfume existing ones)

3) Prayer Place (Dedicate a space in your home for your daily worship - clean, tahhir and 'attar it, and stock it up with all you need for your ibadah)

4) Menu! (Plan meals, whose turn it is to cook, and who you will be doing iftar for on different days)

5) Ibadah schedule/ targets (plan your khitmas, your qada, your daily schedule - plan how to fit it in, so that you will fit it in)

6) Du’a List (make a list of who you need to make du’a for during the month so during those busy days you don’t forget any one)

7) Donation preparation - prepare the stuff you will donate

8) Ta’zil ie/ Super-Spring Cleaning (clean, tahhir and gut out your rooms/house before the month to make it welcoming and comfortable for the angels )

9. Plan your invitations (family, friends, inlaws) and send out the invites. Do it in the first two thirds - preferably when you don't have prayer and make it clear that you will not be accepting any invitations the last third.

10. If you are working on a khitmeh finish quickly so you can start afresh in Ramadan.

11. Tie up loose ends socially. Make up with those you are not speaking to. Get on the good side of parents, in laws and husband.

12. Start cutting down on coffee if you are a heavy drinker.

13. Prepare children, discuss Ramadan routine with family, discuss excitement and looking forward to Ramadan with those younger people you see.

Sr.Shehnaz Karim