The blessed day of Ashura for faithful Muslims falls on the 10th day of the month of Muharram according to the Hijri calendar. It does not have a permanent date according to the Gregorian style, in 2018 it fell on September 20. It belongs to significant holidays in Islam, has its own traditions and deep historical roots. On this day, it is customary to fast, do good, commemorate the prophets of the messengers of Allah and other important events, up to the creation of the world.
Pleasing deeds
Uraza on the day of Ashura is desirable, but not obligatory. For compliance, a reward is due - the forgiveness of sins for the past year. To take advantage of this opportunity or to fast only in Ramadan - each Muslim decides for himself.
Visiting the sick, helping the weak, and doing any good deeds is welcome. Generosity to one's family is especially revered. Distributing sadaqa to relatives and friends means ensuring well-being by the grace of Allah for the coming years.
It is desirable to spend part of the day in worship of the Almighty. Muslims visit mosques, offer collective prayers, perform tahajur prayers. This is a special time when dua is accepted, sins are forgiven, the distance between Allah and his children is reduced.
The deep meaning of the holiday
The word "ashara" is translated from Arabic as "ten". From this follows the simplest explanation of the name of the holiday - the tenth day of the month of Muharram. But in Islam there are two versions of a deeper concept of the true meaning of the great event.
Significant milestones
It was on the day of Ashura that the creation of the earth, heavens and seas, angels and the son of God, the first man, took place. Later, Allah accepted Adam's repentance. The same date is considered the day of the Last Judgment in the future.
In the history of Islam, a number of important events related to the great holiday and the names of the prophets are noted:
- saving Nuh from the waters of the great flood;
- the rescue of Yunus from the belly of a fish;
- the ascension to heaven of Isa and Idris;
- healing Ayub from a serious illness;
- Yakub's meeting with his son;
- Suleiman's becoming king;
- Yusuf's release from prison;
- saving Musa from the persecution of the pharaoh.
It is also believed that on this day the prophet Ibrahim descended the command of Allah to sacrifice his own son Ismail and was granted the highest mercy in the form of a sacrificial ram in return.
Blessed days and months
According to scholars and theologians, the day of Ashura is named so because Allah endowed the followers and companions of the Prophet Muhammad with ten honors in the form of special months, days and nights. Their veneration is considered obligatory, the reward for good deeds is multiplied in comparison with other times.
Among them:
- month of rajab - glorifies the greatness of the community of Muhammad in comparison with others;
- the month of Shaaban - symbolizes the significance of the Messenger over other prophets;
- the month of Ramadan is the power of a cleansing fast;
- 10 days of the month of Muharram is the best time to turn to Allah;
- night Laylat al-Qadr - a one-time worship, equivalent to thousands of months;
- Uraza-Bayram - retribution;
- the day of Arafah is a fast that forgives sins for 2 years;
- Eid al-Adha - the moment of approaching God;
- day of Ashura - fasting atones for sins for a year;
- Friday is the main day of the week.
On the day of Ashura, the veil is changed at the greatest Islamic shrine. The holiday is honored not only by Muslims, but also by followers of other religions, for example, Jews. This once again confirms the unity of the roots and the power of the Almighty.
Blessed Ashura and peace to your home!
Ashura Day in Islam is a Muslim holiday that has been celebrated for several centuries. Believers observe special rules, many adhere to fasting on the Day of Ashura.
When does Ashura Day start in 2019?
It falls on the tenth day of the month of Muharram. The very name of the holiday comes from the Arabic word "ashara" - ten. In 2019 Ashura Day falls on September 9th.
History and traditions of Ashura Day
Let's talk about the history and traditions of the holiday. Ashura Day in Islam is a day of mourning observed by many adherents of this religion. On this day, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad - Hussein (626-680), his brother Abbas and 70 of their supporters died.
In memory of their martyrdom, the Shiites perform annual mourning ceremonies (taziya) on the Day of Ashura. They are held in many countries: Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Iran, Lebanon, Pakistan, Iran, etc.
Processions pass to the accompaniment of orchestras playing sad melodies. In Iran, Iraq and other states, street performances are organized, during which some participants in the processions strike with chains and daggers, beat themselves in the chest with their fists.
Shia Muslims observe mourning in memory of the martyrdom of Hussein for the first ten days of the month, and also conduct various religious rites throughout the month.
On the day of Ashura, believers also remember that on the tenth day of the month of Muharram, Adam repented of his mistake, and the Almighty accepted his repentance.
Fasting on the Day of Ashura
Many Muslims fast on the Day of Ashura. This tradition has a long history. According to legend, the prophet Muhammad, having arrived in Medina, learned that the Jews were fasting on that day in memory of the salvation of the prophet Musa (Moses) and the sons of Israel from the army of the Egyptian Pharaoh (Firaun).
