Hari Asyura

Today I felt like putting up a new entry and I received a good email from my good friend Agil who was with me in SDAR from 71-74.. We called our group sdara6774: 1967 was when we were in Form Remove (in Tanjong Malim, Perak then), 1974 was when we were in in Upper Six (in Seremban, NS).

As tomorrow, 10th of Muharram, is an important day in Muslim Calendar, I would like to share some notes on that important day (in English) and Agil's e-mail on the subject (in Bahasa)with you. To readers who could not understand Bahasa.. I seek your kind forgiveness... as translation would take too much time, and this entry need to be made today to effectively allow those who wish to celebrate (by fasting?) the 10th of Muharram tomorrow.



Note: Non-Muslim readers are much-welcomed to read but may find the content is a tad too "Islamic". For your easy reading the words/paragraphs in italics are from Abdullah Yusof Ali's interpretation of Al-Quranic verses.

From Arabi77 of http://www.yabiladi.com/

Allah (swt) says in Qur'an: 'You will not find any people who believe in Allah & the last day, loving those who resist Allah & his Apostle. Even though they be their Fathers or sons, or their, brothers or kindred. For such Allah has written faith in their hearts & strengthened them with a spirit from himself. And he will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever. Allah will be pleased with them & they with him. They are the party of Allah. Truly it is the party of Allah that will achieve felicity.' (58, 22) .

In the above ayat, Allah (swt) has clearly documented the status and rank of all the Sahaba (ra).

For this reason it is narrated from Abdullah ibn Mugafar that

RasulAllah (saw) said: "Fear Allah, Fear Allah! Do not make hostility with my Sahaba after me. Whoever loves them, love them due to his love for me, whoever is adverse to them is so, due to his adversity to me. He who insults them, he has insulted me (saw), he who insults me has insulted Allah (swt). He who insults Allah (swt) surely Allah (swt) will insult him. "

From the Qur'an and Hadith it is established that love and respect of the Sahaba (ra) and their ways is obligatory on all Muslimins. It is obligatory to hold your tongue and keep silent other than speaking about them in the wrong way.

It is saddening, in the month of Muhurram lots of people speak adversely about those Sahaba (ra) who should be revered & they take the incident of the Shahada of Hadrat Hussain (ra) as a point of beating themselves and wailing, which has been specifically prohibited in the Hadith. To carry out these type of actions removes a person from the straight path.

It is stipulated in the Hadith which actions should be practised on the 10th Muhurram (Ash'ura) and are:

Ibn Abbas (ra) relates: "I have not seen RasulAllah (saw) mentioning the reward of fasting on the day of Ash'ura more than any other day. And I have not seen that RasulAllah (saw) mentioned the reward of fasting in the month of Ramadan more than any other month in the year. " (Bukhari, Muslim)

Imam Gazaali (rah) says:"The reason that the day of Ash'ura has been given the importance is that in the beginning of Islam the fast of Ash'ura was Fard, when Allah (swt) revealed the ayat of fasting in Ramadan as being Fard, the fast of Ash'ura was retracted to a Nafil. And that ibadat which was Fard and was retracted to a Nafil is better than that nafil which was never a Fard act." (Muzalisul-Abrar)

Abdullah Ibn Abbas (ra) relates:"RasulAllah (saw) did hijrah from Makkah to Medina. At that time RasulAllah (saw) saw the Jews keeping fast on the day of Ash'ura (10th Muharram).

He (saw) asked them: 'is this a special day in your religion?'

They said:'yes, this is a very important day for us, on this day Allah (swt) freed Musa (as) and bani Israel, and drowned the army of Phiroan, as a means of thanking Allah(swT) Musa (as) fasted so we also fast on this day.'

RasulAllah (saw) said:'I have more right to Musa(AS) than you.'

Then RasulAllah (saw) himself would keep the fast of Ash'ura and ordered the Ummah to do the same. (Bukhari, Muslim) The fast of Ash'ura is kept on the 10th Muharram.

It is also stated from Ibn Abbas that: RasulAllah (saw) said " InshAllah next year I will keep a fast on the 9th Muharram to go against the way of the Jews' but Nabi (saw) was taken before this by Allah (swt)" (Muslim)

It is established from the Ulema that the fast of the 9th Muharram should be kept with Ash'ura, if you cannot keep this fast, then keep the fast of the 11th Muharram. (Ma'ariful Hadith)

May Allah (swt) grant us-the correct understanding of the month of Muharram, lead us on the correct path and keep us away from all wrongs and innovations. May Allah (swt) accept our efforts and forgive our shortcomings, Ameen.

From http://www.inter-islam.org/Miscellaneous/muharramreyaz.htm

Some Ulama (scholars) are of the opinion that before the fasts of Ramadhan were made compulsory, the fast of the day of Aashora was compulsory upon the Ummah.

This is stated in a Hadeeth reported by Hazrat Aisha (Radhiyallahu-Anha):
"that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) ordered the observance of the fast of Aashora. However, when the fast of Ramadhan became compulsory, then whosoever wished, kept this fast and whosoever desired did not observe this fast." (Bukhari)

Recommended deeds on the day of Aashora

The Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) has exhorted and encouraged his Ummah to fast on this day. He said:
"This fast is a compensation for the (minor) sins of the past year."(Muslim)

One should also observe the fast of the 9th Muharram to safeguard his deed from resemblance with the Non-Muslims who fast only on the 10th Muharram.

