The Salaf and Fasting Aashoora'

Follow @AhleDhikr

Imam az-Zuhri (may Allah have Mercy on him) used to fast Aashoora’ even when he used to travel and once was asked, “Why do you fast Aashoora’ whilst travelling but don’t fast whilst travelling during Ramadan?” He said, “Ramadan fasts can be made up but if a person misses Aashoora’, he will miss it.”

Siyar ‘Alaam an-Nubalaa’, 5/342

Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (may Allah have Mercy on him) said:

A group of the Salaf used to fast Aashoora’ even during their travels. From them Ibn ‘Abbas, Abu Ishaq, as-Sabee’ee, az-Zuhri and its been narrated from Ahmad that he used to fast Aashoora’ whilst travelling.

Lataa’if al-Ma’aarif, Pg. 61

The Wisdom behind the Expiation of Sins for a Year

Follow @AhleDhikr

Al-Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim [May Allaah have Mercy on him and Purify his soul] stated:

If a person asks, why does fasting the Day of ‘Aashoora carry one year’s worth of expiation whereas fasting the Day of ‘Arafah has two years?

The answer is from two angles:

Firstly, the Day of ‘Arafah comes in the middle of a sacred month, before it is a sacred month (Dhu al-Qa’dah) and after it a sacred month (Muharram), unlike ‘Aashoora (i.e.  Muharram is the final one of these three sacred months mentioned in succession[1]).

Secondly, fasting the Day of ‘Arafah is specific to our Ummah unlike ‘Aashoora. So the Day of ‘Arafah has been multiplied in its reward because of the Blessings of the Mustafa [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him].

And Allaah Knows Best.  

Badaa’i al-Fawaa’id (5/315)

	أ. د. صالح سندي (@Drsalehs)
٢‏/١١‏/٢٠١٤ ١٦:١٦ ‏1 ‏"فائدة: ‏إن قيل:لم كان عاشوراء يكفر سنة،ويوم عرفة يكفر سنتين؟ ‏قيل:فيه وجهان: ‏أحدهما:أن يوم عرفة في شهر حرام وقبله شهر حرام وبعده شهر حرام خلاف عاشوراء ‏الثاني:أن صوم يوم عرفةمن خصائص شرعنا،بخلاف عاشوراء؛فضوعف ببركات المصطفىﷺ،والله أعلم" ‏بدائع.ف5-315 ‏(وربك يخلق ما يشاء ويختار)

---

[1] This is in reference to the Aayah: “Verily, the number of months with Allaah is twelve months (in a year), so it was ordained by Allaah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred (Dhu al-Qa’dah, Dhu al-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab)). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein…” [al-Tawbah 9:36]

Singling 'Aashoraa for Acts of Worship

Follow @AhleDhikr

Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said:

Every act of worship that is done specifically for the day of ‘Aashooraa, besides fasting, is a disliked innovation and none of the scholars have recommended any of them.

[Minhaaj as-Sunnah (8/151)]

أ. د. صالح سندي (@Drsalehs)

١‏/١١‏/٢٠١٤ ١٦:٢١

‏كل ما يفعل فيه [عاشوراء] -سوى الصوم- بدعة مكروهة لم يستحبها أحد من الأئمة.
‏
‏ابن تيمية
‏منهاج السنة 8 /151

The Beliefs of the Raafidah (Shia) and the Day of ‘Aashooraa

Follow @AhleDhikr

Some of the Beliefs (‘Aqeedah) of the Raafidah (Shee’ah) from Their Own Shee’ah Sources.

1)    To believe Jibreel [Peace be upon him] made a mistake in giving the revelation Prophet Muhammad [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] and should have instead gave it to ‘Alee bin Abee Taalib [May Allaah be Pleased with him]. [see: al-Mihal wa an-Nihal (Pg. 30)]

2)   There is no difference between the Shee’ah scholars and Allaah, the Most High. [see: Masaabeeh al-Anwaar (2/222-397)]

3)   The Quraan is distorted and incomplete. [see: at-Tanbeeh wa ar-Radd (Pg. 25)]

4)   The Shee’ah scholars came to complete the religion because the Prophet Muhammad [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] only gave us part of the religion. [see: Ihqaaq al-Haqq (2/288-289)]

5)   The Shee’ah scholars are a vice for us to get closer to Allaah, the Most High. So one is required to supplicate to them and not Allaah. [see: Bihaar al-Anwaar (23/99)]

