In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

The Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) stated about fasting on the Day of Aa’shooraa:

أَحْتَسِبُ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ

“I hope that (Allah) will expiate the (minor) sins committed prior to it. [1]

The above narration is one of the authentic proofs that establishes the virtues of the Day of Aa’shooraa. However, there are no authentic proofs to show that one fasts the month of Al-Muharram with the intention that it is the first month of the Hijri Calendar nor as act of bidding farewell to the last month of the year. All the narrations transmitted in this regard are fabricated. It is also not established with authentic proof in the Islamic legislation that the first night of Al-Muharram is to be devoted in prayer, remembrance of Allaah, supplication and so on.

However, there is no doubt about the virtue of the day of Aa’shooraa within the month of Al-Muharram. It was the day in which Allaah (The Most High) saved Moosaa (alayhis-salaam) and Bani Israa’eel from the tyranny of Pharaoh and his armies. It has been reported in Bukhaari and Muslim on the authority of Ibn Abbaas (radiyallaahu-anhumaa) who stated:

The Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) came to Madinah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of ‘Aa’shooraa’. He said, ‘What is this?’ They said, ‘This is great day; it is the day when Allah saved Moosaa and his people [i.e. Children of Israel] and drown Pharaoh and his people, so Musa fasted on this day in thanksgiving to Allaah, and so we (also) fast this day.’ He [i.e. the prophet] said: ‘We have more right to Musa than you,’ so he fasted on that day and commanded [the Muslims] to fast on that day.” [2] (Note: After fasting the month of Ramadhaan was legislated, fasting the day of Aa’shooraa no longer became obligation)

It is also Mustahab (recommended) that one fasts the 9th of Al-Muharram alongside the day of Aashooraa (i.e. the tenth of al-Muharram) because this is what the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) stated at the end of his life; he said: [لَئِنْ عِشْتُ لأَصُومَنَّ التَّاسِعَ وَالعَاشِرَ] If I live till (next year), I will fast the ninth.’’ [3] This is done in order to oppose the Yahood, who used to single out the day of Ashooraa for fasting.

Likewise, nothing authentic has been transmitted from the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) and his companions (radiyallaahu-anhum) that the day of Aashooraa is a day of celebration or that it is a day in which a person shows kindness to his family by spending on them; nor it is a day of sadness in which one hits him/herself; pulling his/her; slapping his/her cheeks and shedding blood (i.e. this is the practice of the Raafidah). All these affairs are in opposition to the pure and authentic Sunnah of the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam). The Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said:

من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو رد

‘’Whoever innovates into this affair of ours (i.e. in Islaam) that which is not from it will have it rejected.’’ [4]

The Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) also said:

إِيَّاكُمْ وَمُحْدَثَاتِ الأُمُورِ فَإِنَّ كُلَّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ وَكُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلالَةٌ

”Beware of newly invented affairs (in the religion); for indeed every newly invented affair (in the religion) is an innovation and every innovation (in the religion) is misguidance.’’ [5]

It is well known by way of the Islamic legislation that the specified holidays, the days of celebration and important days attributed to the religion are legislated affairs of worship. And the ruling on acts of worship is that they are Tawqeefiyyah (i.e. they have to be established by way of authentic text in the Islamic legislation) as stipulated in the fundamental principles of the Islamic legislation. This is because Allaah (The Most High) stated:

ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاكَ عَلَىٰ شَرِيعَةٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْرِ فَاتَّبِعْهَا وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

‘’Then We have put you (O Muhammad) on a plain way of (Our) commandment [like the one which We commanded Our Messengers before you (i.e. legal ways and laws of the Islamic Monotheism)]. So follow you that (Islamic Monotheism and its laws), and follow not the desires of those who know not.’’ [6]

And Allaah (The Most High) said:

أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ شَرَعُوا لَهُم مِّنَ الدِّينِ مَا لَمْ يَأْذَن بِهِ اللَّهُ ۚ وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةُ الْفَصْلِ لَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

Or have they partners with Allah (false gods), who have instituted for them a religion which Allah has not allowed. And had it not been for a decisive Word (gone forth already), the matter would have been judged between them. And verily, for the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers), there is a painful torment.’’ [7]

The Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said:

من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو رد

‘’Whoever innovates into this affair of ours (i.e. in Islaam) that which is not from it will have it rejected.’’ [8]

Likewise, one cannot claim that the innovated practices of the people during the month of Al-Muharram are a demonstration of thankfulness to Allaah or an exaltation of his Prophet! That is because demonstrating one’s thankfulness to Allaah cannot be done by way of legislating something besides Allaah’s legislation. Allaah (The Most High) stated: [وَلَا يُشْرِكُ فِي حُكْمِهِ أَحَدًا And He (Allaah) makes none to share in His Decision and His Rule.] [9]

Rather being thankful to Allaah is done by way of obeying Allaah and to worship Him alone based on what He has legislated. Likewise, one adheres to the authentic Sunnah of the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam)–obeying what the Messenger commanded; keeping away from what he has forbidden; submitting to his rulings and emulating him in his actions; affirming what he has informed you of, and you do not innovate in the religion. Allaah (The Most High) said:

لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرً

Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much. [10]

Allaah (The Most High) said:

قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Say (O Muhammad to mankind): “If you (really) love Allah then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you of your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [11]S

Imaam Ibn Katheer (rahimahullaah) stated:

This noble verse passes a judgement against all those who claim to love Allaah, yet they do not follow the way of Muhammad (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam); for indeed he (i.e. such claimant) is not truthful in his/her claim until he/she follow the shari`ah (Law) of Muhammad and his religion in all his statements and actions, and circumstances (related to the practice of the religion); just as it has been reported in the Saheeh (i.e. Bukhaari and Muslim) that the Messenger (Sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) stated:

مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَد

Whoever performs an act (of worship) that does not conform to our matter (i.e. the religion as it was revealed and practiced by the Prophet), then it (such an act) will be rejected. [12]

And Allaah knows best

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[1]Reported by Muslim: 1/519. Number 1162]

[2]Bukhaari (1/478); Muslim 1/504. Hadeeth Number: 1130]

[3] Muslim 1/504. Number:(1134

[4]Muslim 2/821: Hadeeth Number: 1718]

[5] Abu Dawood 4607]

[6]Al-Jaathiyah Ayah: 18]

[7]Ash-Shooraa. Ayah 21]

[8]Muslim 2/821: Hadeeth Number: 1718]

[9]Soorah Al-kahf. Ayah 26]

[10] Soorah Al-Ahzaab. Ayah 21]

[11]Aal Imraan. Ayah 31]

[12] Tafseer Ibn katheer (see Al-Misbaah Al-Muneer Fee Tahdheeb Tafseer Ibn katheer)

The information on this article was derived and paraphrased from the article on this link: [http://www.sahab.net/home/?p=578]

See other articles on these links

[a] Ruling on Congratulating others at the Beginning of the New Islamic Year [1434H]

http://salaficentre.com/2012/11/ruling-on-congragulating-the-beginning-of-the-new-islamic-year-1434h/

[b]The Month of Al-Muharram and Fasting on the day of Ashoorah

http://salaficentre.com/2013/11/the-month-of-al-muharram-and-fasting-on-the-day-of-ashoorah/

[c] Fasting The Day of Ashooraa–Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz

http://salaficentre.com/2012/11/fasting-the-day-of-ashooraa-imaam-abdul-azeez-bin-baaz/

[d] The Story behind Fasting ‘Aashoorah: Musa (alayhis-salaam) and the Pharoah

 http://salaficentre.com/2013/11/the-story-behind-fasting-aashoorah-musa-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85-and-the-pharoah/