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Fasting 10th muharram for karbala ashura.

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

How can you ignore the fact that the 10th of muharram is most significant because of the martyrdom of the Prophet's family in the battle of Karbala.

 

Your response to one of our brother's question on "fasting in Muharram" was indeed informative. However, only if you had also acknowledge the fact that this day was also reserved for the family of Prophet (Imam Hussain  A.S. and his family and companions) to sacrifice their lives for the sake of saving Islam, that would have really graced an honest response from a Muslim (not withstanding Shia / Sunni Fiqh). Let us learn to honor, respect and acknowledge others faiths beliefs and not ignore it. It only reflects the obvious.

 

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Answer:

 

Fasting 10th muharram for karbala ashura

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 5.172 Narrated by Aisha

Ashura' (i.e. the tenth of Muharram) was a day on which the tribe of Quraish used to fast in the pre-Islamic period of ignorance. The Prophet (saws) also used to fast on this day. So when he (saws) migrated to Medina, he fasted on it and ordered (the Muslims) to fast on it. When the fasting of Ramadan was enjoined, it became optional for the people to fast or not to fast on the day of Ashura.

 

Ibn 'Abbas reported: "The Prophet (saws) came to Madinah and found the Jews fasting on the day of 'Ashurah. He (saws) said to them: 'What is this fast?' They said: 'A great day. Allah saved Moses and the tribes of Israel from their enemies on this day and therefore, Moses fasted on this day.' The Prophet (saws) said: 'We have more of a right to Moses than you,' so he (saws) fasted on that day also and ordered the believers to fast on that day."

Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

 

Ibn 'Abbas reported: "The Messenger of Allah (saws) fasted on the day of 'Ashurah and ordered the people to fast on it. The people said: 'O Messenger of Allah (saws) , it is a day that the Jews and Christians honor.' The Prophet (saws) said, 'When the following year comes--Allah willing--we shall fast (also) on the ninth.' The death of the Prophet (saws) came before the following year."

Related by Muslim and Abu Dawud.

 

The tenth day of the Islamic month of Muharram holds a very significant place as it is recorded in history that not only did Allah Subhanah save the Noble Prophet Moses and the believers from the clutches of the Pharaoh, but it was on this day of Muharram that Allah Subhanah saved Prophet Noah (a.s.) and the believers from the flood, accepted the repentance and saved the Noble Prophet Yunus (a.s.) from the stomach of the fish, and cured the illness of the Noble Prophet Ayyub (a.s.).

 

The tenth of Muharram was a day which not only the pagans of Quraish, but also the Jews and the Christians of the time held in honor before the advent of Islam; and they commemorated this day by fasting. The Messenger of Allah (saws) declared that the believers, because of their true belief upon all the previous Prophets of Allah, had more right to honor this day and he (saws) encouraged the believers to differ from the pagans and fast two days, either the 9th and the 10th or the 10th and the 11th, in commemoration of this great day.

 

Sunan of Abu-Dawood 2419 (part) Narrated by Abu Qatadah

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘…..I seek from Allah that fasting on the day of ‘Arafah’ may atone for the sins of the preceding and the coming year; and I seek from Allah that fasting on the days of ‘Ashura' may atone for the sins of the preceding year.’

 

Your Question: …..how can you ignore the fact that the 10th of muharram is most significant because of the martyrdom of the Prophet's family in the battle of Karbala.

Respected brother in Islam, the Glorious Quran was completely revealed and the Sunnah or practice of the Messenger of Allah (saws) was completely established before his (saws) death…..whatever transpired after the death of the Messenger of Allah (saws) is but the ‘history of the muslims’.

 

The unfortunate events that transpired in the barren fields of ‘karbala’ on the day of Ashura with the noble companion and beloved grand-son of the Prophet, the Noble Hadrat Hussain ibn Ali (r.a.) and his family is and remains, without an iota of a doubt, one of the darkest recorded days from the ‘history of the muslims’.

