According to Sahih Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Number 202 - Narrated Ibn Abbas: When the Prophet arrived at Medina, the Jews were observing the fast on 'Ashura' (10th of Muharram) and they said, "This is the day when Moses became victorious over Pharaoh," On that, the Prophet said to his companions, "You (Muslims) have more right to celebrate Moses' victory than they have, so observe the fast on this day.
My new year also brought a new move...literally. For various reasons much of my extended family is under one roof and it appears, so far, to be very beneficial to everyone. I think one of the greatest blessings has been the congregational prayer.
"Offering the prayer in congregation carries 27 times greater reward than offering it alone individually." (Bukhari, Muslim)With the new year, new move, new level of Taqwa (G-d Consciousness), Allah has blessed me to experience another Islamic new year. (I know, I'm a little late.) The Month of Muharram this year began on Monday, December 29th, 2008 as per a local moonsighting in various parts of North America. As such, the day of 'Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, will be this Wednesday, January 7th, 2009 inshallah.
What's so special about the 10th of Muharram you ask? (Go ahead....ask....)
Well, I'm glad you asked. I have a wealth of information, but I would first like to express why this Day of Ashoora is special to me.
Well to put it very very simple....this day is special to me because it was special to the Prophet Muhammad (saw), Prophet Musa (AS), Prophet Nuh (AS), and Al-Husayn (RA) among many others.
But even more than this we should look at why the Prophet (saw) commanded us to observe the fast upon seeing the Jews fasting. The Prophet said to his companions, "You (Muslims) have more right to celebrate Moses' victory than they have, so observe the fast on this day.
Why do we have more right to celebrate Moses's victory?
Let's look at the history. The tenth day of this month is a day in which an incident took place between the Pharaoh and his followers and the followers of the Prophet Moses. This incident ended in a way in which the faith and perseverance of man won over the pain of life and influence of shaytan. The believers, during the time of the Pharoah, lived through many challenges and difficulties during which they were ordered to be patient and to seek refuge with Allah in order to overcome the difficulties.
10:84 And Moses said: "O my people! If you believe in God, place your trust in Him -if you have [truly] surrendered yourselves unto Him!"
Through patience and trust in Allah, Prophet Musa (AS) was able to lead the argumentative Jews into a better life. It is important to note that Prophet Moses represents the establishment of social order. When the Prophet Muhammad (saw) arrived in Medina, he began to perfect that social order. I believe this is why the Muslims have more right and responsibility to observe the victory of Moses. The Muslims connection to the victory of the Prophet Musa and his followers is greater than an inherited history. Prophet Muhammad (saw) is a mercy to all worlds and peoples because he brought the BEST GUIDANCE in the Qur'an and he PERFECTED the life of the human being giving us the best example to follow among man.
The followers of Muhammad the Prophet have more of a right to observe the victory of Prophet Musa because the rightly-guided Muslims are the result AND completion of that victory. (Surely, Allah knows Best.)
3:110 Ye are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah. If only the People of the Book had faith, it were best for them: among them are some who have faith, but most of them are perverted transgressors.
During this day of Ashura, time and time again the victorious have been those believers who put their full trust and patience with Allah.
This day is special to me because I am empowered by the stand that Muslims have taken for truth and justice even in the face of oppression or death. Imam Dawud Walid noted, "truth should never give allegiance to falsehood, and the just should be diametrically opposed to the unjust." This has been the stand of those believers and I feel compelled to live up to this creed as I fast on this day of Ahura.
I have provided some info on this day below:
Ibn Abbas reported: "The Prophet came to Madinah and found the Jews fasting the day of Ashura. He asked them: "Why are you fasting this day?" They said: "This is a great day. Allah saved Mousa (Moses) and the tribes of Israel from their enemies on this day and therefore Mousa fasted on it. "The Prophet said: "We have more of a right to Mousa than you." So he fasted on that day also and ordered the people to fast on that day." [al-Bukhari and Muslim].
A version narrated by Imaam Ahmad adds: “This is the day on which the Ark settled on Mount Joodi, so Nooh fasted this day in thanksgiving.”
Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Abbaas (RA) said: “When the Messenger of Allaah (SAW) fasted on ‘Aashooraa’ and commanded the Muslims to fast as well, they said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, it is a day that is venerated by the Jews and Christians.’ The Messenger of Allaah (SAW) said, ‘If I live to see the next year, InshaAllaah, we will fast on the ninth day too.’ But it so happened that the Messenger of Allaah (SAW) passed away before the next year came.” (Reported by Muslim, 1916).
Al-Shafi and his companions, Ahmad, Ishaaq and others said: “It is mustahabb to fast on both the ninth and tenth days, because the Prophet (SAW) fasted on the tenth, and intended to fast on the ninth.”
Furthermore, Rasoolillah (SAW) said: “For fasting the day of ‘Aashooraa’, I hope that Allaah will accept it as expiation for the year that went before.” (Reported by Muslim, 1976).
Imaam al-Nawawi (rh) said regarding this day: “It expiates for all minor sins, i.e., it brings forgiveness of all sins except major sins