Muhammad considered that Muslims were no less worthy to follow the tradition of the prophet Musa, began to fast himself and ordered his companions to do this.
According to the Sunnah of the Prophet, it is better to fast on the day of Ashura for two days (9th and 10th or 10th and 11th of the month of Muharram).
What can not be done on the Day of Ashura?
In the old days, before the obligatory observance of fasting by Muslims in the month of Ramadan, on the Day of Ashura, all believers were also ordered to observe a strict fast.
However, then Sunni Muslims began to regard it as desirable, but still voluntary. For Shiite Muslims, fasting on the Day of Ashura is still obligatory.
It is observed until sunset, and then a festive table is laid. It is served with ashure - a dish of chickpeas, wheat, beans and dried fruits, as well as dishes of beans, lentils and meat. Children are treated to sweet cookies (chareki) and sherbet.
The first month of the Islamic calendar. This is one of the four months (Rajab, Zul-Qaada, Zul-Hijjah, Muharram) during which Allah forbade military operations, provoking conflicts, etc. Undoubtedly, the best day of this month is the day of Ashura.
The importance of the month of Muharram is also mentioned in hadiths and verses. The Holy Quran says: " Indeed, Allah, on the day when He created the heavens and the earth, determined the number of months to be twelve, according to the Book of Allah. Four months of them are forbidden, it is a steadfast religion. So do not harm yourself during these months.
« Punishment and reward for deeds increase during these months. Harassment in any months is a great sin, but in these four months the punishment for it increases. The Almighty exalts whatever He wills. Thus he exalted the prophets, choosing them for this, and not angels. From all human speech, the Almighty singled out His remembrance. The best places on earth are mosques. Among the months, Ramadan and Muharram are chosen by the Almighty. The best of the days before the Almighty is Friday, of the nights - the night of Laylatul Qadr. Exalt what God exalts". (Ibn Kathir, interpretation of Surah at-Tawba, verse 36) Therefore, every Muslim should try to spend this month in the service of Allah Almighty.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said about the virtue of fasting this month: “After fasting in the month of Ramadan, the most worthy is fasting in the month of Allah - Muharram” (Muslim)
Usually, people see the coming of a new year as an entry into some new phase of their lives. Therefore, they make plans, hope for improvements, dream of future happiness, prepare for new achievements. Of course, Caliph Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) decided that Muharram should be the first month, since it follows the month of Dhul-Hijjah, in which Muslims make the pilgrimage (Hajj). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever makes a Hajj to this House, without swearing and without doing wickedness, he will return the way his mother gave birth to him.”(Al-Bukhari:1819)
Therefore, having performed the Hajj, a person returns free from the burden of his sins, like a newborn. Fortunately, in such a purified state, a person begins the next year. And this gives him the opportunity to look into the future with optimism and enthusiasm. It also encourages to keep the purity of the soul throughout the year and not to return to mistakes and sins.
Hassan al-Basri said: “Indeed, Allah opens the year with the month of Muharram and closes the year with this month, and there is no month in the year after Ramadan greater in the sight of Allah than Muharram because of its holiness!” See Lataif al-ma’arif 79.
‘Uthman al-Hindi said: “They (the Salaf) exalted the ten days of the three months: The ten last days of the month of Ramadan. The first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah. And the first ten days of the month of al-Muharram!” See Lataif al-ma'arif 79.
Ibn ‘Umar said: “People of the times of Jahiliyya fasted on the day of Ashura, and on this day the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and Muslims fasted before Allah imputed fasting in the month of Ramadan. After fasting in Ramadan became obligatory, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Indeed, Ashura is a day of the days of Allah! And whoever wishes, let him fast, and whoever does not wish, do not fast.”". Muslim 1126.
As you can see, all the days of Muharram have dignity. Therefore, a Muslim is allowed to fast throughout this month, or to fast in it more than in other months. But the day of Ashura, in addition to having a special position and a high reward from Allah, also has a number of useful points related to the beliefs and history of Islam.
Holy day - "Ashura" is tenth day, and it is the most valuable day of this month. Many events in the history of mankind happened on this day. It accounts for the creation by Allah Almighty of Heaven, Earth, Al-Arsh, Angels, the first man and the Prophet Adam (peace be upon him). The end of the world will also come on the day of Ashura. Many events related to the Prophets of Allah happened on this day.
