Yaum al-Khamis 9th Muharram 1429
Bismillah ar Rahmaan ar Raheem,
As salaam alaikum wa rahmaatuulahhi wa baraakaatuu,
The Moon fighting issue has reared its ugly head. Generally I follow the global sighting opinion, but even following that is tricky. Anyways as you may have noticed the 8th of Muharram has disappeared and I have changed it to the 9th. One site that I find helpful is this one.
On the way to work most people were driving badly, and I let a few people have it bad, I kept seeking refuge with Allah, but Shayton was still getting the best of me. When I got to work I popped a piece of gum in my mouth, and then spit it out… At the point I realized that Shayton doesn’t really want me to fast today and is doing everything is his power to snatch it. Tomorrow is the 10th of Muharram, and the day Musa liberated Bani Israel by the will of Allah, inshaa Allah I will have focus and the whole day of fasting will be better.
May Allah accept all of our fasts… Ameen!
History of The Day of Ashura (The 10th of Muharram)
When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) arrived in Madinah in 622 CE, he found that the Jews there fasted on the 10th of Muharram and asked them the reason for their fasting on this day.
They said: “This is a blessed day. On this day Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy (in Egypt) and so Prophet Musa [Moses] fasted on this day giving thanks to Allah.”
The Prophet (sa) said: “We are closer to Musa than you are.” He fasted on that day and commanded Muslims to fast on this day. (Al-Bukhari)
Fasting The Day of Ashura and The Day before it (These are voluntary fasts, they are not obligatory)
When the Messenger of Allah (sa) fasted on `Ashura’ and commanded the Muslims to fast as well.
They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, it is a day that the Jews and Christians honour.’
The Messenger of Allah (sa) said: ‘If I live to see the next year, insha’Allah, we will fast on the ninth day too.’ But it so happened that the Messenger of Allah (sa) passed away before the next year came.” (Reported by Muslim, 1916).
Al-Shaafa’i and his companions, Ahmad, Ishaaq and others said: It is mustahabb [recommended] to fast both the ninth and the tenth, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) fasted the tenth and intended to fast the ninth.
The intention behind this (fasting on the 9th of Muharram), is to be different from the Jews who limit their fasting to the 10th day. This was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas.
If ‘Ashoora’ coincides with a Friday, he may fast, because his intention is to fast ‘Ashoora’ and not to fast on a Friday. And Allaah is the Source of strength. Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
NB: You should not observe voluntary fasts when you still owe one or more days from Ramadaan, rather you should start with the fasts that you owe from Ramadaan, and then observe voluntary fasts.
The Reward for Fasting The Day of Ashura
The Prophet (sa) said: “For fasting the day of ‘Ashura, I hope that Allah will accept it as expiation for (the sins committed in) the year that went before.” [Reported by Muslim, 1976]
Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Fasting the day of ‘Arafaah expiates for all minor sins, in other words this brings forgiveness for all sins except for major sins. (As they need separate repentance)
The Prophet (sa) used to be very keen to make sure he fasted on the day of ‘Ashoora’ because of its great status. It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I never saw the Prophet (sa) so keen to make sure he fasted any day and preferring it over another except this day, the day of ‘Ashoora’, and this month – meaning Ramadaan. (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1867.)
Stick to the Sunnah – and avoid all Innovations (Bid’aa)
You may of heard of some customs associated with `Ashura’ such as: cooking and eating certain foods, making specific dhikr, du’a or to read certain surahs a certain number of times, or to make nafl salaah, etc
^ NB: Specifying specific ibadah (worship) on specific days must be backed up with Evidence from one of two sources: The Book Of Allah (The Qur’aan) or the Hadiths (Sunnah of Our Prophet Muhammad – sa); otherwise this action becomes a Bid’aa and its reward becomes fruitless. If one simply wants to make dhikr or wants to read abit extra nafl salaats, there is nothing wrong with this, as this should be done all year round, but to specify it to this day – is innovation.
And you may of also heard of others who consider this day as a day of mourning, wailing, hitting themselves in honour of the Prophet Muhammads (sa) grandson Al-Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) who was killed.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Because of the killing of al-Husayn, the Shaytaan started to spread two kinds of bidah (innovation) amongst the people: the bidah of grieving and wailing on the Day of Aashooraa, striking the cheeks, screaming, weeping and reciting eulogies ; and the bidah of expressing happiness and joy. So some express grief and others express joy, so they started to like the idea of wearing kohl, taking a bath, spending on their families and preparing special kinds of food on the day of Aashooraa and every bidah is a going astray; none of the four imams of the Muslims or others approved of either of these things (either expressing grief or expressing joy)”
^ This is all Bid’aa, and we need to stay well away from it — and remember the deen of Islaam is complete and is in no need of any addition or alterations.
