The story goes like this: When Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him, migrated to Medina, he noticed that the Jewish clans of the city fasted on the tenth of the first month of the calendar - the tenth of Muharram, otherwise named “Ashura’”.
As he asked them why they fasted, they replied that the Prophet Moses, peace be upon him, fasted on that day to thank God for saving him and his people, and drowning Pharaoh in the sea.
“I am closer to my brother Moses than you are”, said the Prophet. He decided to fast and invited Muslims to do so as well. Fasting Ashura is not an obligation, but a confirmed sunna.
And until that day, many Muslims often fast Ashura, following the Prophet’s suggestion.
Ashura was a couple of days ago. A friend texted me the night before to remind me. I fasted.
I wondered why we, Muslims, celebrate the Exodus. Obviously, because Moses was a prophet of God; his followers were persecuted by a tyrant. As such, God rescued those who believed in Him, who trusted Him, proving that He is the one we should turn to in times of difficulty, but also that He, as Hajar said when she and Ismail when they were left in the Arabian desert, “He will not let us be lost”.
And it is a reminder that what is morally rightful, in absolute, is worthy of celebrating. Even if the centre of the celebrations were clans hostile to the Prophet at the time: he still celebrated the salvation of his foes.
I will fight the urge to comment, philosophise, or try to link the story to what is happening in the world.
Muslims celebrating the Exodus. Amongst all the hatred today, I thought that was a story worthy of sharing with my readers. Make what you will of it.
How do you feel about this story*?
As he asked them why they fasted, they replied that the Prophet Moses, peace be upon him, fasted on that day to thank God for saving him and his people, and drowning Pharaoh in the sea.
“I am closer to my brother Moses than you are”, said the Prophet. He decided to fast and invited Muslims to do so as well. Fasting Ashura is not an obligation, but a confirmed sunna.
And until that day, many Muslims often fast Ashura, following the Prophet’s suggestion.
Ashura was a couple of days ago. A friend texted me the night before to remind me. I fasted.
I wondered why we, Muslims, celebrate the Exodus. Obviously, because Moses was a prophet of God; his followers were persecuted by a tyrant. As such, God rescued those who believed in Him, who trusted Him, proving that He is the one we should turn to in times of difficulty, but also that He, as Hajar said when she and Ismail when they were left in the Arabian desert, “He will not let us be lost”.
And it is a reminder that what is morally rightful, in absolute, is worthy of celebrating. Even if the centre of the celebrations were clans hostile to the Prophet at the time: he still celebrated the salvation of his foes.
I will fight the urge to comment, philosophise, or try to link the story to what is happening in the world.
Muslims celebrating the Exodus. Amongst all the hatred today, I thought that was a story worthy of sharing with my readers. Make what you will of it.
How do you feel about this story*?
(* be respectful, or be deleted.)
Post-scriptum -
Because you've already heard about Ashura and it was about something else...
Also on Ashura - but long after the above events - the Prophet’s grandson, Al-Hussein (son of Ali Ibn Abi Talib and Fatema bent Mohammad) was killed in Kerbala by the army of Omar Ibn Saad Ibn Abi Waqqas, a satellite army of the Umayyad regime.
For Shia Muslims, Ashura is a day of sadness and remembrance, where mourning processions - often bloody - take place and visits to the tomb of Al-Hussein are customary.
19 comments:
Thanks for posting that. No philosophizing is necessary, the message is obvious! :-)
I was not aware of the origins of Ashura. Interestingly, Jews do not currently fast to thank God drowning Pharaoh, etc. Instead we have a feast day, the Passover seder. But interesting, also in the nature of being sensitive to "the other," the day before the Passover Seder is a fast day -- but only for first born males, in remembrance of the plague of the first born that struck the Egyptians.
The first time I visited Israel, the way, was during Ashura. The year was 1979, and I was living in Tehran, Iran. The thinking among the expat community in Iran was that the Shia's might get really worked up during Ashura and it could be a dangerous time for the Shah's regime -- so we decided it would be a good time to be a tourist somewhere else. We flew -- nonstop from Tehran to Tel Aviv on El Al -- to Israel for a three week vacation. Our guess about Ashura was off -- the Shah made it through that time, we went back to Iran, only to be evacuated 6 weeks later...but that's a whole 'nother story as they say...
Barry
I never knew this! I thought it was only a Shi'ite holiday. Thanks for posting this.
I suspect there is a great deal I still need to learn about Islam.
"Asarah" is 10 or 10th in Hebrew....
If peace ever settles over the Middle East, we might find we have more in common with each other than with the rest of the world...we share an ancestor, Ibrahim, and also a belief that G-d is One.
Be well.