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (Radhiyallahu-Anhu) said:
"When Rasulullah (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) observed the fast of the day of Aashora and ordered (his Companions) to fast, they said: `O Rasulullah! It is a day revered (glorified) by the Jews and Christians.'

Thereupon Rasulullah said: "The coming year, if Allah wills (I remain alive), I will for surely fast on the ninth (also)." (Muslim)

These Ahadeeth indicate clearly that one should fast on the ninth and tenth of Muharram. However, if one does not manage to fast on the ninth, then he/she should fast on the eleventh of Muharram instead.

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) said:
"Observe the fast of Aashora and oppose the Jews. Fast a day before it or a day after." (Baihaqi)

Hence, it is important to either fast on the ninth and the tenth or the tenth and the eleventh of Muharram. To fast only on the day of Aashora is Makrooh as stated by Allamah Ibn Aabideen Shaami.

One should be generous on one's family and dependants and spend more on them than what is normally spent.

Rasulullah (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) said:
"One who generously spends on his family on the day of Aashora, Allah will increase (his provision) for the whole year." (Baihaqi)

These are the only actions supported by Ahadeeth.

Let us observe this great day according to the ways of Rasulullah (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) and the Sahabah (Radhiyallahu-Anhum), and refrain from all innovations which deprive us of the blessings from Almighty Allah.



My Friend, Agil might have acquired the information here from a reliable or not so reliable source(wikipedia)... Please forgive him for writing and myself for including his email.. Should you find better or reliable info, kindly put it in your comments to this entry so that future reference can be made to your info.. Here is Agil's email content:-

Sahabat2ku 6774,

Sekadar mengambil kesempatan memperingatkan, esok (malam ini) 10 Muharam kita akan sambut hari Asyura.

Maka hari ini banyak keistimewaannya kerana banyak perkara yang telah berlaku dan yang Allah jadikan, di antaranya termasuklah:

-Hari pertama Allah menciptakan alam.
-Hari Pertama Allah menurunkan rahmat.
-Hari pertama Allah menurunkan hujan.
-Allah menjadikan 'Arasy.
-Allah menjadikan Luh Mahfuz.
-Allah menjadikan Malaikat Jibril.
-Nabi Adam a.s. dicipta.
-Diampunkan dosa Nabi Adam a.s. setelah bertahun-tahun memohon keampunan kerana melanggar larangan Allah.
-Nabi Idris a.s. diangkat darjatnya oleh Allah dan Malaikat Izrail membawanya ke langit.
-Diselamatkan Nabi Nuh a.s. dan pengikutnya dari banjir besar selama enam bulan dan bahtera baginda selamat berlabuh di puncak pergunungan.
-Nabi Ibrahim a.s. dilahirkan di kawasan pedalaman dan terselamat dari buruan Raja Namrud.
-Nabi Ibrahim a.s. diselamatkan Allah dari api Raja Namrud.
-Nabi Yusuf a.s. dibebaskan dari penjara setelah meringkuk di dalamnya selama tujuh tahun.
-Nabi Yaakub a.s. telah sembuh buta matanya ketika kepulangan anaknya Yusuf di hari tersebut.
-Nabi Ayub a.s. disembuhkan dari penyakitnya.
-Nabi Musa a.s. telah diselamatkan daripada tentera Firaun dan berlakunya kejadian terbelahnya Laut Merah.
-Allah menurunkan kitab Taurat kepada Nabi Musa a.s..
-Nabi Yunus a.s. selamat keluar dari perut ikan paus setelah berada di dalamnya selama 40 hari 40 malam.
-Kesalahan Nabi Daud a.s. diampuni Allah.
-Nabi Sulaiman a.s. dikurniakan Allah kerajaan yang besar.
-Nabi Isa a.s. diangkat ke syurga ketika diburu oleh tentera Rom untuk menyalib baginda.

Sebagai yg sahabat2 semua maklum, banyak amalan2 sunat boleh di lakukan pada hari Asyura, diantaranya:

1.Melapangkan masa / belanja anak dan isteri
2.Memuliakan fakir miskin
3.Menahan marah
4.Menunjukkan jalan yang lurus/membetuli orang sesat/orang yang salah(terpesong aqidah(tauhid) dan akhlaknya)
5.Menyapu / mengusap kepala anak yatim (menghormati dan memuliakan mereka)
6.Bersedekah
7.Memelihara kehormatan diri
8.Mandi Sunat dengan lafaz niatnya: "Sahaja aku mandi sunat hari Asyura kerana Allah Taala."
9.Bercelak
10.Membaca Qulhuwallah(Surah Al-Ikhlas) hingga akhir seribu kali
11.Sembahyang sunat empat rakaat dengan lafaz niat: "Sahaja aku sembahyang sunat hari Asyura empat rakaat kerana Allah Taala. Pada rakaat pertama dan kedua selepas al-Fatihah di baca Qulhuwallah sebelas kali.
12.Menjamu orang berbuka puasa
13.Puasa Sunat Asyura dengan niatnya dibaca Sahaja aku berpuasa esok hari sunat hari Asyura kerana Allah Taala.

Sama2-lah kita merebut peluang ini untuk beramal pada hari esok.

Salamun alaikum.
AGIL


May you find this entry useful and have a good rewarding days ahead.