As Allaah Subhanahu-wa-Ta’alaa says: “This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” [al-Maa’idah 5:3].
It is reported from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (sa) said: “Whoever innovates something in this matter of ours [Islam] that is not part of it, will have it rejected.” [Agreed upon]
Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (sa) used to say in his Friday khutbahs: “The best of speech is the Book of Allah and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (sa). The most evil of things are those which are newly-invented, and every innovation (bid’ah) is a going-astray.” [Reported Muslim]
NB: For any action to be accepted by Allah it must meet the following 2 conditions:
1. Sincerity of Intentions – it must be done soley for the sake of Allah, and for no other reason
2. The action must be done the way Allah legislated, and the way His Prophet Muhammad (sa) legislated (clear evidence from the Qur’aan and Sunnah)
Who would refuse to Enter Paradise?
Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be please with him) reported that the Prophet (sa) said: “All of my Ummah will enter Paradise except those that refuse.” Those who were with him (the Sahaabah/companions) said, “And who will refuse?” He (sa) said: “Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise and whoever disobeys me will have refused.” (Sahih Al- Bukhari)
May Allah accept from us all; allow us to gain the rewards of the day of Ashura and may He (SWT) gather us all together with our Prophet Muhammad (s) in Jannah. Ameen
important ruling:
What the Shi’ah do on ‘Ashoora’ is bid’ah (innovation) and misguidance
Question:
I am living in dubai and here huge number of shia are pesent arround us they always say that doing maatum on 9 and 10 muhaaram is right and this is the proof that we love hazrat husain and hazrat yaqoob also said “Hazrat Yaqoob (a.s.) cried and said a word (Hey Yousuf) he cried that in result of he became blind and thier rest sons who were wrong asked him if you cried like this than you will hurt yourself and no dought you will die one day while crying. THEN Haszar Yaqoob (a.s.) replied I cried and tell all my tregedy to ALMIGHTY ALLAH and I know something from GOD” please tell me the answer as soon as possible that beating chest is right or wrong????
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
What the Shi’ah do on ‘Ashoora’ of beating their chests, slapping their cheeks, striking their shoulders with chains and cutting their heads with swords to let the blood flow are all innovations that have no basis in Islam. These things are evils that were forbidden by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), who did not prescribe for his ummah to do any of these things or anything similar to them to mark the death of a leader or the loss of a martyr, no matter what his status. During his lifetime (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) a number of senior Sahaabah were martyred and he mourned their loss, such as Hamzah ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib, Zayd ibn Haarithah, Ja’far ibn Abi Taalib and ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Rawaahah, but he did not do any of the things that these people do. If it was good, he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would have done it before us.
Ya’qoob (peace be upon him) did not strike his chest or scratch his face, or shed blood or take the day of the loss of Yoosuf as a festival or day of mourning. Rather he remembered his missing loved one and felt sad and distressed because of that. This is something no one can be blamed for. What is forbidden is these actions that have been inherited from the Jaahiliyyah, and which Islam forbids.
Al-Bukhaari (1294) and Muslim (103) narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “He is not one of us who strikes his cheeks, rends his garment, or cries with the cry of the Jaahiliyyah.”
These reprehensible actions that the Shi’ah do on the day of ‘Ashoora’ have no basis in Islam. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not do them, nor did any of his companions. None of his companions did them when he or anyone else died, although the loss of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was greater than the death of al-Husayn (may Allaah be pleased with him).
Al-Haafiz Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Every Muslim should mourn the killing of al-Husayn (may Allaah be pleased with him), for he is one of the leaders of the Muslims, one of the scholars of the Sahaabah, and the son of the daughter of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), who was the best of his daughters. He was a devoted worshipper, and a courageous and generous man. But there is nothing good in what the Shi’ah do of expressing distress and grief, most of which may be done in order to show off. His father was better than him and he was killed, but they do not take his death as an anniversary as they do with the death of al-Husayn. His father was killed on a Friday as he was leaving the mosque after Fajr prayer, on the seventeenth of Ramadaan in 40 AH. ‘Uthmaan was better than ‘Ali according to Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah, and he was killed when he was besieged in his house during the days of al-Tashreeq in Dhu’l-Hijjah of 36 AH, with his throat cut from one jugular vein to the other, but the people did not take his death as an anniversary. ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab was better than ‘Ali and ‘Uthmaan, and he was killed as he was standing in the mihraab, praying Fajr and reciting Qur’aan, but the people did not take his death as an anniversary. Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq was better than him but the people did not take his death as an anniversary. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is the leader of the sons of Adam in this world and the Hereafter, and Allaah took him to Him as the Prophets died before him, but no one took the dates of their deaths as anniversaries on which they do what these ignorant Raafidis do on the day that al-Husayn was killed. … The best that can be said when remembering these and similar calamities is that which ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn narrated from his grandfather the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), who said: “There is no Muslim who is afflicted by a calamity and when he remembers it, even if it was in the dim and distant past, he says Inna Lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon (verily to Allaah we belong and unto Him is our return), but Allaah will give him a reward like that of the day when it befell him.”