- Allah Almighty accepted repentance from the Prophet Adam (peace be upon him);
- the ark of Nuh (Noah) (peace be upon him) landed on Mount Judy (Iraq) after the Great Flood;
- the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) (peace be upon him) was born;
- the Prophets Isa (Jesus) and Idris (peace be upon them) were ascended to heaven;
- Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) escaped from the fire kindled by the pagans;
- Prophet Musa (Moses) (peace be upon him) and His followers fled from the persecution of the pharaoh, who died that day, swallowed up by the sea;
- Prophet Yunus (peace be upon him) came out of the belly of a fish;
- Prophet Ayub (Job) (peace be upon him) was healed of a serious illness;
- Prophet Yakub (Jacob) (peace be upon him) met with his son;
- Prophet Suleiman (Solomon) (peace be upon him) became king;
- Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) (peace be upon him) was released from prison.
- Also on this day, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of the Almighty) - Hussein - died of a martyr (a fighter for the Faith).
On the day of Ashura, as well as on the previous and subsequent days, it is advisable to fast. According to one of the hadiths, fasting on the day of Ashura cleanses a Muslim from the sins of the previous year, and for a grain of alms (sadaqah) on the day of Ashura, Allah Almighty will give a reward the size of Mount Uhud. It is said in the hadith: “Whoever feeds and waters his family on the day of Ashura, Allah will give him barakah during the year.”
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I never saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as eager to fast as on the day of Ashura and on the month "(Al-Bukhari).
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: I hope that Allah will accept fasting Ashura as an atonement for the year that was before "(Muslim).
Abd-Allah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) fasted on Ashura and prescribed fasting for all Muslims, they said: “O Messenger of Allah, this is a day that the Jews honor and Christians." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: “If I live to see the next year, Insha Allah, we will also fast on the ninth day.” . But it so happened that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) died before the next year came” (Imam Muslim).
And his disciples like Imam Ahmad and Ishaq narrated: Fasting on the ninth and tenth days is desirable, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)fasted on the tenth day and intended to fast on the ninth».
Imam An-Nawawi said: “Scholars - companions and others - mentioned several reasons why it is desirable to fast on the ninth day of the month of Muharram:
1. Difference from the Jews, who honor only the tenth day. This opinion was narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him).
2. The intention is to add another day to Ashura. This is similar to the prohibition against fasting separately on Friday, as mentioned.
3. Make sure you fast on the tenth day.
If you make a full ablution (ghusul) in Ashura, then Allah will protect a person from diseases during the year. If you lubricate the eyes with antimony, then Allah will protect from eye diseases. Whoever visits a sick person on the day of "Ashura" is equated with visiting all the sons of the Prophet Adam, peace be upon him (i.e. all people). On the day of Ashura, they distribute sadaka, read the Koran, make children and loved ones happy, and also perform other charitable deeds.
Muharram, muharram ( مُحَرَّم - Arabic. "reserved", "sacred") - the name of the first month of the Muslim lunar calendar (hijra). The first 10 days of Muharram are the days of mourning for the Shiites, dedicated to the memory of the Great Martyr Hussein .
Month of Muharram
In pre-Islamic Arabia, this month was especially revered, along with the months of Rajab, Zulkada and Zulhija. These were the so-called "forbidden" months, during which war and bloodshed around the Kaaba were not allowed.
The most revered day of the month of Muharram is considered the tenth day or Day of Ashura, which is celebrated by both Shia Muslims and Sunnis.
Other days of the month of Muharram are also marked by significant events:
Ashura
The tenth day of the month of Muharram is called Ashura ( عاشوراء Arabic.) - letters. "tenth day". On the day of Ashura, the culmination of the Shiite mourning ceremonies and the commemoration of Imam Hussein falls, and the Sunnis celebrate the victory of Musa over the army of the Egyptian pharaoh.
On the same day, a number of other remarkable events took place. For example, the ship of the prophet Nuh moored to Mount Judy, the prophet Ibrahim, thrown into the fire, escaped, after a long separation, the prophet Yakub met with his son Yusuf, the prophet Muhammad arrived in Medina.
Ashura Day also commemorates the tragic events of October 10, 61 AH. (680), when in the battle near the city of Karbala in a clash with the Caliph troops under the command of Umar ibn Saad, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad Imam Hussein ibn Ali, his brother Abbas, their relatives and 70 of their companions were killed. The reason for the battle was the refusal of Imam Hussein to recognize Yazid I (645-683) as caliph, to whom his father and founder of the Umayyad dynasty, Caliph Muawiyah (603-680), transferred power.
The Battle of Karbala proved to be a turning point in the division of the Shiite and Sunni branches of Islam.
Shahsey-wakhsey
In this regard, the Shiites annually celebrate the first ten days of Muharram in mourning for the murdered and beheaded Hussein, whom they consider their third infallible imam. The climax of mourning events falls on the day of Ashura.
