Significance Of Ashura – 10th Of Muharram – Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA)

Significance Of Ashura - 10th Of Muharram

By Sh. Abdool Rahman Khan

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Ashura 2023, 1445

We begin reflection of Ashura by the Words of Allah SWT

⁴Indeed, Pharaoh transgressed in the land and divided its people into groups. He persecuted a group among them by slaughtering their sons and keeping their females alive. Surely, he was one of those who spread corruption (on earth) [28:4]

Muharram is from the sacred months and comes at the beginning of the FOUR of them.
Al Hassan Al Basree (May Allah have mercy on him) said: Allah Almighty opened the year with a sacred month, that is Muharram and concluded the year with a sacred month that is Dhul Hijjah.
It is the only month that is known as “The Month of Allah” as in the Hadith where Rasoolullah SAS calls it : شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ
Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA), Rasoolullah SAS said: أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ وَأَفْضَلُ الصَّلاَةِ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ مسلم The most excellent fast after Ramadan is God's month. al-Muharram, and the most excellent prayer after what is prescribed is prayer during the night. Muslim
Al-Qurtubi said: Fasting in Muharram is the best fasting, because it is the beginning of the year and it opens with fasting, which is the best of deeds. Ashura

Ashura

The 10th of Ashuraa is one of such virtuous days of Fasting
A day when Allah SWT grants victory to
o Prophet Musa (AS) and the Believers
o While defeat was granted to falsehood - to Pharaoh and his people.
This victory is still a matter of consideration for us.
o We are still in a world of Pharaohs fighting Believers
o So, we sure can learn from the struggle that Prophet Musa (AS) had with the ruthless Pharaoh.
Thus, it is highly recommended for us to fast on this day out of gratitude to Allah
A lesson how Allah SWT causes His righteous servants to inherit the earth.
As Allah Almighty said: Quran وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ Allāh has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them authority on the earth just as He granted it to those before them An Nur (24:55)

The martyrdom of the beloved grandson of Rasoolullah SAS

We also recall another incident in the history of Islam which also took place on the 10th of Muharram and that is the martyrdom of Hussain (RA) the beloved grandson of Rasoolullah SAS. Hopefully next year we will discuss this in details by the grace of Allah SWT and this too is a struggle between the faith and sincerity of Hussain (RA) and insincerity and ruthlessness of those clamoring for power.

The Messenger of Allah PBUH said: “Hussain is from me, and I am from Hussain . Allah loves whoever loves Hussain. Hussain is a generation among the generations.” (Tirmidhi)

The Martyrdom of Imam Hussain (RA) – Click here to Read
By Syed Abul Aala Maududi

History of Prophet Musa (AS)

Musa AS was a descendant from the lineage of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), and from the lineage of Prophet Yaqub (AS)
Over time, the people forgot the message of Islam
o Eventually they were overtaken by Pharoah – one of the mightiest rulers in history
o Egypt was the rich superpower of the world at that time.
However, he was also considered to be the most ruthless and oppressive leader in history and in addition he had power, authority and wealth.
No wonder why his story is depicted in so many verses in The Quran as a warning to today’s Pharaoh. And a hope for Believers.
Power and wealth made him exceedingly arrogant, and he went so far as to proclaim himself to be the lord of creation.

Allah SWT says:

Then he gathered his people and cried aloud, (23) Saying: “I am your lord, most high” (79:23-4)

Pharaoh heard that a leader will arise from Bani Israel

As time went by, Pharaoh was informed of the legacy of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) which Bani Israel would often talk about that there would be a leader from Bani Israel who would again lead them to a position of strength.
Pharaoh was greatly disturbed by these predictions, and as a precaution, ordered that all the pregnant women of Bani Israel be strictly monitored.
No woman delivered a baby boy without the Pharaoh’s army knowing about it, and thus these newborns were immediately killed in cold-blooded, systematic infanticide.
o Just imagine the horror! The murder of innocent babies!

In the Quran Allah SWT says:

So, Pharaoh began this merciless killing of the young male babies
o How often we see this repeated throughout generations by tyrants and even till this day and age of a so-called civilized world of human rights.
Another evil of Pharaoh was to divide Bani Israel and enslaving them.
Today the Muslim Ummah has also become victim of this plot.
Ibaadallah! We are one Ummah, but unfortunately, we succumb to the same tactics what Pharaoh did to Bani Israel.

Alternate killings of the boys

So, Musa (AS) was born the year when the male infants were to be killed while his brother Harun was spared as Pharaoh was advised to alternate the years of killing to male born.
According to all the decree of the land, Musa AS should have been killed.
However, Musa’s (AS) life demonstrates
o the power of the Qadr of Allah above all human planning no matter how powerful their plots are
When the mother of Musa was pregnant for him, she went completely unnoticed.
But when he was born, she knew that if he was discovered, death was inevitable.
Allah (SWT) revealed in her heart, through a divine inspiration

⁷We (Allah) inspired the mother of Moses: “Nurse him (Moses) but when you fear for him, cast him into the river (to save him from being slaughtered by Pharoah’s soldiers) and do not be terrified or grieve. For sure, We will bring him back to you and will make him one of the Messengers.” ^[28:7]

Odds of survival

Think of this scenario! Put yourself in his mother’s shoes.
She feared for her child’s life, and of all the possibilities of his survival, was hurling him into the river in a makeshift basket-like boat.
So what were the odds of his survival in the swirling waters?
o If the army catches him, they kill him
o If Musa (AS) was thrown in the water he will most probably drown and die
Fast forward-- Isn’t this how Pharaoh and his army ended?
o Prophet Musa (AS) and the Children of Israel were at the river they cannot go further
o Pharaoh and his army were behind them
o The sea was in front of them and Pharaoh’s army behind. Either way spells death!
So what does it take to make such as decision?
It is nothing but complete faith and trust in Allah SWT.
The mother of Prophet Musa (AS) had that firm belief in Allah (SWT) and knew there was no better helper other than Him (SWT), something we should be striving for today.
With her mother’s instinct, she asked her daughter to follow the basket to see where it ended up.

¹⁰(At the same time) the heart of Moses’ mother was restless (wanting to be with her son again). She almost disclosed (everything about) him, had We not strengthened her heart (with faith), so she was among those who believed (in Our promise). ¹¹She said to Moses’ sister: “Follow him.” So, she (his sister) watched him from a distance secretly without them realizing. ^(28:10-11)

What happens?

Of all the places, the current from the river carries the basket, directly to the palace of Pharaoh – the source of all their troubles!
A baby, recognizable as a Bani Israel; an Egyptian
In the year of slaughtering boys, he was delivered with the fastest means to the direct headquarters of Pharaoh; the man who decrees his execution. Allahu Akbar!
Allah SWT says: Quran

⁹The wife of Pharaoh said: “(He is) such a joy to look at for (both) you and I. Do not kill him, perhaps he may benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son.” And they had no idea (of Allah’s plan). ^[28:9]

The moment Asiyah (Pharaoh’s wife, may Allah bless her) laid eyes on baby Musa, Allah placed in her heart a love of this little boy, a love that can only come from Allah.
Pharaoh wanted him killed.
But by the power of Allah this baby who Pharaoh so wanted to kill altered the course of history… raised in his own home
Eventually he and Bani Israel were saved on a day like today-10th Muharram
This is the Power of Allah SWT. This is the essence of Ashura.

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Significance Of Ashura – 10th Of Muharram