6)   The Shee’ah scholars have the ability to control the universe and have the same Names and Attributes as Allaah, the Most High. [see: al-Kaafee (1/103)]

7)   Visiting the graves of Hussayn is like visiting the Throne of Allaah. [see: al-Mizaar al-Mufeed (Pg. 51)]

8)   The sand on the grave of Hussayn is a cure for all illnesses. [see: Kitaab al-Amaalee (Pg. 318)]

9)   ‘Alee bin Abee Taalib has the ability to bring the deceased back to life and some sects within the Raafidah even worship him as being a god. He knows the unseen and that he is the lord of the earth that lives on earth, according to them. [see: al-Kaafee (1/308 and 347)]

The Raafidah (Shee’ah) are the Worst and Most Ignorant of People

Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said:

The Raafidah (Shea’ah) are from the most ignorant of sects. They are the worst of liars and furthest away from understanding the narrations (i.e. texts of al-Islaam) and intellect. They make lying and deceiving (what they call Taqiyyah) from the basis of their religion, so they lie knowingly attributing it to Ahl al-Bayt (the family of Prophet Muhammad whom they worship) with the worst of lies, to which none can count except Allaah.

[Majmoo’ al-Fataawaa (13/263)]

Because they are Liars, their Narrations and Account of History is Rejected and Cannot be Relied upon.

Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said:

The origin of the innovation of the Raafidah is based upon heresy and atheism and they heavily rely on lying to support their beliefs. They are persistent in saying that the religion is based upon Taqiyyah. Taqiyyah is say something one may say to someone but you mean something different to what is understood from your speech. This form of Taqiyyah that they use is based upon hypocrisy and lies. They call people to this false belief whilst they claim that they are believers, and that there is no one upon the correct religion except them. They describe the best of this generation (i.e. the Companions) as being hypocrites and all of them (except a few) being apostates from the religion!...

Therefore, there are no people who have apparent hypocrisy and are bigger apostates than them, and no one will find a group of deviants except that the Raafidah have the greatest number of apostates and hypocrites.

[Minhaaj as-Sunnah an-Nabawiyyah (1/30)]

They Venerate the Day of ‘Ashooraa as a Day of Mourning because of the Death of Hussayn [May Allaah be Pleased with him]

Ibn Rajab al-Hanbalee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said:

The Raafidah (Shee’ah) take this day as a day of mourning because it is the day in which Hussayn, the son of ‘Alee, was killed.

Taking this day as a day of mourning is from the deeds of those who are misguided and that they think that they are doing something good and righteous (cf. 18:104).

Allaah has not Commanded nor did His Messenger to take the days in which the Prophets were inflicted with hardness or the days in which they died; as a day of mourning, so then what about those who lesser than them?

Adapted from Lataa’if al-Ma’aarif (Pg. 43-45)

Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said:

It can never be beautified to anyone as to what the Raafidah do on this day. They mourn the death of Hussayn but his father, ‘Alee bin Abee Taalib [May Allaah be Pleased with them both], was better than him but they don’t mourn the death of ‘Alee after he was murdered. ‘Uthmaan, ‘Umar and Aboo Bakr [May Allaah be Pleased with them all] passed away before them and they didn’t mourn their deaths either and they were better than him…

Rather the best of creation, the Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] passed away before them and his death was not mourned either.

However, what they do to venerate this day to mourn the death of Hussayn has never been done before to mourn the deaths of those better than him. Moreover, taking a day as mourning is not the way of the Muslims, whatsoever. Rather, it is the way of the pagans of Makkah before al-Islaam.

[Adapted from Majmoo’ al-Fataawaa (25/307)]  

History tells us that Yazeed bin Mu’awiyyah [May Allaah have Mercy on him] did not order the killing of Hussayn.

Ibn Salaah [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said:

There is no authentic narration stating that Yazeed ordered the killing of Hussayn. What is authentic is that he ordered the killing of the one who ordered the killing of Hussayn, and his name was ‘Ubayd-Allaah bin Ziyaad, the governor of Iraq at that time. As for reviling Yazeed and cursing him then this is not the character of a Muslim, even if we were to affirm the accusation that he ordered the killing of Hussayn.

[Qayd ash-Shareed min Akhbaar Yazeed (Pg. 57-59)]

Imaam adh-Dhahabee said about Shimar bin Dhee al-Jawshaan:

He was one of the killers of Hussayn [May Allaah be Pleased with him]. Him and his chosen group of men assassinated him.

