|
 |
| |
The
special deeds in Ashura’
|
To perform fasting
on the day of Ashura is the special
deed suggested by the Messenger (Pease
and Blessing of Allah be upon him).
In a Hadîth narrated by Amr bin Al ‘Aas
(May Allah please with him) from Abu
moosa Al Madeeni (May Allah please with
him), the Messenger (PBH) says: “The
fasting in Ashura is entirely equivalent
to the fasting in a year” (Irshad:
76, Al -Ajviba: 50-51). Moreover, it
can be seen as the part of this Hadîth
that to give charity in the day of
Ashura is equivalent to the charitable
deeds in a year.
“Allah will show mercy in the
year entirely to him who shows mercy
to his kith and kin on the day of Ashura”.
This Hadîth can be seen as reported
in different Hadîth books like
Ibnu Abdil barr, Thabrani, Baihaqi’s
Shu’habul Iemam, Sharvani: 3/455
and Kurdhi 2/199 and so on.
|
|
|
|
|
Imam sufyan Ibnu Uyayna
(May Allah Mercy upon him) stated that concerning the
above mentioned Hadîth, we experienced the special
blessings of Allah in each year as we did the deeds mentioned
in the Hadîth on each Ashura’ of 50 or 60
years approximately (Irshad: 76). Besides, imam Ibnu
Hajarul Haithami (May Allah Mercy upon him) reported
the experience of Sufyan (May Allah Mercy upon him) for
50 or 60 years as a reliable one (Al-Ajvibah: 50-51).
Many of the reporters of this Hadîth confessed
that when they examined the deeds described by the above
mentioned Hadîth, they could understand the ever-shining
reality of the Hadîth (Kurdhi: 2/199, Tharsheeh:
170). It is also preferable to prepare delicious foods
on that day and to distribute it among his kith and kin.
But it is very necessary to avoid one’s miserliness
on the day. In addition, nobody is allowed to celebrate
the day as one does in Eids. Imam Ibnu Hajer (May Allah
Mercy upon him) stated the above mentioned matter by
the help of a Hadîth narrated by Imam Muslim (Al
Ajvibah).
The Ashura’ fasting
It is the most venerable feature of tenth day of
Muharram that this day witnessed to a lot of historical
events. Allah the Most High selected this day for the
sake of witnessing a many notable events in the life
time of prophets extending from the Messenger Adam (May
Allah bless with him) to the Messenger Muhammad (PBH).
It is in this historical day Allah protected the Messengers
like Nooh (May Allah bless with him), Ibrahim (May Allah
bless with him), Yoosuf (May Allah bless with him), Ya’qoob
(May Allah bless with him), Moosa (May Allah bless with
him), Ayyoob (May Allah bless with him), Yoous (May Allah
bless with him), Is’haq (May Allah bless with him)
and so on from the clutches of furious miscreants and
poignant experiments. He provided them with the ever-satisfying
rewards who raised their hands to Him expecting the salvation
on this day. The tenth day of Muharram got the memorable
chance that Allah defeated the most defiant or arrogant
persons who moved against Him and protected the religion
from their hands. Hence, the Almighty bestowed his sincere
servants with complete protection and ever-shining success. “The
dawn mentioned in the word ‘valfajri’ is
the very dawn of Ashura’’ (Ghaliath: 2/85).
Commemorating the blessings that Almighty gave to humanity,
we all have been ordered to perform special doings for
showing our gratitude to the Lord. It can be seen in
Hadiths even the prophets before the Messenger (PBH)
considered the peculiarity of the day. For, the tenth
day of Muharram is not only the virtuous day of this
community but also that of the ancestors lived before.
In Islamic view, to perform fasting is the most appropriate
way of showing our gratitude to the Almighty. The interpreters
of Qur’an declared that the cause behind the selection
of Ramadan for the obligatory fasting is as being the
Qur’an, the great oracle, sent down at this month.
