Although the month of Muharram is a sanctified month as a whole, yet, the tenth day of Muharram is the most sacred among all its days. The day is named ‘Ashurah’.
According to the Holy companion Ibn ’Abbas رضی الله عنہ , The Holy Prophet صلی الله عليه وسلم , when migrated to Madinah found that the Jews of Madinah used to fast on the 10th day of Muharram. They said that it was the day on which the Holy Prophet Musa (Moses) علیہ السلام and his followers crossed the Red Sea miraculously and the Pharaoh was drowned in its water. On hearing this from the Jews, the Holy Prophet صلی الله عليه وسلم said: “We are more closely related to Musa than you” and directed the Muslims to fast on the day of Ashura. (Abu Dawood)
It is also reported in a number of authentic traditions that in the beginning, fasting on the day Ashura was obligatory for the Muslims. It was later that the fasts of Ramadan were made obligatory and the fast on the day of Ashura was made optional.
Sayyidah Aishah رضی الله عنہا has said:
“When the Holy Prophet صلی الله عليه وسلم came to Madinah, he fasted on the day of Ashura and directed the people to fast. But when the fasts of Ramadan were made obligatory, the obligation of fasting was confined to Ramadan and the obligatory nature of the fast of Ashura was abandoned. One can fast on this day, if he so wills or can avoid the fasting if he so wills.”
However, the Holy Prophet used to fast on the day of Ashura even after the fasting in Ramadan was made obligatory. Abdullah ibn Mas'ud رضی الله عنہ reports that the Holy Prophet صلی الله عليه وسلم preferred the fast of Ashura to the fast of other days and preferred the fast of Ramadan to the fast of ‘Ashura’. (Bukhari and Muslim)
In short, it is established through a number of authentic ahadith that fasting on the day of Ashura' is Sunnah of the Holy Prophet صلی الله عليه وسلم and makes one entitled to a great reward.
According to another hadith, it is more advisable that the fast of Ashura should either be prefixed or suffixed by another fast. It means that one should fast for two days: the 9th and the 10th of Muharram or the 10th and 11th of it. The reason of this additional fast as mentioned by the Holy Prophet صلی الله عليه وسلم is that the Jews used to fast on the day of Ashura alone, and the Holy Prophet صلی الله عليه وسلم wanted to distinguish the Islamic way of fasting from that of Jews. Therefore, he advised the Muslims to add another fast to that of Ashura .
Some traditions signify another feature of the day of Ashura., According to these traditions one should be more generous to his family by providing more food to them on this day as compared to other days. These traditions are not very authentic according to the science of hadith. Yet, some Scholars like Baihaqi and Ibn Hibban have accepted them as reliable.
What is mentioned above is all that is supported through authentic sources about Ashura. However there are some legends and misconceptions with regard to Ashura that have managed to find their way into the minds of the ignorant, but have no support of authentic Islamic sources, some very common of them are these:
This is the day in which Adam علیہ السلام was created.
This is the the day in which Ibrahim علیہ السلام was born.
This is the day in which Allah accepted the repentance of Sayyidna Ibrahim علیہ السلام
This is the day on which the Qiyamah (dooms-day) will take place.
Whoever takes bath in the day of Ashura will never get ill
All these and other similar whims and fancies are totally baseless and the traditions referred to in this sect are not worthy of any credit.
Some people take it as Sunnah to prepare a particular type of meal on the day of Ashura. This practice too. has no basis in the authentic Islamic sources.
Some other people attribute the sanctity of Ashura to the martyrdom of Sayyidna Hussain رضی الله عنہ during his battle with the Syrian army. No doubt, the martyrdom of Sayyidna Hussain رضی الله عنہ is one of the most tragic episodes of our history. Yet, the sanctity of Ashura cannot be ascribed to this event for the simple reason that the sanctity of Ashura was established during the days of the Holy Prophet صلی الله عليه وسلم much earlier than the birth of Sayyidna Hussain رضی الله عنہ. On the contrary , it is one of the merits of Sayyidna Hussain رضی الله عنہ that his martyrdom took place on the day of Ashura.
Another misconception about the month of Muharram is that it is an evil or unlucky month, for Sayyidna Husain رضی الله عنہ was killed in it. It is for this misconception that people avoid holding marriage Ceremonies in the month of Muharram. This is again a baseless concept which is contrary to the express teachings of the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah. Such superstitions have been totally negated by the Holy Prophet صلی الله عليه وسلم. If the death of an eminent person on a particular day renders that day unlucky for all times to come, one can hardly find a day free from this bad luck, out of 365 days of the whole year, because each and every day has a history of the demise of some eminent person. The Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet صلی الله عليه وسلم have made us free from such superstitious beliefs, and they should deserve no attention.
Another wrong practice related to this month is to hold the lamentation and mourning ceremonies in the memory of martyrdom of Sayyidna Hussain رضی الله عنہ as mentioned earlier, the event of Karbala is ono the most tragic events of our history, but the Holy Prophet صلی الله عليه وسلم has forbidden us from holding the mourning ceremonies on the death of any person. The people of Jahiliyyah (Ignorance) used to mourn over their deceased relatives or friends through loud lamentations by tearing their clothes and by beating their cheeks and chests. The Holy Prophet صلی الله عليه وسلم stopped the Muslims from doing all this and directed them to observe patience by saying:
إنا لله و إنا إليه راجعون.
A number of authentic ahadith are available on the subject. To quote only one of them, the Prophet صلی الله عليه وسلم said:
"He is not from our group who slaps his cheeks, tears his clothes and cries in the manner of the people of jahiliyyah.”
All the authentic jurists are unanimous on the point that the mourning of this type is absolutely impermissible. Even Sayyidna Hussain رضی الله عنہ shortly before his demise, had advised his beloved sister Sayyida Zainab رضی الله عنها not to mourn over his death in this manner. He said:
"My dear sister, I swear upon you that you, in case I die. shall not tear your clothes, nor scratch your face, nor curse anyone for me or pray for your death".
It is evident from this advice of Sayyidna Hussain رضی الله عنہ that this type of mourning is condemned even by the blessed person for the memory of whom these mourning ceremonies are held. Every Muslim should avoid this practice and abide by the teachings of the Holy Prophet صلی الله عليه وسلم and his beloved grandchild Sayyidna Hussain رضی الله عنہ.
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