Yawmul aashura is one of the few auspicious days in Islam. Unlike lailatul Jaaizah, Qadr and Bara’ah where the night is revered, on Aashura the day is revered. On Yawmul Aashura, only two actions have been recommended in the ahaadith, they are the following:
Fast: 🚫 Nabi ﷺ said, “The best fasts after Ramadân are in Allah’s month of Muharram.” The reward for fasting, is that the sins committed in the year before it will be forgiven. In addition, fast a day before or a day after too as Nabi ﷺ said, “If I live til the next year, we will inshaAllah fast on the 9th day.” (Sahih Muslim)
Be generous: 💰 Nabi ﷺ said, “Whoever increases [his expenditure] on his family on the day of Ashura, Allah will increase his sustenance for the entire year” (Bayhaqi). Many of our pious predecessors did this and they witnessed the barakah in the months ahead. Keep it simple. Add a few fruits or sweets to the dinner table, or give your wife a little extra nafaqah.
⚠️ Caution: Avoid extravagance: The word “increase” in the hadith refers to a moderate increase over daily spending, not excessive or wasteful consumption. Do not:
🚫 Purchase lavish presents: On the tenth of Muharram, there is an annual assumption that we must gift and go large. This has become so widespread, the Ulama are now advising us to hold back. Remember the hadith encourages us to increase in moderation, not be extravagant beyond measure. In following this Sunnah to increase, don’t go against the Sunnah of simplicity. A little will go a long way and yield barakah. Extravagance will take us in the opposite direction. Our Deen is easy, and this hadith is for both the rich and the poor to follow. Large displays are not encouraged. Therefore, keep it simple and sweet.
🚫 Host parties: The word “family” in this hadith refers to dependents like the wife and children. There is zero basis for throwing a party for the wider family and hosting massive feasts. This is a bidah (innovation).
🚫 Buy specific fruits: Some buy green apples and red apples stating they hold significance in Muharram. In some countries like Pakistan, they make green and red falooda instead. This is also a bidah, the hadith did not mention any of this.
Remember that Aashura teaches us:
📌 Allah never burdens a soul more than they can bear: 🌊 ✨ Bani Israel suffered under Firawn’s tyrannical rule for hundreds of years. When they eventually escaped Firawn chased them with his army. With the sea ahead of them and Firawn behind, they began to panic.
Allah commanded Musa عليه السلام to strike the ground with his stick, the sea miraculously split before them, and Bani Israel walked through the path to freedom. If the sea could split for them, nothing is impossible. Never lose help, take solace in the knowledge that Allah’s help is near.
📌 Evil does not last forever: ☪ 💡 Allah made Firawn the King for centuries. He drowned 300 years after Musa عليه السلام invited him to Islam, yet he was in such good health, he never experienced even a single headache! Allah gave him respite, but never assume this lasts forever. Allah soon punished him and preserved his body for us to learn – evil never lasts. All kings will eventually be defeated and humbled by Allah – the King of all Kings.
📌 Remember your humble beginnings: ⌛ ⏰ The progeny of Bani Israel are the present day Jews. They struggled under Firawn, in recent times they experienced the holocaust, yet they have forgotten and oppress Palestinians today. Sometimes when a person is abused in childhood, they become the abuser in adulthood. A harsh employer forgets how hard it was to begin as an employee. Don’t forget, don’t repeat the same mistakes you went through. Let your past make you better, not worse.
📌 Hussain رضي الله عنه: 🔟 📿 The 10th of Muharram was auspicious long before he was martyred. The Shia’s belief that we revere this day due to him is incorrect. It would be true to say that Allah loved him so much, He chose this auspicious day to bless him with martyrdom, just like we consider one who passes away on Laylatul Qadr as blessed.
— Shaykh Dawood Seedat حفظه الله
Above is an extract taken from Shaykh’s talk on 19/09/18.