In memory of the martyrdom of Hussein, a number of mourning ceremonies are customary in Shiite communities. These include memorial services (majalis al-tasia); visiting the tomb of Hussein in Karbala, especially on the day of Ashura and on the 40th day of commemoration after Ashura (ziyarat al-arbain), religious mourning ceremonies (al-mawakib al-Husseiniya), theatrical performances of the battle of Karbala (shabih), self-flagellation ( tatbir) .
In memory of the Imam's innocent blood, participants in the Tatbir ceremony commit self-torture, beat themselves with their fists on the chest, stab themselves with chains on the back or with a sword (talwar) on the head, which leads to bleeding. Self-flagellation is accompanied by exclamations: "Shah Hussein! Wah, Hussein!" (King Hussein! Oh, Hussein!), where the name of the ceremony comes from - Shahsei-vakhsei.
The bloody practice of self-flagellation is practiced by traditionalist Shiites. As a result, during the days of Ashura, the hospitals of Karbala receive several hundred people suffering from heavy bleeding every day. A more progressive form of tatbir is blood donation.
In 2017, the Qadi Council of the Caucasus Muslims Office called for blood donation instead of self-flagellation. At least 2,500 people responded to this call in Baku.
On the days of Ashura, Shiites do not fast - this is forbidden by hadith. In Islam, fasting is an act of expressing gratitude to Allah. On the contrary, these days, charitable lunches or dinners (nazri) are organized in mosques, and parishioners donate food and sweets.
Day of Ashura for Sunnis
If for Shiite Muslims Ashura is a day of mourning, then for Sunnis Ashura is a holiday that is associated with the memory of the victory granted by Allah to Musa (Moses) and the sons of Israel over the army of the Egyptian Pharaoh.
For this reason, Sunni Muslims fast on the day of Ashura. The history of this fast dates back to the beginning of the Medina period in the life of the Prophet Muhammad. According to the hadiths from the collection of Bukhari, when the prophet Muhammad moved to Medina, he discovered that for the Jews the day of Ashura was a day of fasting (the day of cleansing from sins - Leviticus 16:29). When the prophet inquired about the reason for this, he was told that on that day Allah saved the prophet Musa and the sons of Israel from the army of the Egyptian Pharaoh, and, as a token of gratitude, Musa began to fast. To this, Muhammad replied that the Muslims were closer to the tradition of Musa than the Jews and began to fast, ordering his ascetics to do the same.
Since it is known that the ancient Arabs also fasted on the day of Ashura, this tradition is considered to be common-Semitic in its origins. One of the hadiths narrated by Aisha mentions that the Prophet Muhammad himself, while still in Mecca, along with other Quraysh, also fasted on the day of Ashura, and after moving to Medina, he continued this tradition.
Fasting which Muslims may observe on the 10th of Muharram is desirable but not obligatory. This opinion, in particular, was held by the Sunni theologian Abu Hanifa (699-767): "Fasting on the day of Ashura. This is the tenth day of the month of Muharram. It is advisable to fast along with this day on the eleventh, if you did not fast on the ninth." After fasting in the month of Ramadan was declared obligatory, fasting in the month of Muharram was abolished.
According to the Sunnah of the Prophet, in order to be different from the Jews, it is better to fast the month of Muharram for 2 days (on the 9th and 10th, or on the 10th and 11th days).
Calendar
- 1 Muharram 1439 AH - September 21, 2017
- 1 Muharram 1440 AH - September 11, 2018
- 1 Muharram 1441 AH - August 31, 2019
Ashura:
- September 30, 2017
- September 20, 2018
- September 9, 2019
Notes:
- Madelung W. Ḥoseyn b. ʿAli // Encyclopaedia Iranica.
- Rezvan E.A. al-Kibla // Islam: Encyclopedic Dictionary. Rep. ed. S. M. Prozorov. - M.: Nauka, 1991. S. 137.
- Alizade A.A. Ali Zayn al-Abidin // Islamic Encyclopedic Dictionary. - M.: Ansar, 2007.
- Abou-Samra, S. Islamic Beliefs, Practices, and Cultures. New York, 2011. P. 152.
- Karbala is a city in present-day Iraq, 100 kilometers southwest of Baghdad. In this sacred city for Shiites is the sanctuary of Imam Hussein - a mosque and his burial place.
- Hussein's son, Zein al-Abidin (658-712), as well as women and young children, who were sent to Damascus, survived. In 682, Caliph Yazid released them all, allowing them to return to Mecca.
