Dear Muslimah,
Time flies…… we’ve gone through the first week of Muharram and are about to enter the 10th of Muharram. The Prophet, Salallaahu ‘Alaihi Wassalam, encouraged every Muslim to fast on the 10th of Muharram or, as it is also called, Ashura.
Fasting Ashura is not only performed by the people of Muhammad, Salallaahu ‘Alaihi Wassalam, but in the past it was also performed by the Jews of Medina. The Jews fasted on the 10th of Muharram because on that date the Prophet Musa, Alaihis Salam, and his people crossed the Red Sea when pursued by Pharaoh and Pharaoh with his people were drowned.
As mentioned in some of the following hadith:
The Jews of Madinah used to fast on the 10th day of Muharram too, because that was day on which the Holy Prophet Musa ‘Alaihis Salaam, and his followers crossed the Red Sea miraculously, and the Pharaoh (fir’aun) was drowned in its water. When Rasulullah, Shalallahu ‘Alaihi Wassalam, heard this from the Jews, He said, “We are more closely related to Musa than you”. So, Rasulullah, Shalallahu ‘Alaihi Wassalam, commended the Muslims to fast on the day of Ashura. (Abu Dawood).
Imam At-Tirmidhi mentions that Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said that we should fast on two days: the 9th and 10th of Muharram to distinguish ourselves from the Jewish community. (Reported by At-Tirmidhi).
Rasulullah Shalallahu ‘alaihi wasallam said, “Observe the fast of Ashura and oppose the Jews. Fast a day before it or a day after.” (narrated by Baihaqi).
As mentioned in the above hadith, the Prophet knew that the Jews of Medina also fasted on the 10th of Muharram and the Prophet asked his followers to fast for two days i.e. on the 9th and 10th of Muharram (October 23 and 24, 2015) or the 10th and 11th of Muharram (October 23 and 24th, 2015) so that the Muslims would not copy exactly the traditions of the Jewish people of Medina.
Dear Muslimah, as a reminder to you and especially to myself, let us accomplish Allah’s blessing and forgiveness for our sins in the past by fasting on the day of Ashura. We don’t know whether we will meet Muharram next year.
And Allaah knows best