 

It is also an undeniable fact that the unfortunate events that transpired in ‘karbala’ on the day of ‘ashura’ happened long after the death of the Prophet (saws)…..and the Prophet (saws) ordained the fasting of the days of ‘ashura’ in his own lifetime….thus unless and until one happens to suggest or has reason to believe that the Messenger of Allah (saws) knew the ‘unseen’ or the events of the future (for that then would be against the very guidance of the Glorious Quran!), the fact is that the unfortunate events that transpired in ‘karbala’ with the noble Hadrat Hussain ibn Ali (r.a.) and his family have absolutely nothing to do with the guidance of fasting on the days of ‘ashura’!

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verse 50:

50 (O Prophet (saws)) Say: "I tell you not that with me are the treasures of Allah, nor do I know what is hidden nor do I tell you I am an Angel. I but follow what is Revealed to me."

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraf verses 187-188:

187 They ask thee (O Prophet (saws)) about the (Final) Hour; when will be its appointed time? Say: "The knowledge thereof is with my Lord (Alone): none but He can reveal as to when it will occur. Heavy were its burden through the heavens and the earth. Only all of a sudden will it come to you. They ask thee as if thou wert eager in search thereof: Say: "The knowledge thereof is with Allah (alone) but most men know not."

188 (O Prophet (saws)) Say: "I have no power over any good or harm to myself except as Allah Willeth. If I had knowledge of the unseen I should have multiplied all good and no evil should have touched me; I am but a warner and a bringer of glad tidings to those who have faith."

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 27 Surah Naml verses 65-66:

65 (O Prophet (saws)) Say: ‘None in the heavens or on earth except Allah Knows what is hidden: nor can they perceive when they shall be raised up (for Judgment).

66 Still less can their knowledge comprehend the Hereafter: Nay! They are in doubt and uncertainty thereof; Nay! They are blind thereunto!’

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 109:

109 One day will Allah gather the Messengers all together and ask: "What was the response ye received (from men to your teaching)? They will reply: "We have no knowledge: it is Thou who Knows in full all that is hidden.

 

If the commemoration of attaining the noble station of martyrdom was to be endorsed by observing fasts in Islam, the Messenger of Allah (saws) would have guided the believers to fast on the Day of Uhud when his own noble and beloved uncle, Hadrat Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib (r.a.) and almost seventy of his noble companions were martyred!.....or the Messenger of Allah (saws) would have guided the believes to commemorate the day of the Battle of Muta with fasting when stalwarts amongst the noble companions of the stature of his (saws) own cousin Hadrat Jaafar ibn Abi Taalib (r.a.), and his adopted son, the noble Hadrat Zaid ibn Haritha (r.a.), and the noble Ansari Hadrat Abdullah ibn Rawaaha (r.a.) were martyred!....or the Prophet (saws) would have himself fasted and guided the believers to fast on the anniversary of the days when the Noble Prophets of Allah Hadrat Zakariyyah (a.s.) and Hadrat Yahya (a.s.) were martyred in the Cause of Allah!

 

There is absolutely no evidence in the authentic and established Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) whereby he gathered believers every year to commemorate the anniversary of the eventful days of Badr, or Uhud, or Muta, or the anniversary of the days when Prophet Zakariyyah (a.s.) and Prophet Yahya (a.s.) were martyred; nor did he (saws) gave fiery sermons every year on its anniversary recounting the unimaginable hardships and miseries faced by the believers on those eventful days; nor did he (saws) guide the believers to commemorate and fast on the anniversary of these eventful days of Badr, and Uhud, and Muta which incidentally find mention even in the Glorious Quran!!!

 

We reiterate again brother that as dark and as unfortunate the day of ‘karbala’ is from amongst all the pages of the ‘history of the muslims’ after the death of the Noble Prophet (saws), it has absolutely nothing to do with Sunnah of fasting on the days of Ashura in Muharram!

 

Respected brother, we have provided you with our reasoning and understanding of the Quran and the Sunnah why the day of ‘karbala’ has nothing to do with the Sunnah of fasting on the days of ‘Ashura’……now in all humility, we ask you to provide your evidence from the Quran and the authentic and established Sunnah whereby the Messenger of Allah (saws) endorsed the fasting of the day of ‘Ashura’ because of the events which were to take place long after his death on the fields of ‘karbala’.

 

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan

 

 


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