The Period of mourning is observed in the first month of the Islamic calendar, and it commemorates the death of Hazrat Imam Hussain in the battle of Karbala.
Muharram means 'respected'. It is the first month of the Islamic calendar.The first ten days of this month are observed as a period of mourning by Muslims, particularly by those belonging to the Shiah sect, in memory of the tragedy of 680 AD. Hazrat Imam Hussain, the grandson of Muhammad the Prophet was killed in the battle of Karbala. This event, called Muharram, is named after the month in which it took place. The tenth day, called Ashura, is observed as the day for a public expression of their grief and is the most important day of the month.
During the pre-Islamic period in the Arabian peninsula, fighting was prohibited in four months of the year.These months, of which Muharram was one, were considered sacred. This period of inactivity was a necessity in heavily decorated replicas of the tomb of the Imam and his family are made for Muharram the era of warring tribes.
The tradition was maintained even after the advent of Islam, though provisions to accommodate and accept war in special situations, like a threat to the sovereignty of an empire, were introduced. The gory battle of Karbala was fought against this law and tradition of Islam. The inhabitants on the banks of rivers Euphrates and Tigris were traditional rivals. Their animosity was contained to some extent by Muhammad. But when his son-in-law Hazrat Ali was the Caliph, the old enmity re-surfaced.
Hazrat Ali had two descendants, Hazrat Imam Hussain and Hazrat Imam Hassan. Hussain was the ruler of the part of the empire known today as Iran. The other part in modern Iraq was ruled by the Umayyads. Hussain was called upon by the Shiahs of Kufa, a small town in the Umayyad kingdom, to accept their allegiance and claim his place as the leader of the Islamic community.
This was against the wishes of the ruler of Kufa, Yazid, who instructed his governor, Ibn-e-Ziad to take appropriate action. Meanwhile, in response to the call of the Shiahs, Hussain accompanied by his family members, headed for Kufa. When they reached Karbala, enroute to Kufa, the forces of the governor surrounded them and their 70 men. Hussain, his family and his troops were tortured and killed, and Hussain's head was severed and presented to the king. They received no help from the Shiahs of Kufa. This happened on the tenth day of Muharram and it was called Ashura.
Importance
1. It is the best of months for general voluntary fasts, after Ramadan.
2. It is especially recommended to fast the 10th of Muharram (known as the Day of `Ashura), with a day before it or after it.
3. It is also virtuous to give in charity on this day.
The Prophet said , 'The best of fasts after the month of Ramadan are in the Month of Allah, which you call Muharram. And the best of prayer after the obligatory prayer is the night prayer.' [Muslim, 1163]
The virtue and honor of this month can be attested to by the fact that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) called it, 'the Month of Allah.'
Given that Allah ascribed fasting, between all spiritual works, to Himself [saying, It is Mine,] it was suitable that this month, which is also ascribed to Allah, be selected for this particular form of worship.
Fasting is a secret between the servant and his Lord. This is why Allah says, ' Every action of the son of Adam is his, except for fasting. It is Mine, and it is I who reward it.' [Bukhari and Muslim, from Abu Hurayra]
The Prophet also said, 'The fasting person has two joys: one when he breaks his fast, and the other when he meets his Lord.'[Muslim]
Similarly, it has been related that fasting is a means for good health. The Prophet is reported to have said, 'Fast, and you shall have good health.'
The Day of `Ashura: The Tenth of Muharram
It is mentioned in Bukhari and Muslim from Ibn Abbas that he was asked about fasting the Day of `Ashura[10th of Muharram]. He said, 'I did not see the Messenger of Allah fast a day while more avid to seek its virtue than this day, meaning the Day of `Ashura. [Bukhari (2006), and Muslim (1132)].
The Day of `Ashura has great virtue, and tremendous sanctity (hurma). The virtue of fasting it was known among the Prophets (peace be upon them all). Both Prophet Nuh and Prophet Musa fasted it.
The Prophe used to fast this day even in Mecca, though he had not yet ordered others to do so, as mentioned in both Bukhari and Muslim. [Bukhari (2002), Muslim (1125)]
When he migrated to Medina, and found the People of the Book fasting this day and venerating it, he ordered the Muslims to fast it, and encouraged it so much that even the children would fast it.
It has been reported in both Bukhari and Muslim that, When the Messenger of Allah reached Medina, he found the Jews fasting the Day of `Ashura, so he asked them, 'What is this day you are fasting?
They said, 'This is a tremendous day. Allah saved Musa and his people on this day and drowned Pharaoh and his people. Musa fasted it out of thanks so we fast it too.
The Messenger of Allah said, .'And we are more deserving of Musa than you are.' So he fasted this day, and ordered that it be fasted.� [Bukhari (2004) and Muslim (1130)]
At the end of his life, the Messenger of Allah made the determination not to fast this day alone, but with another day [f: either before or after it], in order to be different from the People of the Book.
It has been reported in the Sahih of Imam Muslim (Allah have mercy on him), also from Ibn Abbas that, 'When the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) fasted the Day of `Ashura' and ordered his companions to fast it, they said,
'O Messenger of Allah! This is a day that the Jews and Christians venerate.' So the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) said, 'When next year comes if Allah wills we will fast the Ninth [of Muharram with it].� But the next year did not come before the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) passed away. [Muslim (1134), Abu Dawud (2445)]
And it is reported in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad (Allah have mercy on him), from Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, 'Fast the Day of `Ashura' and be different from the Jews by fasting a day before it or a day after it. [Ahmad]
Giving in Charity on the Day of `Ashura'
It has been reported from Abd Allah ibn `Amr ibn al-`As , that Whoever fasts `Ashura' it is as if he has fasted the entire year. And whoever gives charity this day it is like the charity of an entire year.
Mourning on the 10th of Muharram is an Innovation.
As for the mourning and grieving of the Shiah on this day because of the martyrdom of Sayyiduna Husayn ibn Ali (Allah be pleased with him and his father), this is of the actions of those whose actions in this life are misguided while they think that they are doing well. Neither Allah Most High nor His Messenger commanded us to mourn on the days of the tribulations of the Prophets, or their deaths, let alone anyone else.
It is not disliked to marry in this month. It is a highly reprehensible innovation to participate in the rituals of the Shiah in mourning the death of Husayn .]
Some of the Virtues of the Day of `Ashura'
It is a day in which Allah forgave an entire people. Tirmidhi relates that the Prophet said to a man, 'If you want to fast a month after Ramadan, then fast Muharram, for it has a day in which Allah forgave an entire people, and He turns to others in repentance in.' [Tirmidhi (841)]
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