It is narrated that he said, “Oh Allaah! You Know that I am honourable to forgive me.”

So it was said to him, “How can you be forgiven when you killed the son of the Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him]?”

He replied by saying, “Woe to you! What else can I do when I had been ordered by the governor to do so and I cannot disobey the command of those in authority.”

I say (adh-Dhahabee): This excuse is disgusting, because obedience to those in authority is only upon what is righteous.

[Lisaan al-Meezaan (3/152) also see: Meezaan al-‘Itidaal (1/449), Kaamil fi at-Tareekh Ibn Atheer (4/55) and al-Bidaayah wa an-Nihaayah (7/270)]

And Allaah Knows Best

Tawbah was Accepted on the Day of ‘Aashooraa

Follow @AhleDhikr

From the virtues of the Day of ‘Aashooraa is that it is narrated that it is the day in which Allaah Accepted the Tawbah of people.

It is narrated in at-Tirmidhee that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “If you were to fast a month after Ramadhaan then fast (most of) al-Muharram, because in it is when Allaah Accepted the Tawbah of people.”

…

It is narrated that ‘Alee bin Abee Taalib [May Allaah be Pleased with him] said, “It is the day when Allaah Forgave the people of Yoonus.”

It is narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas [May Allaah be Pleased with him] said, “It is the day in which the repentance of Aadam was Accepted after he was expelled from Jannah.”

It is narrated that ‘Umar bin ‘Abdul-‘Azeez (another from the Salaf) [May Allaah have Mercy on him] wrote to a people and said, “Say as your father Aadam [Peace be upon him] said:

“Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers” [‘Araaf  7:23]

And say as Nooh [Peace be upon him] said:

“O my Lord! I seek refuge with You from asking You that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have Mercy on me, I would indeed be one of the losers” [Hood 11:47]

And say as Moosaa [Peace be upon him] said:

“My Lord! Verily, I have wronged myself, so forgive me” [Qasas 28:16]

And say as Dhu an-Noon [Peace be upon him] said:

“…he cried through the darkness (saying): La ilaha illa Anta [none has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allah)], Glorified (and Exalted) are You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]. Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers.” [an-Anbiyaa’ 21:87]

Wahb (another from the Salaf) [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “Truly, Allaah, the Most High, revealed onto Moosaa [Peace be upon him] that his nation. They were told to seek Tawbah in the first ten days and on the tenth day they were forgiven.”

‘Ikrimah (another from the Salaf) [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “The tenth is the day in which Allaah Forgave Aadam.”

Qataadah (another from the Salaf) [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “We used to narrate to others that this is the day in which Aadam repented.”

So it is encouraged for us to increase in making Tawbah on the day of ‘Aashooraa, seeking for it to be Accepted, because the one who has his Tawbah from his bad deeds Accepted from Allaah, the Glorified and the Exalted, then it will be as this person is turning to Allaah like those before did.

The one repenting realises his sin and he combines this with regret, then his Tawbah will be accepted. Allaah, the Glorified and the Exalted, says:

 “And (there are) others who have acknowledged their sins, they have mixed a deed that was righteous with another that was evil. Perhaps Allah will turn unto them in forgiveness. Surely, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful .” [at-Tawbah 9:102]

The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “If a slave realises his sin and repents then Allaah will Turn to him (i.e. accept his repentance).”

Also, it is related that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] used to open his prayer by supplicated, “Oh Allaah! You are my Lord, there is no God but You. I have wrong myself and I recognise my sins, so Forgive me, surely there is none that forgives sins except You.”

…

So when Aadam was dispelled from Jannah and landed on earth, he wept because he longed to go back to Jannah. It is narrated that he was in the state of regret and wept for three hundred years. He lived in a place where there was no hunger, no starvation, no thirst, no tiredness and no loss; but because of his sin he was dispelled from such a land to a place where he experienced these negative feelings.

Adapted from Lataa’if al-Ma’aarif (Pg. 43-48) by Imaam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbalee (795 H) [May Allaah have Mercy on him]

Prohibition on Venerating the Day of ‘Aashooraa

Follow @AhleDhikr

It is narrated from (the Salaf like) Qataadah that he said, “”Aashooraa was a day of beautification, it was a day in which there is joy, because Allaah saved Moosaa from Fir’awn.”

