" The Day of Ashura " 1 additional questions 3 comments

What does “Ashura" Mean?

What is "ashura"? What is the importance of "the Day of Ashura"?

Answer:

“Ashura” is an Arabic word that literally means “tenth”. Since it is originally “Aramaic” and came along in Arabic after Islam, it is considered to be common in all Semitic languages.

In Islam, it is specifically used for the tenth day of Muharram (the first month of the Hijri calendar) that is regarded as an important and a special day; “The Day of Ashura”.

There are a few different views about the reason of naming the aforesaid day as “ashura”. One states that since it is the 10th day of Muharram, it is called so; while the other believes, it is named so, because Allah (swt) bestowed His ten prophets ten kinds of bounties on this special day,

Actually, The Day of Ashura, which is the common date of various events concerning the history of humanity, is significant not only for Muslims, but also for the other two Semitic religions; Judaism, Christianity. It is significant for the Jews, as Prophet Moses was saved from the tyranny of Pharaoh on the Day of Ashura. In order to respect this special day, the Jews spent it fasting.

In the Arabic Society, ashura was esteemed even before Islam; since the time of Prophet Abraham.

Regarding the precious blessings and events that Allah bestowed on this day, till the Ramadan fast became compulsory, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) gave a great importance to it and never abandoned Ashura fast.

Aisha (ra) narrated that:

“Quraish used to fast on the day of 'Ashura' in the Pre-lslamic period, and Allah's Apostle too, used to fast on that day. When he came to Medina, he fasted on that day and ordered others to fast, too. Later when the fasting of the month of Ramadan was prescribed, he gave up fasting on the day of 'Ashura' and it became optional for one to fast on it or not.” (Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 220)

In Islam, it is not obligatory to fast on the Day of Ashura. It is “sunnah” of Our Prophet (pbuh), He fasted and recommended fasting; but not in the way that the Jews did. The Jews used to fast only on the Day of Ashura, which is the 10th day of Muharram. So, in order not to be similar to them, He recommended fasting for two or three days; on the both 9th and 10th of Muharram or both the 10th and 11th of Muharram.

Another reason that makes Ashura remarkable in Islam is that it is the day when Husayn (ra), the blessed grandson of Prophet Muhammad and the master of the youth of heaven, was martyrized. Husayn (ra) and his companions opposed Yazid’s tyranny and in consequence, by the command of Yazid, they were martyrized atrociously in Karbala on the 10th of Muharram in Hijri 61 (10 October 680)

As a matter of fact, Allah (swt) bestowed high ranks to these blessed martrys who sacrificed themselves for the sake of the Islamic truths they lived and defended. Through martydom ,They attained such an otherworldly and magnificent ranks that no worldly royalty could reach. The family of the Prophet (Al-i Beyt), who went through such suffering times, performed the task of carrying the banners of Quran to the ummah in every century and became the spritual sultans. May Allah be pleased with them all. Kaynak: http://askaquestionto.us - What does “Ashura" Mean?