Lessons from Fasting Ashoorah

Lessons from Fasting Ashoorah]1]

All praise is due to Allaah and may peace and salutations be upon the messenger of Allaah. To proceed:

This is what the pen has allowed me to write and that which my self has allowed me to extract, from the lessons and points of learning that we can take from fasting Ashoora. I ask Allaah to benefit through them myself and whosoever reads them:

1. Taking due care over and considering the stories of the prophets, {Indeed in their stories, there is a lesson for men of understanding. It (the Qur’an) is not a forged statement but a confirmation of the Allah’s existing Books [the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel) and other Scriptures of Allah] and a detailed explanation of everything and a guide and a Mercy for the people who believe} [Yusuf: 111]
2. The obligation of pondering over the Qur’aan – Allaah the Most High said, { And We have indeed made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember} [Qamar: 22] and censured those who do not ponder the Qur’aan, { And We have indeed made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember} [Muhammad: 24].
3. Musa fasted to give thanks to Allaah for saving him and those with him from Fir’awn and his army and the prophet sallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam took an eample in him. On the authority of Ibn Abbas that the prophet sallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam entered Madinah and found the Jews fasting on Ashoora, so asked them, ‘What is this day that you fast?’ They responded by saying it was a great day – in which Allaahsaved Musa and his people and drowned Fir’awn and his people – so Musa marked it by fasting, so we fast. The prophet sallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam said to them, ‘We have more right over Musa than you’ so he fasted it and ordered that it should be kept as a fast. Reported by Muslim 2714.
4. The importance of the oneness of Allaah and his greatness – which is the call of all the messengers. Through it, Allaah saved those who believed with Musa. The Most High said, { And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): “Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taghut (all false deities, etc. i.e. do not worship Taghut besides Allah).” Then of them were some whom Allah guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied} [An Nahl: 36].
5. The dangers of associating partners with Allaah [Shirk] – as it was due to this that Fir’awn and his army were drowned. The Most High said, { And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad ), as it was to those (Allah’s Messengers) before you: “If you join others in worship with Allah, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers.”} [Az-Zumar: 65].
6. The final victory is for those who fear Allaah, the people of Tawheed, even if this is after some time and that humiliation the outcome of disbelief and its people.
7. True following of the prophets is in following their way and guidance – not by empty claims and ascribing oneself to them. For this reason, the prophet sallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam said, ‘We are more worthy of Musa than you.’
8. Giving thanks to Allaah is by obeying Him, not by disobeying Him, as many do – especially at joyous occasions where they free-mix and proliferate that which is prohibited at weddings and other than this.
9. Celebrating religious occasions and matters connected to it is done in accordance to texts from the Shariyyah, not by making newly-invented occasions, like the birthday of the prophet sallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam, the noble Hijrah, the Israa and other than these from the newly invented affairs.

10. Voluntary fasting is from the acts that bring one closer to Allaah. And from this is the fasting in the month of Muharram, due to the hadeeth of the messenger of AllaahsallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam, ‘The best fasting after Ramadaan is the fasting in Allaah’s month of Muharram. And the best prayer after the obligatory is the night prayer.’ Reported by Muslim.

11. The great reward of this day for those upon whom Allaah has mercy and forgiveness upon, due to the statement of the prophet sallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam, ‘Three [fasts] every month and Ramadaan to Ramadaan is considered to be fasting for an age. I hope by Allaah that fasting on the day of Arafah will expiate the previous and upcoming year’s sins. And I hope by Allaah that fasting on the day of Ashoora will expiate the previous year’s sins.’ Reported by Muslim.

12. Differing from the Jews and Christians is an important principle in the Shariyyah. So be warned against following them in their religion, habits and customs – as it has been established in the hadeeth that the prophet sallAllahu ‘alayhiwasallam said, ‘I have been sent with the sword until Allaah is worshipped without partner. My sustenance has been provided for me under my spear and humiliation and belittling has been thrown upon those who contradict my affair and whosoever imitates a people is from them.’ Reported by Ahmad, Abd bin Humayd and Abu Dawood.

13. The Salaf’s care in raising their children with fasting and cultivating them with acts of obedience to Allaah. On the authority of Rabee’ bint Mu’awwith, who said that the prophet sallAllaahu ‘alayhiwasallam sent some food on the day of Ashoora to a village of people from the Ansaar, announcing that whoever awoke not fasting should continue the day fasting and those who had awoken fasting should continue as such. So we were fasting and we encouraged our children to fast. We made them a game from wool and if one of them cried for food, we would give it to them so that it would be their breaking of fast. Reported by al-Bukhaari

And one of the supplications of Ibraheem was {and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols} [Ibraheem: 35].

And one of the supplications of the slaves of Ar-Rahmaan is, { “Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders for the Muttaqun”} [al-Furqan: 74].

14. The hadeeth is an evidence for training youngsters to fast – as those who are of the age mentioned in the hadeeth are not obliged to fast but encouraged to do so as training for them – as al-Haafith Ibn Hajar said. In addition, Imaam an-Nawawi said, ‘In this hadeeth is an evidence to gradually train youngsters via the voluntary until the time it is obligatory for them’.

15. The necessity for children’s games to have a religious and worldly benefit that can help them in obedience to Allaah and cultivate them upon it.

16. And this month is called the Shahr al-Muharram [the month of Muharram] not Shahr Muharram.

Shaykh ‘Aasim bin Abdillah al-Qaryooti

Sending praises and salutations on the ninth of Muharram, 1434AH.

aaa