Aashura 1433 AH

I have been meaning to add a post on Aashura since last week but the exams amongst other things has kept me so busy. The kids at Ummul Hasanaat Newcastle will have sharing day tomorrow Inshā’Allah, while the teachers will be fasting… LOL. No seriously, the children in the joy and spirit of Aashura are having their sharing tomorrow and teachers indeed will be fasting. We have to fast in the hot days as I like to say “If the price is cheap, everyone will buy”. So the price is high this year for Aashura… what’s the price? The hot weather here in SA. At least we have food to break our fasts with. So not a really high price. May Allah accept our good deeds. Ummul Hasanaat Johannesburg has delayed their sharing day so that teacher and student may enjoy their sharing day alike.

This day of great historical significance where Allah accepted the repentance of Sayyidina Aadam (‘Alaihis-Salaam) after his exile from Paradise; where Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala saved Sayyidina Nooh (‘Alaihis-Salaam) and his companions in the ark; where Allah extinguished the fire in which Sayyidina Ibraheem (‘Alaihis-Salaam) was thrown by Nimrood; And where Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala spoke directly to Sayyidina Moosa (‘Alaihis-Salaam) and gave him the Commandments. On this same 10th of Muharram, Sayyidina Ayyoob (‘Alaihis-Salaam) was restored to health (from leprosy); Sayyidina Yoosuf (‘Alaihis-Salaam) was reunited with his father Ya’qoob (‘Alaihis-Salaam); Sayyidina Yoonus (‘Alaihis-Salaam) was taken out from the belly of the fish; and the sea was divided as the nation of Israel was delivered from captivity and Pharoah’s army was destroyed, where Sayyidina Dawud (‘Alaihis-Salaam) was forgiven and the kingdom of Sulaimaan (‘Alaihis-Salaam) restored. This great day is upon us.
NOTE: Not all of the above incidents are confirmed to have taken place on Aashura in the Qur-aan, nor by any strong Hadith. These have been reported in the weaker Ahaadith, but are nevertheless agreed upon to have taken place. These events are mentioned as what scholars have determined as the specialties of that day in Ghunya li-Talibi Tariq al-Haqq, by Sayyidinaa Abdul Qadir al-Jilani (rahimahullah). However many Islamic scholars like Mufti Taqi Uthmani rebuke such beliefs saying that “there are some legends and misconceptions with regard to Aashura that have managed to find their way into the minds of the ignorant, but have no support of authentic Islamic sources”.

What do we do tonight? We pray and supplicate to Allah to our heart’s desires. We remember and take the names of those we know and ask for those we know not. We ask forgiveness from Allah ‘Azza wa Jall and beg Him to grant us istiqaamah (steadfastness) in our good deeds in the new year. Then we may ask for halaal rizq, prosperity and much more.

We fast on the 9th and 10th or 10th and 11th of Muharram.
Mu’awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan (Radiyallahu ‘anh) relates: I heard Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) say: “It is the day of Aashura. Allah has not made fasting obligatory for you. But I am fasting. He who likes to observe fast among you should do so, and he who likes not to observe it (does not have to) observe it.” [Sahih Muslim] Abu Qataadah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) relates that the Rasoolullah (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said that the fast on the 10th of Muharram atones for the sins of the preceding year. [Sahih Muslim] Abu Hurairah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasoolullah (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said that after Ramadhaan, the fasts of Muharram have the greatest excellence. [Sahih Muslim]

The hadith narrated by Abdullâh bin Mas’ood (radhiallahu ‘anhu)on spending, who mentions that Rasuloollah (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said:

من وسع علي عياله في يوم عاشوراء وسع الله عليه السنة كلها

Whoever spends freely on his family on the day of Aashura, Allah will grant prosperity throughout the year to the person.”

Tabrani, Bayhaqi and Abu Shaykh have all narrated this hadith from Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood (radhiallahu ‘anhu). Tabrani and Bayhaqi have also narrated it from Abu Sa’eed Khudri (radhiallahu ‘anhu), while Bayhaqi reports narrations of this hadith from Hadhrat Jaabir (radhiallahu ‘anhu) and Abu Hurairah (radhallahu ‘anhu) as well. Although the chains of narrators of these Ahadeeth are not reliable, their sheer numbers lend strength to them.

Although some scholars consider these narrations to be weak (dha’if), others like Imam Bayhaqi and ibn Hibbaan have accepted them as reliable. Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali relates from Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (rahimahullah) that he did consider some basis for them. He also quotes Sufyan ibn Uyayna (rahimahullah) as saying, “I have practiced this [spending on the family] for fifty or sixty years, and have found nothing but good in it.” (Lata’if al-Ma’arif P 64) 

Moreover, scholars have generally agreed on the permissibility of acting upon weak narrations for virtuous actions, as long as they are not fabricated (mawdu’).

In his commentary of Durrul Mukhtar, Allaama Shaami (rahimahullah) writes, “The hadith concerning spending freely on one’s family is authentic, as Hafidh Suyuti (rahimahullah) has mentioned in his book Ad Durar. However, the narration about applying kohl on the day of Aashura is a fabrication, as Allaama Sakhaawi (rahimahullah) has mentioned with conviction in Maqaasidul Hasanah. Mulla Ali Qaari (rahimahullah) supports this view in his book Kitaabul Mowdoo’aat. In his book Durar Muntashirah Allaama Suyuti (rahimahullah) has quoted Haakim as saying that this narration is Munkar. In his book Kashful Khifaa, Imaam Jarraahi has quoted Haakim as stating that no narration has been reported from Rasoolullah (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) about applying kohl on the day of Aashura. Doing so is regarded as a Bid’ah (innovation).”

Ibn al-Haaj (rahimahullah) mentioned that one of the bid’ahs on Aashura was deliberately paying zakaah on this day, late or early, or slaughtering a chicken just for this occasion, or – in the case of women – using henna. (al-Madkhal, part 1, Yawm Aashura)

And Allah knows best.