The martyrdom of Hussain ibn Ali (RA) in Karbala was one of the greatest tragedies in Islamic history. However, the Day of Ashura was already sacred long before the events of Karbala. The sanctity of the day is separate from the tragedy that occurred upon it. Ashura was holy before the martyrdom of Hussain (RA).
Shoiab Mohmmad Bhat
We are now beginning the new Islamic calendar year and have entered the blessed month of Muharram. This is one of the sacred months in Islam, a month that holds immense virtue and significance. In fact, our Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) said: “The best month to fast after Ramadan is Allah’s month, Al-Muharram.”
This narration is remarkable because the Prophet (PBUH) referred to Muharram as Shahrullah, “the Month of Allah.” No other month has been given this special designation. The scholars have pointed out that this attribution is a sign of the great honour and status that Allah has granted to this month. Muharram is therefore among the most blessed and sacred months of the Islamic calendar.
When Umar ibn Al-Khattab (RA) formally instituted the Islamic calendar several years after the passing of the Prophet (PBUH), the Companions discussed which month should mark the beginning of the year. Various suggestions were put forward. Some proposed Ramadan, while others suggested different months. After consultation, the majority of the Sahabah agreed that Muharram was the most appropriate month to begin the Islamic year.
The reasons for this decision were obvious. Muharram is considered to be a month of blessings and holiness, which directly follows the performance of Hajj. This means that Muharram stands for a new beginning, a new phase after the most important ritual in the Islamic faith. It is thus evident why Muharram was chosen to be the first month in the Islamic calendar.
The Prophet (PBUH) would fast regularly during this month and encouraged his followers to do the same. Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA) said: “I never saw the Prophet (PBUH) more concerned about fasting than the day of Ashura and the month of Muharram.”
Among the most significant days of this month is the Day of Ashura. The word “Ashura” literally means “the tenth,” referring to the 10th day of Muharram.
The fasting of Ashura has a long and important history. Before the obligation of fasting in Ramadan was revealed, fasting on the Day of Ashura was made obligatory. In the first year after the Hijrah, Muslims were required to fast on this day. However, when Allah later revealed the obligation of fasting during the month of Ramadan, Ramadan became the compulsory fast, while fasting on Ashura became highly recommended rather than obligatory.
Despite this change, the virtue of fasting on Ashura remained immense. The Prophet (PBUH) informed us that fasting on this day serves as an expiation for the sins of the previous year. It is, therefore, a tremendous opportunity for believers to seek Allah’s forgiveness and mercy.
The Day of Ashura is also associated with significant events in the history of the prophets. The Prophet (PBUH) told us that on this day, Allah saved Musa (AS) and his followers from Pharaoh, while Pharaoh and his army were drowned. It is also narrated that Nuh (PBUH) and those with him were saved, and that his Ark came to rest on Mount Judi. Thus, the day became associated with Allah’s mercy, deliverance, and victory for the believers.
When the Prophet (PBUH) arrived in Madinah, he found that the Jews were fasting on the 10th of Muharram. When he asked them about it, they explained that it was the day on which Musa (PBUH) was saved, and Pharaoh was destroyed, and they observed it as a day of gratitude.
The Prophet (PBUH) replied: “We have more right to Musa than you do.”
In other words, Muslims are the true followers of all the prophets, including Musa (PBUH), because they follow the same message of pure monotheism that was taught by every prophet sent by Allah. The Prophet (PBUH), therefore, fasted on Ashura and encouraged the Muslims to fast as well.
Later, he expressed his desire to distinguish the Muslim practice from that of others and said, “If I live until next year, I will fast on the ninth as well.”
For this reason, the scholars recommend fasting the 9th and 10th of Muharram together. It is also permissible to fast the 10th and 11th, though fasting the 9th and 10th remains the preferred practice.
No discussion of Ashura is complete without acknowledging the historical tragedy that occurred on this day: the martyrdom of Hussain ibn Ali (RA), the beloved grandson of the Prophet (peace be upon him), in the plains of Karbala.
There is no doubt that the martyrdom of Hussain (RA) was one of the greatest tragedies in Islamic history. His death was a heartbreaking event that caused immense grief throughout the Muslim Ummah. However, it is important to understand that this tragedy does not define the sanctity of Ashura, nor is it the reason why the day is considered blessed.
The Day of Ashura was already sacred long before the martyrdom of Hussain (RA). Its virtues were established through revelation and the teachings of the Prophet (PBUH). The fasting of Ashura had already been prescribed and encouraged many years before the events of Karbala took place.
The tragedy of Karbala occurred on Ashura, but it was a historical event that happened on a day that was already blessed. The sanctity of the day is therefore separate from the tragedy that occurred upon it. Muharram was sacred before Karbala, and Ashura was holy before the martyrdom of Hussain (RA).
Unfortunately, some people have come to associate Muharram primarily with mourning and grief because of the events of Karbala. While Muslims honour, love, and respect Hussain (RA) and remember his sacrifice, the essential purpose of Ashura remains what it was during the lifetime of the Prophet (PBUH): a day of worship, gratitude, and drawing closer to Allah.
Therefore, as Muslims, we observe the 10th of Muharram not merely as a day of remembrance but as a day of devotion to Allah. It is a day of ibadah, a day to increase our consciousness of Allah, and a day to seek His forgiveness and mercy through acts of worship, especially fasting.
Let us make every effort to fast on the 10th of Muharram. If possible, we should fast on the 9th and 10th together, or on the 10th and 11th. At the very least, we should strive to fast on the 10th itself and take advantage of the immense reward attached to this blessed day.
More broadly, let us not limit ourselves to Ashura alone. The entire month of Muharram is a month of virtue. It is one of the sacred months in which the Prophet (PBUH) encouraged increased worship, voluntary fasting, charity, and good deeds. It is a time to renew our relationship with Allah and begin the new Islamic year with sincerity, repentance, and righteous actions.
May Allah make us among those who recognise the value of this blessed month, who take advantage of its opportunities for worship, and who utilise Muharram to the best of our abilities. May He accept our fasting, forgive our sins, increase us in faith and righteousness, and grant us the ability to draw closer to Him throughout this sacred month and beyond. Ameen.
The writer is a social educator and researcher, holding a Master’s in Gender Studies and a BEd
sh***********@***il.com