Considering the birth of prophet on the Monday, it is
preferable to do fasting on all Mondays only to show
our thankfulness to this holy blessing.
The early Messengers also used to take fasting on
this day. Abu Huraira (May Allah please upon him) reports
that the prophet says: You should perform fasting on
Ashura on which the foregoing prophets took fasting (Ibnu
Abi Shaiba). “The Messenger Nooh (May Allah bless
with him) and his followers took fasting on the tenth
day of Muharram on which they stepped down from the historical
ship” (Ghaliathul Mavaidh: 2/86). The mother of
believers Aysha (May Allah please with her) says “during
the Dark-age, the Quraish used to perform fasting on
Ashura. Before his prophet hood, the Messenger too did
this fasting. After his pilgrimage to holy Madina, he
was very careful to keep the fasting on Ashura’ and
he ordered his Companions to do so” (Nasai, Thirmudi,
Abu Davud, Ibnu Majah) .
Before and after the age of prophet Muhammad (PBH),
the Jews gave more prominence to Ashura and did fasting
on this day. Ibnu Abbas (May Allah please upon him) explains: “After
the reaching of the Messenger in Madina, as he saw Jews
fasting on Ashura and he inquired about it, then the
Jews replied him “It was in this day that the Lord
saved Moosa (May Allah bless with him) from the hands
of Pharaoh”. (The Messenger used to perform fasting
on Ashura from holy Makkah itself, but when Jews replied
him so) The Messenger advised the Companions to perform
fasting on this day saying that “Moosa (May Allah
bless with him) is more related to us than to you” (Jews)
(Bukhari, Muslim). Abu Moosa narrated that the Messenger
suggested his Companions to perform fasting on Ashura,
when he saw Jews in Khaybar (the name of an oasis, 95
miles to the north of Medina (ancient Yathrib), Saudi
Arabia) fasting and decorating their women with ornaments
on this day (Bukhari, Muslim). Jabir Ibnu Samurah says: “The
Messenger ordered us to perform fasting in Ashura and
persuaded us to do so and even he conducted the deep
inquiry to watch our performing on this day (Muslim).
There are four deeds that the prophet has never avoided
in his life time. Those are fasting on Ashura’,
the fasting of first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, three
fasting in each month and two rak’aths before the
dawn prayer (Nasai). Ibnu Abbas (May Allah Please upon
him) says that I saw the Messenger taking the fasting
with a compulsory mind only on the day of Ashura’ among
the days and on the Ramadan among the months (Bukhari,
Muslim).
Imam Ujhoori (May Allah Mercy upon him) says that
the one who says the supplication “Hasbiyallahu
va nia’mal vakeel, nia’mal mawla va nia’ma
nnaseer” as seventy times, Allah will protect him
from all entangling of the year (Thaqreer Iaanath: 2/267).
The Messenger (PBH) implemented the Ashura’ fasting
on the first stage as seeming it like an obligatory deed.
Aysha (May Allah please with her) says: After the Ramadan
was selected for obligatory fasting, the Messenger (PBH)
avoided his strict approach in the matter of Ashura’.
He gave remission to his Companions in the fasting i.e.
whether he can do or not (Nasai, Abu Davud, Thurmudi,
Ibnu Majah). In spite of giving some remissions to this
fasting, the Messenger continuously inspired them to
take the fasting on Ashura’. Hence, though it is
not an obligatory one, it is most preferable one (Ghayathul
Ma’mool: 2/89).
The Messenger (PBH) never tried to make the Ashura’ fasting
obligatory at any level. But, he saw it more prominently
like the obligatory. Even though, some scholars including
Imam Abu Haneefa (Allah Mercy upon him) said that the
Ashura fasting was obligatory at first stage, but in
due course, the obligation was abrogated. Though this
opinion is not agreeable in shafi school of jurisprudent,
it indicates into the prominence of Ashura’ (The
interpretation of Al-thargheeb va tharheeb by Imam Navavi:
2/115).
|
|
| |
|