It is also narrated that Moosaa [Peace be upon him] would wear his best clothes and he would apply Kohl in his eyes (i.e. for the purpose of beautification).

The Jews at the time of the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] from the people of al-Madeenah and the people of Khaybar (a Jewish villiage in the time of the Prophet) used to venerate this day and they used to take this day as a day of ‘Eid. They used to wear their best clothes and their women used their wear jewellery. The Murshriks of Makkah imitated the Jews in this and took it as practice to use this day to change the cloth of the Ka’bah.

However, our Sharee’ah is different to theirs and we have been ordered to be different from them. The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Fast on this day (i.e. be different to them and don’t take this as a day of ‘Eid)”. It is also narrated in Nasaa’ee and Ibn Hibbaan with a different wording, “So you should fast in order to be different to them.”

All of this proves that we are prohibited from taking this day as a day of veneration and in order for it not to be an ‘Eid for us, we should fast (i.e. because in our Sharee’ah, fasting on ‘Eid is prohibited).

It is narrated from Umm Salamah [May Allaah be Pleased with her] that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] used to fast Sunday as well as Saturday in order for us to be different from the Jews, because the Jews take Saturday as a day of fasting.

He [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] used to say, “Verily, this is a day in which they have taken as an ‘Eid, so I like to be different to them.”

So it was from the ways of the Jews and the Christians to single out fasting the day they venerate.

All the narrations that have been narrated about one having a bath especially for this day and that one should wear their best clothes and apply Khol, are all fabricated and they are not correct.

As for giving as-Sadaqah on this day then it was narrated from ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr [May Allaah be Pleased with him] that he said, “Whoever fasts the day of ‘Aashooraa then it is as if he has fasted a whole year, and the one who gives in as-Sadaqah then it is as if he has given Sadaqah for the whole year.”

Adapted from Lataa’if al-Ma’aarif (Pg. 41-43) by Imaam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbalee (795 H) [May Allaah have Mercy on him]

Virtues of Fasting The Day of ‘Aashoora and its Rulings.

Follow @AhleDhikr

It is narrated in the two Saheehs that Ibn ‘Abbaas [May Allaah be Pleased with him] said that he never saw the Messenger [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] more eager to fast than this day ( meaning the Day of ‘Aashoraa).

The Day of ‘Aashoora has a great virtue, an ancient sacredness and fasting it was the practice of the Prophets [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon them all. Both Nooh and Moosaa fasted it and the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “The Day of ‘Aashoora was the day in which the Prophets fasted, so you should fast them” [Narrated by Mukhlid in his Musnad].

It was also a day in which the People of the Book and the Mushriks of Quraysh fasted.

…

When the Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] asked the Jews after migrating to al-Madeenah, “What is this day that you are fasting?” They replied by saying, “This is a great day, it is the day in which Allaah saved Moosaa and his people and drowned Fir’awn and his people. So Moosaa fasted this day out of thanks and so do we.” The Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] then responded to them when he said, “We have more right to Moosaa than you.” So the Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] fasted it and he ordered his Companions [May Allaah be Pleased with them all] to fast it also. This was narrated in al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.

In another narration that was collected by Imaam Ahmad in his Musnad, extra wording appears; “It is the day in which Allaah saved Moosaa and Banee Israa’el from drowning and caused Fir’awn and his people to be drowned instead. It is the day when the ark of Nooh settled on Mount Joodee (i.e. the day the flood of the people of Nooh ended), so both Nooh and Moosa [Peace be Upon them both] fasted this day, in thanks to Allaah, the Glorofied and the Exalted. ”

…

Imaam Aboo Haneefah and what appaers to be the correct view from Imaam Ahmad is that fasting this day, before the obligation of fasting Ramadhaan, was obligatory.

The majority of the Shaafi’ees stated that it was never obligatory and it was always a stressed recommendation to fast this day. However now, after the obligation of fasting Ramadhaan, the scholars differed: some said that fasting ‘Aashooraa has been abrogated in its ruling but others stating that it is recommended.

(Some of the Salaf stated this). Qays bin Sa’d said, “We act upon it (i.e. still fast the day of ‘Aashooraa)”.

It is narrated that Ibn Mas’ood and Ibn ‘Umar [May Allaah be Pleased with them both] both stated that it is not recommended anymore.

It is also narrated that Sa’eed bin Mussyab [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said about its abrogation, “The Messenger of Allaah never fasted it.” A similar statement was narrated by Sa’d bin Abee Waqaas [May Allaah be Pleased with him].

