Muharram and Aashooraa
Muharram and Aashooraa
Muharram and Aashooraa
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Muuharram and ‘Aashooraa´
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The Virtues of Allah’s sacred month of Muharram and
Fasting on ‘Aashooraa´
Praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and bless-
ings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets
and Chief of the Messengers, and upon all his family and com-
panions.
Allah’s sacred month of Muharram is a blessed and important
month. It is the first month of the Hijri calendar and is one of the
four sacred months concerning which Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):
“Verily, the number of months with Allaah is twelve
months (in a year), so it was ordained by Allaah on the
Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of
them, four are sacred. That is the right religion, so
wrong not yourselves therein…” [Surah al-Tawbah 9:36]
Abu Bakrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“The year is twelve months of which four are sacred, the
three consecutive months of Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah
and Muharram, and Rajab Mudar which comes between
Jumaada and Sha’baan.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 2958)
Muharram is so called because it is a sacred (muharram) month
and to confirm its sanctity.
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Allaah’s words (interpretation of the meaning): “…so wrong not
yourselves therein…” mean do not wrong yourselves in these
sacred months, because sin in these months is worse than in
other months.
It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas said that this phrase “…so
wrong not yourselves therein…” referred to all the months,
then these four were singled out and made sacred, so that sin in
these months is more serious and good deeds bring a greater re-
ward.
Qataadah said concerning this phrase “…so wrong not your-
selves therein…” that wrongdoing during the sacred months is
more serious and more sinful that wrongdoing at any other time.
Wrongdoing at any time is a serious matter, but Allaah gives
more weight to whichever of His commands He will. Allaah has
chosen certain ones of His creation. He has chosen from among
the angels Messengers and from among mankind Messengers. He
chose from among speech the remembrance of Him (dhikr). He
chose from among the earth the mosques, from among the
months Ramadaan and the sacred months, from among the days
Friday and from among the nights Laylat-ul-Qadr, so venerate
that which Allaah has told us to venerate. People of understand-
ing and wisdom venerate the things that Allaah has told us to
venerate. (Summarized from the Tafseer of Ibn Katheer, may Al-
laah have mercy on him. Tafseer of Surat al-Tawbah, aayah 36).
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The Virtue of Observing more Naafil Fasts during Muhar-
ram
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Allaah Chooses Whatever Times and Places He Wills
Al-‘Izz ibn ‘Abd al-Salaam (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
“Times and places may be given preferred status in two
ways, either temporal or religious/spiritual. With regard to
the latter, this is because Allaah bestows His generosity on
His slaves at those times or in those places, by giving a
greater reward for deeds done, such as giving a greater re-
ward for fasting in Ramadaan than for fasting at all other
times, and also on the day of 'Aashooraa, the virtue of which
is due to Allaah’s generosity and kindness towards His
slaves on that day…” (Qawaa’id al-Ahkaam, 1/38)
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‘Aashooraa´ in History
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The Virtues of Fasting ‘Aashooraa´
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Which day is ‘Aashooraa´?
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It is Mustahabb (encouraged) to fast Taasoo'aa' with 'Aashooraa
'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with them both)
said:
“When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) fasted on ‘Aashooraa´ and com-
manded the Muslims to fast as well, they said, ‘O Mes-
senger of Allaah, it is a day that is venerated by the Jews
and Christians.’ The Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, ‘If I live to see the
next year, in shaa Allaah, we will fast on the ninth day
too.’ But it so happened that the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) passed
away before the next year came.” (Reported by Muslim,
1916).
Al-Shaafi‘i and his companions, Ahmad, Ishaaq and others said:
“It is mustahabb to fast on both the ninth and tenth days,
because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) fasted on the tenth, and intended to fast on the
ninth.”
On this basis it may be said that there are varying degrees of fast-
ing ‘Aashooraa´, the least of which is to fast only on the tenth
and the best of which is to fast the ninth as well. The more one
fasts in Muharram, the better it is.
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The Reason Why it is Mustahabb to Fast on Taasoo‘aa´
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“What he meant by fasting on the ninth day was probably
not that he would limit himself to that day, but would add
it to the tenth, either to be on the safe side or to be differ-
ent from the Jews and Christians, which is more likely.
This is also what we can understand from some of the re-
ports narrated by Muslim.” (Fath, 4/245)
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Ruling on Fasting Only on the Day of ‘Aashooraa´
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Fasting on 'Aashooraa Even if it is a Saturday or a Friday
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‘Aashooraa´ or ‘Arafaah. (Tuhfat al-Muhtaaj, part 3, Baab
Sawm al-Tatawwu’)
Al-Bahooti (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
“It is makrooh to deliberately single out a Saturday for fast-
ing, because of the hadeeth of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Bishr, who
reported from his sister: ‘Do not fast on Saturdays except
in the case of obligatory fasts’ (reported by Ahmad with a
jayyid isnaad and by al-Haakim, who said: according to
the conditions of al-Bukhaari), and because it is a day that
is venerated by the Jews, so singling it out for fasting
means being like them… except when a Friday or Saturday
coincides with a day when Muslims habitually fast, such as
when it coincides with the day of ‘Arafaah or the day of
‘Aashooraa´, and a person has the habit of fasting on these
days, in which case it is not makrooh, because a person’s
habit carries some weight.” (Kashshaaf al-Qinaa’, part 2, Baab
Sawm al-Tatawwu’).
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What should be done if there is Confusion about the Begin-
ning of the Month?
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Fasting Aashooraa – for What does it offer Expiation?
Imaam al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “It ex-
piates for all minor sins, i.e., it brings forgiveness of all sins
except major sins.”
Then he said (may Allaah have mercy on him):
“Fasting the day of ‘Arafaah expiates for two years, and the
day of ‘Aashooraa´ expiates for one year. If when a person
says ‘Aameen’ it coincides with the ‘Aameen’ of the angels,
he will be forgiven all his previous sins… Each one of the
things that we have mentioned will bring expiation. If
there are minor sins for which expiation is needed, expia-
tion for them will be accepted; if there are no minor sins or
major sins, good deeds will be added to his account and he
will be raised in status… If he had committed major sins
but no minor sins, we hope that his major sins will be re-
duced.” (al-Majmoo’ Sharh al-Muhadhdhab, part 6, Sawm
Yawm ‘Arafaah).
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him)
said: “Tahaarah, salaah, and fasting in Ramadaan, on the
day of ‘Arafaah and on Aashooraa expiate for minor sins
only.” (al-Fataawa al-Kubra, part 5)
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Not Relying too much on the Reward for Fasting
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31, Ghuroor).
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Fasting 'Aashooraa when one still has Days to make up
from Ramadaan
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