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According to the Holy companion Ibn 'Abbas
(RA) The Holy Prophet (SAW) when migrated to Madinah,
found that the Jews of Madinah used to fast on the lOth
day of Muharram. They said that it was the day on which
the Holy Prophet Musa [Moses] (AS) and his followers
crossed the Red Sea miraculously and the pharoah was
drowned in it's water. On hearing this from the Jews, the
Holy Prophet (SAW) 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 ifl a number of
authentic traditions that in the beginning, fasting on
the day of '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 'A'ishah (RA) has said, "When the Holy Prophet
(SAW) came to Madinah. he fasted on the day of 'Ashura'
and directed the people to fast it. But when the fasts of
Ramadan were made obligatory, the obligation of fasting
waa 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 fasting, if he so
wills."
However, the Holy Prophet (SAW) used to
fast on the day of 'Ashura' even after the fasting in
Ramadan was made obligatory. Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (RA)
reports that the Holy Prophet (SAW) 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 (SAW) 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 two days: the 9th an 10th of'Muharram or the
10th and 11th of it. The reason of this additional fast
as mentioned by the Holy Prophet (SAW) is that the Jews
used to fast on the day of 'Ashura' alone, and the Holy
Prophet (SAW) 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 (AS) was
created
This is the day in which Allah accepted the repentance of
Sayyidna Ibrahim (AS) was born
This is the day on which the Qiyamah (Doomsday) 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 respect are not
worthy of any credit.Some people take it as Sunnah to prepare a
particular type of meal in 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 Husain (RA) during
his battle with the Syrian army. No doubt, the martyrdom
of Sayyidna Husain (RA) is one or 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 (SAW) much earlier than the
birth of Sayyidna Husain (RA).
On the contrary, it is one of the merits of
Sayyidna Husain (RA) that his martyrdom took place on the
day of 'Ashura'.
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