But the majority of the scholars uphold the ruling that it is Mustahab (highly recommended). This was narrated to be the view of ‘Umar, ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin  ‘Awf, Aboo Moosaa al-‘Asharee, Qays bin Sa’eed, Ibn ‘Abbaas and others from the companions [May Allaah be Pleased with them all].

Ibn ‘Abbaas [May Allaah be Pleased with him] said about fasting ‘Aashooraa, “I never saw the Messenger of Allaah more eager to fast, after Ramadhaan, than the day of ‘Aashooraa.”

It is also narrated that the Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “I hope with Allaah that is expiates the sins of the previous year.”

It is also narrated that the mother of the believers, Hafsah bin ‘Umar bin al-Khattaab [May Allaah be Pleased with her] said, “The Prophet never left fasting the day of ‘Aashooraa, the first ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah and three days of every month.” [Narrated by Aboo Dawood].

It is narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas used to fast this day even whilst travelling and that he used to fast the ninth and the tenth, fearing that he may miss the tenth.

It is also narrated (others from the Salaf) that Ibn Ishaaq used to fast the day of ‘Aashooraa, the day before it and a day after it (i.e. 9^th, 10^th and 11^th) and he said about it, “I fear that I might miss it”.

It is also narrated that Ibn Sireen used to fast all three days.

It is narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas and ad-Dahaak used to fast the ninth and the tenth.

It is narrated that Aboo Haneefah, ash-Shaafi’ee and Ahmad all recommended the fasting of the ninth and the tenth.

Adapted from Lataa’if al-Ma’aarif (Pg. 37-41) by Imaam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbalee (795 H) [May Allaah have Mercy on him]

Ahl as-Sunnah Free their Tongues and their Hearts from Seeking Faults in the Companions

Follow @AhleDhikr

Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin Naasir al-Barraack [May Allaah Preserve him]

Former Teacher at Imaam Muhammad bin Sa’ood University

Seerah Khulafaa Sayyid al-Mursaleen Conference

Prince Faisal bin Fahad Masjid, ar-Riyadh

9/11/1433 - 25/9/2012

The Companions [May Allaah be Pleased with him] have characteristics. Some of them were either:

Muhaajiroon; this is the characteristics of them leaving everything they had for the sake of their religion.

Or

Ansaar; this the characteristics  of them helping the Messenger [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon them] and supporting him

“(And there is also a share in this booty) for the poor emigrants, who were expelled from their homes and their property, seeking Bounties from Allah and to please Him. And helping Allah (i.e. helping His religion) and His Messenger (Muhammad). Such are indeed the truthful (to what they say);-

And those who, before them, had homes (in Al-Madinah) and had adopted the Faith, love those who emigrate to them, and have no jealousy in their breasts for that which they have been given (from the booty of Bani An-Nadir), and give them (emigrants) preference over themselves, even though they were in need of that. And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, such are they who will be the successful.” [Surah al-Hashr 59: 8-9]

Therefore these two supported each other and they supported the cause of The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] until the day of the Fath (i.e. the opening of Makkah) came when The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “There is no Hijrah after the Fath but there remains Jihaad and the intention.”

This doesn’t mean that there is no Hijrah, rather Hijrah will continue until the Last Day. Hijrah is to leave the land of the non-Muslims to the land of Islaam, this remains for those who are able. The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] stated that Hijrah will not stop until Tawbah stops and Tawbah will stop when the sun rises from the west.

Then Allah, the Most High, says:

“And those who came after them say: "Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith, and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful.” [Surah al-Hashr 59: 10]

This means, all those who come after the Companions [May Allaah be Pleased with them all] should make Dua’a for them, and then those after them make Dua’a for them and the Tabee’een [May Allaah be Pleased with them all], and so on and so on.

Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said in his book ‘Aqeedah al-Waasitiyyah that, “Ahl as-Sunnah have a principle which is that they free their tongues and their hearts from seeking faults in the Companions.”

So we give them their rank and we hate those who hate them and we don’t mention them unless it be with good [May Allaah be Pleased with them all].

It is also in our ‘Aqeedah for us to be balanced in our love for the Companions [May Allaah be Pleased with them all]. We don’t hate them like Khwaarij (extremists, renegades) do and we don’t excessively love them like Raafidah do. The Raafidah hate them the most but they are extreme in their love for Ahl al-Bayt and they hold them to be infallible. The opposite to them are the Khwaarij, they hate Ahl al-Bayt, rather they do Takfeer on them (i.e. declare them to be Kuffaar) and they even fought some of them[1]. However, Ahl as-Sunnah are in between, we love them and don’t say anything bad about them and we place them in their place. 

