Ashura

Ashura 10th of Muharram

The first month of the Hijiri calendar is Muharram, alhamdulillah we are now in 1448 exactly this many centuries ago when the prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) migrated from Mecca to Madinah in Saudi Arabia.

Allah says about the months:

إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًۭا فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌۭ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ ۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا۟ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ وَقَـٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ كَآفَّةًۭ كَمَا يُقَـٰتِلُونَكُمْ كَآفَّةًۭ ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ ٣٦

Indeed, the number of months with Allāh is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allāh [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion [i.e., way], so do not wrong yourselves during them. And fight against the disbelievers collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that Allah is with the righteous [who fear Him]. Tawbah (9:36)

Of the 12 months in the Islamic calendar are four sacred months, these are

Muharram,

Rajab,

Dhul Qa'dah and,

Dhul Hijja.

From the hadith, narrated Abu Bakra:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said. "The division of time has turned to its original form which was current when Allah created the Heavens and the Earths. The year is of twelve months, out of which four months are sacred: Three are in succession Dhul-Qa' da, Dhul-Hijja and Muharram, and (the fourth is) Rajab of (the tribe of) Mudar which comes between Jumadi-ath-Thaniyah and Sha ban."

Hadith 3197

Sinning in these months is heavier than the other months, as Allah says ‘do not wrong yourselves during them’. But some of the greatest events were during these months,

Muharam – Musa fled from Firown & splitting of the sea,

Rajab – Our prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) acended to the heavens and received the 5 prayers

Dhul Qa'dah – The battle of the Trench 5AH & first umrah after the Hijrah in 7AH

Dhul Hijja – Ibrahim was commanded to sacrifice his son

We will discuss the month of Muharram and fasting on the the 10th.

Muharram was the month Musa took his people from the imprisonment of Firown and fled across the lands to the sea, where Musa caused the sea to spilt in half by Allah’s permission. This was the great miracle of Musa recorded in the scriptures of the Jews and Christians. Not to dwell deeply into the story of Musa and is escape from Firown and his army, we have to consider the difficulty Musa endured trying to guide Firown and his people, but after many miracles they denied except a few. What makes the occurrences before the splitting of the sea special, was that Musa and his people were at a point of being captured when they were between the Firown with his army and the sea.

فَلَمَّا تَرَٰٓءَا ٱلْجَمْعَانِ قَالَ أَصْحَـٰبُ مُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّا لَمُدْرَكُونَ

And when the two companies saw one another, the companions of Moses said, "Indeed, we are to be overtaken!"

As-shu’ara (26:61)

They were at the brink of being broken and their faith shaken after all what they have been through. Until Musa with his clear faith & trust in Allah said,

قَالَ كَلَّآ ۖ إِنَّ مَعِىَ رَبِّى سَيَهْدِينِ

[Moses] said, "No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me." (26:60)

With that said, his people were scared and hoped Musa will help them with a way out until:

فَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنِ ٱضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ ٱلْبَحْرَ ۖ فَٱنفَلَقَ فَكَانَ كُلُّ فِرْقٍۢ كَٱلطَّوْدِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

Then We inspired to Moses, "Strike with your staff the sea," and it parted, and each portion was like a great towering mountain. (26:61)

When Allah commanded Musa to strike the sea, we all know that the sea was split to allow them to pass through to the to the other side. Soon as Musa & his people crossed over, Firown with his Army were destroyed by the closure of splitting of the sea.

Why do we celebrate this great event? Our Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) found the Jews fasting on this day and questioned why they were doing so, and from that he mentioned that we have more right to remember this great miracle as found in the hadith :

Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

When the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) came to Medina, he found (the Jews) fasting on the day of 'Ashura' (i.e. 10th of Muharram). They used to say: "This is a great day on which Allah saved Moses and drowned the folk of Pharaoh. Moses observed the fast on this day, as a sign of gratitude to Allah." The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, "I am closer to Moses than they." So, he observed the fast (on that day) and ordered the Muslims to fast on it.

Hadith 3397

10th of Muharam is expected to fall on this Thursday 25th 2026. Fasting on this day is a recommended sunnah, and if one does it, they should fast with the day before, after or all three days.

Narrated Salim's father:

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, "Whoever wishes may fast on the day of 'Ashura'."

Hadith 2000

The fast of Ashura is not mandatory after it was revealed to fast in Ramadhan.

Allah guide us and have mercy on us during the good and bad times.

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