Assyura Day; Muharram 10

Monday is always been a busy day. What to do as it is the first working day of a week, so many thing need to be done and things to start with. Well, I got a morning meeting today followed by another meeting. Sometimes, I wonder whether we are on the right track or not because of too many meetings to attend but the results are still the same. Nothing much to expect from these time consuming meetings.

It is not too late for me to wish all my Muslim brothers and sisters "Happy Assyura Day" as today is 10th Muharram in Hijr Calendar. For those who are fasting today, I wish a barakah fasting day and may all of you get the blessing from Allah s.w.t

Actually, I thought of writing on something else but after talking to my colleague, she asked me to consider writing something on Assyura Day. Frankly speaking, I have a little idea on this but it is good for me to read more in order to have better understanding of my faith. As I mentioned in my previous posting, I always believe in information sharing as the critical success factor. So throughout this posting, I will try my best to share something on Assyura Day.

According to the history and what the scholars said, when the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) arrived in Madinah Munawwarah in 622 CE, he found that the Jews there fasted on Muharram 10 and he asked them the reason for their fasting on this day. The Jews answered, “This is a blessed day. On this day Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy (in Egypt) and so Prophet Musa fasted on this day giving thanks to Allah." The Prophet Muhammad said, "We are closer to Musa than you are." He then fasted on that day (Muharram 10) and commanded Muslims to fast on this day. (Al-Bukhari)

In the following year, Allah commanded the Muslims to fast the month of Ramadhan, and so the fasting of Assyura became optional.

It is also reported that the Prophet intended to fast on the ninth and tenth. Ibnu Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah fasted on the day of Assyura and ordered the people to fast on it. The people said, "O Mesenger of Allah, it is a day that the Jews and Christians honour." The Prophet said, "When the following year comes, Allah willing, we shall fast on the ninth." The death of the Prophet came before the following year. (Muslim and Abu Dawud)

According to scholars, we can choose to fast Assyura on:

i. three days (ninth, tenth and eleventh);
ii. two days (ninth and tenth); or
iii. one day only (the tenth).

The Prophet said, "Fasting the day of Assyura (is of great merits), I hope Allah will accept it as an expiation for (the sins committed in) the previous year." (Muslim)

Traditionally, Assyura commemorates two major events: The day Prophet Nuh left the ark and the day Prophet Musa was saved from the Egyptians by Allah. Apart from that, Shiites, however celebrates Assyura as a major festival called the ta'ziyah, which commemorates the death of Hussein, son of Imam Ali and grandson of Prophet Muhammad, on the 10th of Muharram, 61 AH (October 10, 680 CE) in Karbala, Iraq. For Shiites, Assyura day is celebrated in rituals and observances consist primarily of public expressions of mourning and grief.

May the day of Assyura brings us a step closer to The Almighty God and may also we are blessed to carry out our duties as Caliphs on this earth. Insya Allah.