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What really should be done for Aashura?

Published as Significance of Aashura

· 16 Muharram 1435 AH1 min readEnglish

Question

Some people believe that Muharram is a time for mourning over the assassination of Hazrat Husain (radhiyallahu anhu), and some people believe that Muharram is a time for celebrating and spending lavishly on their family. Are there Ahadeeth supporting any of these beliefs? What really should be done for Aashura?

Answer

The Hadith explains that Aashura was the day on which the Bani Israeel were saved from the oppression and tyranny of Firoun and his people. On this day, Allah Ta'ala saved Nabi Musa (alaihis salaam) and the Bani Israeel and destroyed Firoun and his armies.

Hence, on this occasion, we are encouraged to fast out of gratitude to Allah Ta'ala for His favour and His grace. Aashura has nothing to do with mourning over the assassination of Hazrat Husain (radhiyallahu anhu) and the Ahle Bayt at Karbala.

Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) has also explained the virtue of spending on one's family on this Mubaarak day in the following words:

“Whoever spends generously upon his family on the day of Aashura, Allah Ta'ala will bless him with abundant sustenance for an entire year.”

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

References (Arabic / Urdu sources)

من أوسع على عياله وأهله يوم عاشوراء أوسع الله عليه سائر سنته

عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال قدم النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم المدينة فرأى اليهود تصوم يوم عاشوراء فقال ما هذا قالوا هذا يوم صالح هذا يوم نجى الله بني إسرائيل من عدوهم فصامه موسى قال فأنا أحق بموسى منكم، فصامه وأمر بصيامه (صحيح البخاري، الرقم: 2004)

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال من أوسع على عياله وأهله يوم عاشوراء أوسع الله عليه سائر سنته (الترغيب والترهيب 2/ 48)

وأما اتخاذه مأتما كما تفعله الرافضة لأجل قتل الحسين بن علي رضي الله عنه فهو من عمل من ضل سعيه في الحياة الدنيا وهو يحسب أنه يحسن صنعا ولم يأمر الله ولا رسوله باتخاذ أيام مصائب الأنبياء وموتهم مأتما فكيف بمن دونهم (لطائف المعارف صـ 54)

فتاوى محموديه 5/485

Answered by
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & approved by
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
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Questions about this ruling, answered only from the archive with sources.

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Source: Mufti Online — Madrasah Ta'leemuddeen — https://muftionline.co.za/node/4461
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