The HISTORY of Ashura:

The month of Muharram is deeply rooted in the history of Islam.  The virtue of this month is supported by the fact that the Prophet(SAW) called it the Month of Allah [Shahr Allah].  Thus it is an opportune time to hasten to good deeds and to strengthen our relationship with Allah.

The Prophet(SAW) said,  “The best of fasts after the month of Ramadan are in the Month of Allah, which you call Muharram. And the best of prayer after the obligatory prayer is the night prayer”.  [Muslim]

Muharram is also home to the day of ‘Ashura, a blessed day, commonly know as Yawm al Ashura[The tenth day], on which the Prophets Nuh(AS) and Moses(AS) both fasted.  Many historical events have occurred on this day which have included the Prophets(AS) and also the Sahaaba(RA), for example the Martydom of Imam Husayn(RA), the grandson of the Prophet(SAW).  But the following shows why the Prophet(SAW) attached great importance to this day:

When the Messenger of Allah (SAW) reached Medina, he found the Jews fasting the Day of `Ashura , so he asked them,  What is this day you are fasting?  They said,  This is a tremendous day. Allah saved Moses and his people on this day and drowned Pharaoh and his people. Moses fasted it out of thanks, so we fast it too.  The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said,  And we are more deserving of Musa than you are.  So he fasted this day, and ordered that it be fasted.  [Bukhari and Muslim]

A version narrated by Imam Ahmad ads: “This is the day on which the Ark settled on Mount Joodi, so Noah fasted this day in thanksgiving.”

The Prophet (SAW) said,  “Fast the Day of `Ashura  and be different from the Jews by fasting a day before it or a day after it.”  [Ahmad]

Although it is the day of Ashura that the Prophets(AS) fasted, it is also highly recommended to fast one day before or one day after.  The Prophet(SAW) stated that should he live to see next Ashura he intends to fast the 9th and 10th of Muharram.

The VIRTUES of Ashura:

Fasting: The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was asked about fasting on the Day of Ashura. He answered: “It atones for the sins of the preceding year.” [Muslim]

Charity: It has been reported from Abd Allah ibn `Amr ibn al-`As (Allah be pleased with him), that “Whoever fasts `Ashura’ it is as if he has fasted the entire year. And whoever gives charity this day it is like the charity of an entire year.” [Imam Ibn Rajab: Kitab: Lata'if al-Ma`arif fi ma li Mawasim al-`Am min al-Wadha'if]

Other virtues: It is a day in which Allah forgave an entire people. The Prophet (SAW) said to a man, “If you want to fast a month after Ramadan, then fast Muharram, for it has a day in which Allah forgave an entire people, and He turns to others in repentance in.” [Tirmidhi]

INNOVATIONS of Ashura:

Unfortunately there are some practices which have been introduced and attached to this day, primarily by our Shia brothers and sisters, however there are also strange practices among others.  It’s unfortunate that as opposed to maintaining friendly and brotherly relations, many Muslim put barriers up, however our duty  is to show our brothers that the Prophet(SAW) did not encourage these acts, with sound proofs.

Among the Shia’, mourning and grieving is associated with this day, aswell as acts of self harm in some cases.  The reason for this is because Husayn the beloved grandson of the Prophet(SAW) was martyred and truly it is a sad event that should affect the hearts of all Muslims.  However although their intentions might be sincere and out of love for the Ahlel Bayt[The household of the Prophet(SAW)], the actions are not based on what the Prophet(SAW) promoted, which contradicts the whole intention in the first place.  The Prophet(SAW) did not ask us to mourn for the days of where the Prophet(AS) faced trials and tribulations, nor their deaths, or the tribulations or death of anyone else for that matter, including the ahlel bayt.  However, the Prophet(SAW) did instruct us to hold the Ahlel bayt in high respect and pray to Allah to send blessings on them.

Other practices include things like not conducting marriage ceremonies in this month or some funny beliefs such as if one takes a bath on Ashura, he will never get ill.  These have no foundation in Islam, adherence is to the Qur’an, Hadith and sound sayings of the companions, not hearsay.

Muharram is a great month, may Allah(swt) aid us to make use of it and may the Muslims make mass amounts of du’a in this month for the people of Gaza and those suffering elsewhere, while changing our actions so that they are aligned with Allah and His book.  Ameen thumma ameen.