The Significance of Fasting Ashura

Assalam-o-Alaikum everybody ...Hope you're all in the best of health and Iman ..

Before we start the topic , we'd like to tell you " Happy Hijri new year " , May Allah bestow His love and blessings upon you in this new year inshaa Allah .

First of All, Indeed, fasting the 9th and the 10th of Muharram is a Prophetic Sunnah.


The Prophet (Sollalaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) said, “Fasting the day of `Ashura’, I hope that Allaah will accept it as expiation for the previous year.” (Reported by Muslim)


Abu Huraira (Radiyallaahu 'anh) reports that the Holy Nabi (Sollalaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) said that after Ramadan, the fasts of Muharram have the greatest excellence. [Sahih Muslim]


It is reported in the Sahih of Imam Al-Bukhari and other authentic collections of hadith that the Prophet (Sollalaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) and his Companions used to fast on the 10th day of Muharram while they were in Makkah (before the hijrah).


After the hijrah when the Prophet (Sollalaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) came to Madinah, he found that the Jews of Madinah also used to observe this day with fasting.
The Prophet (Sollalaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) asked them the reason of their fasting on this day.
They said, “This is a blessed day. On this day Allaah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy (in Egypt) and so Prophet Musa fasted on this day giving thanks to Allaah.”
The Prophet (Sollalaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) said, “We have more claim to Musa than you.” He fasted on that day and commanded Muslims to fast on this day. (Al-Bukhari, hadith 1865)


Ibn `Abbas also quoted the Prophet (Sollalaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) as saying, “If I live next year, I shall also fast on the 9th day.” (Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, hadith 2002)


Imam at-Tirmidhi mentioned that ibn `Abbas (may Allaah be pleased with them both) used to say that we should fast on two days: the 9th and 10th of Muharram to distinguish ourselves from the Jewish community. (At-Tirmidhi, Hadith 686)

So, fasting the 9th of Muharram is highly recommended by the Sunnah.


Based on this, there are different ways of fasting `Ashura’, the least of which is to fast the 10th only, but it is better to fast the 9th as well. The more one fasts in Muharram, the better.

Thus, according to scholars, you may choose to fast Ashura on three days (ninth, tenth, and eleventh); two days (ninth and tenth);
or one day only (the tenth).


Mu`awiyyah ibn Abi Sufyan reported that he heard the Messenger of Allaah (Sollalaahu 'Alayhi wa sallam) say: "Concerning the day of `Ashura’, it is not obligatory upon you to fast on it as I do. Whoever wishes may fast and whoever does not wish to is not obliged to do so" (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

WILL NOT THEY BELIEVE?

On the earth are signs for those of assured Faith, As also in your own selves: Will ye not then see? (ADH-DHURIYAT 51:20-21)

The above are just two verses of Qur’an. In these Verses Allah is giving the direction toward the hidden secrets of the universe. These secrets are that much that to know them all is impossible we even can’t count them.

First of all the creation of the earth, then changes in its environment and make it that comfort that a human life can flourish and can get its nourishment easily. After that sending Adam on the earth.

If we only talk about creation of human; We will find many process that which even science can’t do in its machines. For us only human creation is enough to believe in Allah. But even showing us that clear signs our merciful creator does not leave our hand but still showing us His signs time to time. We just need open heart to accept, good sight to see and good hearing to listen.

Do not the unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were joined together (as one unit of creation), before we clove them asunder? We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe? (Al-ANBIYA 21:30)

CONDEMN OF SLAVERY IN ISLAM

He will call you to account for your deliberate oaths: for expiation…give a slave his freedom.."[5:89]

In the above verse of Quran Allah (God) commanded to people to free the slaves and give them back their freedom. Similarly in another verse Allah (God) said in Quran."

And whoever kills a believer by mistake, it is ordained that he should free a believing slave.."[4:92]

In this above verse who ever kill a free man by mistake he should free a slave. Now if you see Islam made a slave and a free man equal in the rank. Even a free man killed by mistake. We should free a slave, and these verses reviled on the time when slavery was common between other religions or faiths and slaves treated as animals. In that timw of darkness Islam gave rights to slaves and condemn slavery, made slave equal to free man. In Quran Allah (God) said,

"…But it is righteousness…to spend of your substance out of love for Him…for the ransom of slaves.."[2:177]

In above verse, now its an order to a muslim to spend his money as ransom of a slave to make them free from slavery. Islam ordered to every muslim who have wealth equal to 52.5 grams of silver or above then that to give 2.5 % of his or her wealth in charity every lunar year. One of the use of this charity is to pay the ransom of the slave. Even the Prophet Muhammad SAW condemn the slavery in His speach famous as the last sermon he said,

"There is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab and for a non-Arab over an Arab, nor for the white over the black nor for the black over the white except in God-conciousness".