- Madelung W. Ḥoseyn b. ʿAli // Encyclopaedia Iranica; BUT Li-zade A.A. Muharram // Islamic Encyclopedic Dictionary. M.: Ansar, 2007.
- Riess J. The Martyrs of Karbala: Shi "i Symbols and Rituals in Modern Iran // Publishers Weekly, 11.15.2004.
- Nakash Y. The Shi "is of Iraq. Princeton & Oxford, 2003. P. 142; P. 77-78; Weiss M. In the Shadow of Sectarianism. Law, Shi "is and the making of modern Lebanon. Cambridge (Mass.), London, 2010. P. 33.
- Nakash Y. An Attempt To Trace the Origin of the Rituals of Āshurā¸ // Die Welt des Islams, 33 (2), 1993. S. 161–181.
- Kushev V.V. Ashura // Islam: Encyclopedic Dictionary. Rep. ed. S. M. Prozorov. M.: Nauka, 1991.
- Iraqi Shiites urged to give up self-torture // Korrespondent.net, 01/10/2011.
- Mervin S. "Ashura": Some Remarks on Ritual Practices in Different Shiite Communities (Lebanon and Syria) // The Other Shiites: From the Mediterranean to Central Asia. A. Monsutti, S. Naef, F. Sabahi. Bern, Berlin, N.Y., Oxford, 2007. P. 146.; The Shiites of Azerbaijan held blood donation campaigns on Ashura Day // Caucasian Knot, 10/13/2016.
- Sahih al-Bukhari. Book. 31, hadith 222; Book. 55, hadith 609; Book. 58, hadith 279; Sahih Muslim. Book. 6, hadith 2518, 2519, 2520; Katz M.H. The Birth of The Prophet Muhammad: Devotional Piety in Sunni Islam. London: Routledge, 2007, pp. 113-115.
- Sahih Muslim. Book. 6, hadith 2499.
- Types of fasts according to the madhhab of Imam Abu Hanifa // Islam.ru.
- Alizade A.A. Muharram // Islamic Encyclopedic Dictionary. M.: Ansar, 2007.
10) The sinking of the Pharaoh and the salvation of the prophet Musa (peace be upon him) and his people.
11) Ascension of Jesus (peace be upon him) to heaven
12) Appointment of the Great Judgment on the day of Ashura.
These events were brought by Imam as-Suyuta (may Allah have mercy on him) in his books. Each item is very important for a believer, in connection with which Muslims around the world celebrate this day, doing good deeds as a token of gratitude to Allah.
Origin of the name Ashura
Some scientists write that the name Ashura comes from the name of the numeral " ten b" - " ashara", because it falls on the tenth day of the month of Muharram. Some scholars argue that the day of Ashura was named so because Allah endowed the community of Muhammad ﷺ with ten types of honors:
9) Friday afternoon, and this day is the master of all days.
10) On the day of Ashura, fasting on this day erases the sins of the whole year.
In each of the listed days and months, Allah created greatness and honor for the community of Muhammad ﷺ for any good deed in a special amount, increasing the reward compared to ordinary days or months.
The best action on the day of Ashura
If a person himself is not able to fast on this day, then let him do any other good, at least feed the one who fasted on this day at the breaking of the fast, and this is very valuable.
من وسَّع على عياله يوم عاشوراء وسَّع الله عليه سائر سنته
Meaning: " Whoever is generous (materially) to his family on the day of Ashura, Allah will make him abundant (in food) and other years "(al-Haysami, at-Tabarani, the hadith is weak). Sufyan as-Sawri (may Allah be pleased with him) said: We checked this hadeeth and found it valid "i.e., what is said in this hadith about the promise of abundant food has been fulfilled.
A special deed by which the Prophets and Messengers glorified the day of Ashura is their fasting on this day, as it came to us in reliable giving, this is the most desirable for us, because it is invisible to the eyes of people worship.
The legend says:
عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِى يَزِيدَ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ يَقُولُ: مَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم يَتَحَرَّى صِيَامَ يَوْمٍ يَلْتَمِسُ فَضْلَهُ عَلَى غَيْرِهِ إِلاَّ هَذَا الْيَوْمَ يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ وَشَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ
It was narrated from Ubaydullah son of Abu Yazid that he said : “I heard Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) say: “I did not see the Messenger of Allah more zealous in fasting, as on the day of Ashura and the month of Ramadan ”” (Imam Muslim).
« I heard Ibn Abbas say when the Messenger of Allah was fasting: “This is the day (Ashura) that Jews and Christians exalt?!” Prophet ﷺ answered: “When the next year comes, I will fast the ninth day too (together with Ashura) ”” (Imam Muslim).
May Allah help us in good!
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