Narrated by Imam Ahmad and Ibn Majaah, end quote from al-Bidaayah wa’l-Nihaayah (8/221).
And he said (8/220): The Raafidis went to extremes in the state of Bani Buwayh in the year 400 and thereabouts. The drums were beaten in Baghdad and other cities on the day of ‘Ashoora’, and sand and straw was strewn in the streets and marketplaces, and sackcloth was hung on the shops, and the people expressed grief and wept. Many of them did not drink water that night, in sympathy with al-Husayn, because he was killed when he was thirsty. Then the women went out barefaced, wailing and slapping their faces and chests, walking barefoot in the marketplaces, and other reprehensible innovations… What they intended by these and similar actions is to impugn the state of Banu Umayyah (the Umayyads), because he was killed during their era.
On the day of ‘Ashoora, the Naasibis of Syria do the opposite of what the Raafidis and Shi’ah do. They used to cook grains on the day of ‘Ashoora and do ghusl and perfume themselves, and wear their finest garments, and they took that day as an Eid for which they made all kinds of food, and expressed happiness and joy, intending thereby to annoy the Raafidis and be different from them.
Celebrating that day is an innovation (bid’ah), and making it an anniversary for mourning is also an innovation. Hence Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
Because of the killing of al-Husayn (may Allaah be pleased with him), shaytaan caused the people to introduce two innovations: the innovation of mourning and wailing on the day of ‘Ashoora’, by slapping the cheeks, weeping, and reciting eulogies. … and the innovation of rejoicing and celebrating. … So some introduced mourning and others introduced celebration, so they regarded the day of ‘Ashoora’ as a day for wearing kohl, doing ghusl, spending on the family and making special foods. … And every innovation is a going astray. None of the four imams of the Muslims or any other (scholars) regarded either of these things as mustahabb. End quote from Minhaaj al-Sunnah (4/554).
It should be noted that these reprehensible actions are encouraged by the enemies of Islam, so that they can achieve their evil aims of distorting the image of Islam and its followers. Concerning this Moosa al-Musawi said in his book al-Shi’ah wa’l-Tas-heeh:
But there can be no doubt that striking heads with swords and cutting the head in mourning for al-Husayn on the tenth day of Muharram reached Iran and Iraq and India during the British occupation of those lands. The British are the ones who exploited the ignorance and naiveté of the Shi’ah and their deep love for Imam al-Husayn, and taught them to strike their heads with swords. Until recently the British embassies in Tehran and Baghdad sponsored the Husayni parades in which this ugly spectacle appears in the streets and alleyways. The aim of the British imperialist policy of developing this ugly spectacle and exploiting it in the worst manner was to give an acceptable justification to the British people and the free press that opposed British colonialism in India and other Muslim countries, and to show the peoples of these countries as savages who needed someone to save them from their ignorance and savagery. Images of the parades that marched in the streets on the day of ‘Ashoora’, in which thousands of people were striking their backs with chains and making them bleed, and striking their heads with daggers and swords, appeared in British and European newspapers, and the politicians justified their colonization of these countries on the basis of a humane duty to colonize the lands of these people whose culture was like that so as to lead these peoples towards civility and progress. It was said that when Yaseen al-Haashimi, the Iraqi Prime Minister at the time of the British occupation of Iraq, visited London to negotiate with the British for an end to the Mandate, the British said to him: We are in Iraq to help the Iraqi people to make progress and attain happiness, and bring them out of savagery. This angered Yaseen al-Haashimi and he angrily walked out of the room where the negotiations were being held, but the British apologized politely and asked him with all respect to watch a documentary about Iraq, which turned out to be a film about the Husayni marches in the streets of al-Najaf, Karbala’ and al-Kaazimiyyah, showing horrific and off-putting images of people striking themselves with daggers and chains. It is as if the British wanted to tell him: Would an educated people with even a little civility do such things to themselves?! End quote.
And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A