"O’ People! Every Muslim is the brother of every other Muslim, and all the Muslims form one brotherhood. And your slaves; see that you feed them with such food as you eat yourselves, and clothe them with the clothes that you yourselves wear".

In the above saying it is clear that there is no place of slavery in islam evreyone is equal but if you want to see superiority then see God-conciousness in it. It is also mention in Hadith (Prophet saying) that,

"The Prophet said, 'He who has a slave-girl and teaches her good manners and improves her education and then manumits and marries her, will get a double reward". (Al-Hadith--Book Sahi Bukhari)

Now who ever treat slave well and teach her good manner and educate her and then free her and get marry with her will get reward from Allah (God). Islam also focused on the eduction of slaves. This marriage will be on the will of that slave girl not on the will of his master because that master should first free that slave girl then offer her to get married. Now its depend on that girl to get married with that man or not. As mention in Quran,

"…ye…may wed believing girls from among those whom your right hands posses….wed them with the leave of their owners, and give them their dower…"[4:25]

There are many things in the islam which comdumn slavery. I just want to mention one incidence which condemn slavery,

One day the Prophet was sitting with Salman, Bilal, 'Ammar, Suhayb, Khabbab [all ex-slaves] and a group of poor Muslims, when some unbelievers passed from there. When they saw these "unimportant" people with the Prophet, they said, "Have you chosen these persons from among your people? Do you want us to follow them? Has Allah bestowed His favour on them, that they have believed, and not us? You should better remove them from you; if you do so, then perhaps we would follow you." The Prophet did not agree to their demand, and Allah sent the following verse in this respect: And do not drive away those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, they desire only His favour; neither are you answerable for any reckoning of theirs, nor are they answerable for any reckoning of yours, so that you should drive them away and thus be of the unjust. And thus do We try some of them by others so that they say:

"Are these they upon whom Allah has conferred benefit from among us?" Does not Allah know the grateful? (And when those who believe in our signs come to you, say: "Peace be upon you, your Lord has ordained mercy on Himself") (6:52-54)

Salman, Bilal, 'Ammar and their companions say: "When Allah revealed these verses, the Prophet turned towards us, called us to come nearer to him, and said, 'Your lord has ordained mercy on Himself.' Then we used to sit with him, and when he wanted to stand up (and go from there), he did so. Then Allah revealed,

And withhold yourself with those who call on their Lord in the morning and evening desiring His goodwill, and let not your eyes pass from them.. (18:28)"

When this was revealed, the Prophet used to make us sit so near him that our thighs almost touched his thighs; and he did not stand up before us. When we felt that the time had come for him to stand, we took his leave; and then he stood up after we had gone. And he used to say to us, 'I thank God who did not take me out of this world until He ordered me to keep patience with a group of my ummah. I shall spend my life with you, and, after death, shall remain with you.

"I hope this all above discussion give you an idea that Islam strongly condemn slavery. There is not a place of Slavery in Islam.

I hope you all got your answer in it. If you have any more questions you can ask freely.

"May Allah (God) Bless us with His rehma (mercy) and show us the right path". (Ameen)

ONE POWER: THE SUPREME

He merges Night into Day, And He merges Day into Night, and He has subjected the sun and the moon (to his law): Each one runs its course for a term appointed. Such is Allah your Lord:

To Him belongs all Dominion. And those whom ye invoke besides him have not the least power.
(AL-FATIR 35:13)

Today if we look around our universe we will see millions and billions of stars and planets revolving around in their orbits. Similarly not in our universe but after our universe mega-verse starts and in it we also find the same law of revolving of planets.

It is not an incident that a mega-verse and its billions of planet following similar law of revolving. May be we can say for one or two, ten or twenty or may be hundred or thousand planets following similar law but we are talking about whole universe following similar law of revolving. Billions of stars and planets revolving in same pattern.

This prove us that there is only one power is present in the universe. Which making whole universe work not just ten twenty but billions of planets works on the instructions of that supreme power. And every planet in under that supreme power and obey that power. And that Supreme of is belong to Allah Al-mighty.

And it is He Who made the Night and the Day to follow each other: For such as have the will to celebrate His praises or to show their gratitude.
(AL-FURQAN 25:62)

THE LAST SERMON OF THE HOLY PROPHET OF ISLAM: MUHAMMAD (P.B.U.H)

1. All praise is due to Allah, so we praise Him, and seek His pardon and we turn to Him. We seek refuge with Allah from the evils of ourselves and from the evil consequences of our deeds. Whom Allah guides aright there is none to lead him astray; and there is none to guide him aright whom Allah leads astray.