---

[1] Both of these sects use Muharram and the historical events that happened within them to practice their innovation. The extreme hatred of a sect called the Naasibee has led them to hold the day that Hussayn died as a day of 'Eid. The polar opposite of the Naasibee's are the Raafidah/Shee'ah, who innovated the practice of worshipping Hassan and Hussein and others from Ahl al-Bayt during these days. This sect may be better known as the 'Alawees. See: Minhaaj al-Sunnah (4/554) and Iqtida’ al-Siraat al-Mustaqeem (p. 300, 301) for further information.  

The Month of Allaah, al-Muharram

Follow @AhleDhikr

The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] named this the Month of Allaah, that the month has been directly connected in its name to the name of Allaah. This is an indication of its virtue and honour, because Allaah, the Most High, Will not Attribute anything to Himself from the creation except if it is something special from His Creation. 

Just like the Prophets Muhammad, Ibraaheem, Ishaaq, Ya’qoob and others from the Prophets that have been attributed directly to Allaah as He Has Described them as being His Slaves [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon them all]. He also Attributed to Himself , His House (i.e the Ka'bah and the rest of the Masaajid), so if this month is connected to the name of Allaah, the Most High, is shows its virtue and status.

Likewise fasting, from the righteous deeds one may do, has been directly attributed to Allaah, the Most High. So this shows the virtue and enhances encouragement during this month to fast a great deal, because this month as well as fasting, both have been attributed to Him.

Additionally, the fact that this month has been attributed to Allaah, the Most High, shows its sacredness and that none is able to take this away from this month, unlike what the people of Jaahiliyyah used to do. They would change the dates or bring forward the month of Safar (i.e. the next month) in order to suit their needs (T.N: to complete the battles they were engaged in and the likes. So that they would give up their sins when it suited them and didn't honour what Allaah Has Honoured).

…

Many from the Salaf hastened to fast a great deal during this month. It is narrated that ‘Umar, Aboo Talhah, A’aishah and others from the Companions fasted a great deal [May Allaah be Pleased with them all]. There are others from the Salaf who were narrated to entirely fast the months of al-Haram [Dhu al-Qa’dah, Dhu al-Hijjah, al-Muharram and Rajab], such as Ibn ‘Umar, Hasan al-Basree and others.

Some of the Salaf would delay their lunch in order to eat it until evening, so that they were included with those who were fasting.

Some of the Salaf are narrated to fast a great deal (in general and not exclusive to this month) and that they narrated that they saw in their dreams that they had entered al-Jannah.  

This Dunya, all of the time within it, is the month of fasting for those who have at-Taqwaa. The time when they break their fast is when they meet their lord, this is their Day of ‘Eid. So because they honoured each day with the worship of fasting, their lives had passed and their ‘Eid is brought near.

Some of the Salaf fasted for forty years and no one (including their families) knew of it. Some of them would go and buy bread from different shops and they would walk towards the market and distribute the bread whilst on their way, this is so that the people would think that they had eaten the bread for themselves.

How many from the righteous hid their righteous deeds and as a result, sincerity and honesty was increased in them? There is not a person who hides his good deeds except that Allaah Will make it apparent for him (i.e. on the Day of Judgement).

The scent of the mouth of the fasting person is more beloved to Allaah than the scent of musk, so whenever one hastens to hide his good deeds, his soul will be effected by this pleasant smell. It may even be that when the souls are caused to be gathered on the Day of Judgement, this persons soul will come with a pleasant smell.

So when they prepared the burial for the companion ‘Abdullah bin Ghaaleb [May Allaah be Pleased with him], they could smell musk emanating from earth in the grave they had dug for him. It is narrated that one of the Salaf saw him in their dream so they asked him, “What was that smell that we smelt before we buried you?” He replied, “That was the smell of recitation and thirst”. 

This is accordance to the Hadeeth, “Those who used to fast will be resurrected from their graves with the scent of the fasting person. Their mouths will be scented with the scent of musk”.

Adapted from Lataa’if al-Ma’aarif (Pg. 25-29) by Imaam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbalee (795 H) [May Allaah have Mercy on him]