I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, the One, having no partner with Him. His is the sovereignty and to Him is due all praise. He grants life and causes death and is Powerful over everything.

There is no God but Allah, the One; He fulfilled His promise and granted victory to His bondsman, and He alone routed the confederates (of the enemies of Islam).

O’ People! Listen to my words, for I do not know whether we shall ever meet again and perform Hajj after this year.

O’ Ye people! Allah says, O’ people We created you from one male and one female and made you into tribes and nations, so as to be known to one another. Verily in the sight of Allah, the most honoured amongst you is the one who is most God-fearing.

There is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab and for a non-Arab over an Arab, nor for the white over the black nor for the black over the white except in God-conciousness. All mankind is the progeny of Adam and Adam was fashioned out of clay.

Behold; every claim of privilage whether that of blood or property, is under my heels except that of the custody of the Ka’bah and supplying of water to the pilgrims,

O’ people of Quraish, don’t appear (on the Day of Judgement) with the burden of this world around your necks, whereas other people may appear (before the Lord) with the rewards of the hereafter. In that case I shall avail you naught against Allah.

Behold! All practice of the days of ignorance are now under my feet. The blood revenges of the days of ignorance are remitted. The first claim on blood I abolish is that of Ibn Rabiah bin Harith who was nursed in the tribe of Sa’ad and whom the Hudhayls killed. All interest and usurious dues accruing from the times of ignorance stand wiped out. And the first amount of interest that I remit is that which Abbas ibn Abd-al Muttalib had to receive. Verily it is remitted entirely.

O’ people! Verily yor blood, your property and your honour are sacred and
inviolable until you appear before your Lord, as the sacred inviolability of this day of yours, this month of yours and this very town (of yours). Verily you will soon meet your Lord and you will be held answerable for your actions.

O’ people! Verily you have got certain rights over your women and your women have certain rights over you. It is your right upon them to honour their conjugal rights, and not to commit acts of impropriety, which if they do, you are authorised by Allah to separate them from your beds and chastise them, but not severely, and if they refrain, then clothe and feed them properly.

Behold! It is not permissible for a woman to give anything from the wealth of her husband to anyone but with his consent.

Treat the women kindly, since they are your helpers and not in a position
to manage their affairs themselves. Fear Allah concerning women, for verily you have taken them on the security of Allah and have made their persons lawful unto you by words of Allah.

O’ people! Allah, the Mighty and Exalted, has ordained to every one his due share (of inheritance). Hence there is no need (of special) testament for an heir (departing from the rules laid down by the Shari’ah).

The child belongs to the marriage-bed and the violator of wedlock shall be stoned. And Reckoning of their (deeds) rests with Allah.

He who attributes his ancestry to other than his father or claims his clientship to other than his master, the curse of Allah is upon him. All depts must be repaid, all borrowed property must be returned, gifts should be reciprocated and a surety must make good the loss to the assured.

Beware! No one committing a crime is responsible for it but himself. Neither the child is responsible for the crime of his father, nor the father is responsible for the crime of his child.

Nothing of his brother is lawful for a Muslim except what he himself gives willingly. So do not wrong yourselves.

O’ People! Every Muslim is the brother of every other Muslim, and all the Muslims form one brotherhood. And your slaves; see that you feed them with such food as you eat yourselves, and clothe them with the clothes that you yourselves wear.

Take heed not to go astray after me and strike one another’s necks. He who (amongst you) has any trust with him, he must return it to its owner.

O’ people! Listen and obey, though a mangled Abyssinian slave is appointed your Amir, provided he executes (the Ordinance of) the Book of Allah among you.

O’ people! No Prophet would be raised after me and no new Ummah (would be formed) after you.

Verily I have left amongst you that which will never lead you astray, the Book of Allah, which if you hold fast you shall never go astray.

And beware of transgressing the limits set in the matters of religion, for it is transgression of (the proper bounds of) religion that brought destruction to many people before you.

Verily, the satan is disappointed at ever being worshipped in this land of yours, but he will be pleased by obedience in anything (short of worship that is) in matters you may be disposed to think insignificant, so beware of him in your matters of religion.

Behold! Worship your Lord; offer prayers five times a day; observe fast in the month of Ramadhaan; pay readily the Zakat (poor due) on your property; and perform pilgrimage to the House of God and obey your rulers and you will be admitted to the Paradise of your Lord.

Let him that is present, convey it unto him who is absent, for many people to whom the message is conveyed may be more mindful of it than the audience.And if you were asked about me, what would you say?"

They answered, "We bear witness that you have conveyed the trust (of religion) and discharged your ministry of Prophethood and looked to our welfare."

Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) lifted his forefinger towards the sky and then pointing towards people said:

"O’ Lord: Bear Thou witness unto it.

O’ Lord: Bear Thou witness unto it."

(Khutbat-ul-Hajjatul Wida, Seerat Ibne Hesham)

ANATOMY OF A BELIEVER

BROTHERS DO NOT MARRY 7 TYPES OF WOMEN

1. Al-Annaanah:
The woman who whines, moans and complains and ‘ties a band around her head’ all the time (i.e. complains of a headache or some illness but in reality she is not sick, rather she is faking).

2. Al-Mannaanah:
The woman who bestows favours, gifts, etc. upon her husband then (at that time or the future) says; “I did such and such for you or on your behalf or because of you.

3. Al-Hannaanah:
The women who yearns or craves for her former husband or children of the former husband.

4. Kay’atul-Qafaa:
The women who has a brand mark on the nape of her neck (i.e. has a bad reputation or doubts about her).

5. Al-Haddaaqah:
The women who cast her eyes at things (i.e. always looking at something to purchase, then desires it and requires her husband to buy it (No Matter What).

6. Al-Barraaqah:
The women who spends much of her day enhancing her face and beautifying it to such an extent that it will seem like it was manufactured.

7. Al-Shaddaaqah:
The woman who talks excessively..


Taken from the Book: ‘A Concise Manual of Marriage’ by Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen

25 DUAS FROM THE HOLY QUR'AN

And when My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I respond to the dua (prayer) of every suppliant when they calleth on Me - (Quran 2:186)

1. Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the life to come and keep us safe from the torment of the Fire (2:201)

2. Our Lord! Bestow on us endurance and make our foothold sure and give us help against those who reject faith. (2:250)

3. Our Lord! Take us not to task if we forget or fall into error. (2:286)

4. Our Lord! Lay not upon us such a burden as You did lay upon those before us. (2:286)

5. Our Lord! Impose not on us that which we have not the strength to bear, grant us forgiveness and have mercy on us. You are our Protector. Help us against those who deny the truth. (2:286)

6. Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate from the truth after You have guided us, and bestow upon us mercy from Your grace. Verily You are the Giver of bounties without measure. (3:8)

7. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and the lack of moderation in our doings, and make firm our steps and succour us against those who deny the truth. (3:147)

8. Our Lord! Whomsoever You shall commit to the Fire, truly You have brought [him] to disgrace, and never will wrongdoers find any helpers (3:192)

9. Our Lord! Behold we have heard a voice calling us unto faith: "Believe in your Lord" and we have believed. (3:193)

10. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and efface our bad deeds and take our souls in the company of the righteous. (3:193)

11. Our Lord! And grant us that which you have promised to us by Your messengers and save us from shame on the Day of Judgement. Verily You never fail to fulfill Your promise. (3:194)

12. Our Lord! We have sinned against ourselves, and unless You grant us forgiveness and bestow Your mercy upon us, we shall most certainly be lost! (7:23)

13. Our Lord! Place us not among the people who have been guilty of evildoing. (7:47)

14. Our Lord! Lay open the truth between us and our people, for You are the best of all to lay open the truth. (7:89)

15. Our Lord! Pour out on us patience and constancy, and make us die as those who have surrendered themselves unto You. (7:126)

16. Our Lord! Make us not a trial for the evildoing folk, and save as by Your mercy from people who deny the truth (10:85-86)

17. Our Lord! You truly know all that we may hide [in our hearts] as well as all that we bring into the open, for nothing whatever, be it on earth or in heaven, remains hidden from Allah (14:38)

18. Our Lord! Bestow on us mercy from Your presence and dispose of our affairs for us in the right way. (18:10)

19. Our Lord! Grant that our spouses and our offspring be a comfort to our eyes, and give us the grace to lead those who are conscious of You. (25:74)

20. Our Lord! You embrace all things within Your Grace and Knowledge, forgive those who repent and follow Your path, and ward off from them the punishment of Hell. (40:7)

21. Our Lord! Make them enter the Garden of Eden which You have promised to them, and to the righteous from among their fathers, their wives and their offspring, for verily You are alone the Almighty and the truly Wise. (40:8)

22. Our Lord! Relieve us of the torment, for we do really believe. (44:12)

23. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins as well as those of our brethren who proceeded us in faith and let not our hearts entertain any unworthy thoughts or feelings against [any of] those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness and Most Merciful (59:10)

24. Our Lord! In You we have placed our trust, and to You do we turn in repentance, for unto You is the end of all journeys. (60:4)

25. Our Lord! Perfect our light for us and forgive us our sins, for verily You have power over all things. (66:8)