Don’t want to sound disrespectful, and obviously I am completely ignorant of Islam, but reading your quote on the reason the prophet gave for the Asura fasting: "..I am closer to my brother Moses that you are", it just sounds more like a"whatever you can do, we can do better" thing, certainly not empathy.
And certainly in no point in time did the Jews Fast because of the Exodus, just the opposite, was (and is) celebrated with special meal (Seder) from back as over two millennia ago.
G
Hehehe...
I also pondered the formulation of this sentence. (which is why I quoted rather than paraphrase it - it thought it was interesting in itw own respect).
I don't think it was a 'we can do better' nudge, though. :) but more of a "if someone should be honouring Moses, might as well be me".
My guess is that it goes back to a fundamental idea in Islam on the periodic succession of Prophets and their purpose: to lead mankind back to the path of God when they've gone astray. I'm guessing the hint is that he thinks that they had gone astray and diverted from Moses' original message, while Muhammad, being a 'fellow' Prophet, is basically using the same guidebook as Moses did.
Am no religious authority whatsoever but that's my take!
And fasting isn't a sad or a mourning thing - it's a way to honour certain days or events. Seen this way, it's almost festive actually.
For instance, another important voluntary fast is the day before the big muslim holiday, the Eid-El-Adha (the one with the sheep and stuff!) which is surely not a sad day.
Happy Ashura :)
Barry - this is an awesome story!
Tehran-Tel Aviv. I hope you kept the boarding pass, this thing must be worth gold on Ebay.. :)
And interesting about the first-born male fast - particularly the selectivity of the duty. I've never seen any such thing. Thank you for sharing!
Aliyah06 - the Shia celebration just coincidentally occurs on the same day. A celebration most of us don't believe in, too - first because "no one shall pay for the sin of others" and therefore I have no guilt for Al-Hussein's death, tragic and bloody as it was (well, we weren't there!) but also because while "mainstream Muslims" (I hate having to use the terms Sunna and Shia...) have a particular respect to Ahl-Al-Bayt -- the Prophet's family -- they don't have the special status that Ali and his descendants have among Shias.
I'm sure it was out of context--I don't own a Koran and went looking for quotes on the internet...and they're probably not accurate to boot, since the internet is junk.
Where can I get a Koran in English (accurate translation and modern English, not one of those British hatchet jobs from the last century)?
Then I'll be wiser, non?
Quote number two was probably off, yeah -
but regarding translations, there are plenty readily available on the internet! :)
And you're bound to easily find them in East Jerusalem or in the old city.
Salaam Alaikum,
The best translation is the Yusuf Ali one. Avoid any Saudi translation like the plague.
P.S Lovely post btw.
two things:
1. Aliyah, if it's relevent there are two translations of the koran to hebrew - the newer (and better) has a green cover and was translated by Rivlin - you can find it in all the bookstores, but I must warn you it's not a easy book - I lasted for around 3 sura's and then gave up...
John
2. The tenth day of the first month is indeed a fast day for the jews as well - it is called YOM KIPPUR - but it is not to celebrate the exodus (that's passover which is the 15 of the seventh month). Yom Kippur is a fast day when there is time to rethink all of the sins done in the whole year.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_Kippur
Oh, and one more thing - unlike the muslim calendar the jewish calender is fixed in it's place and does not move around the seasons - which means YOM KIPPUR is always around september-october.
1. The Message of the Qur'an by Muhammad Asad is a fantastic translation.
2. I was raised Christian and converted to Islam when I was 25. I grew up reading and re-reading the stories in the Old Testament, and have a deep affinity for Jews and their rich history, beautiful traditions, and thrilling stories. I think that interfaith dialogue and valuing diversity is incumbent on all of us as "spiritual" people.
Anonymous: Some analysts have suggested that in that very year Kippur and Ashura would've overlapped - which would explain why the Jews of Medina were fasting on that day - until someone pointed out, like you did yourself, that this fast isn't about the Exodus!
On books and translations - the problem with Quran translations is that they try very hard to stick to the wording of the original in Arabic - and it can become very tenuous to read in a foreign language (and the figures of speech make little sense, the rhymes are lost, etc..)
The Message of the Quran I haven't read - but will surely follow the recommendation. Thank you for the suggestion, Q!
The 'Ashura'
Mu’awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan (Radiyallahu 'anh) relates: I heard the Messenger of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) say: "It is the day of ‘Ashura. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) has not made fasting obligatory for you. But I am fasting. He who likes to observe fast among you should do so, and he who likes not to observe it (does not have to) observe it." [Sahih Muslim]
Abu Qatada (Radiyallahu 'anh) relates that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said that the fast on the 10th of Muharram atones for the sins of the preceding year. [Sahih Muslim]
Abu Huraira (Radiyallahu 'anh) reports that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said that after Ramadan, the fasts of Muharram have the greatest excellence. [Sahih Muslim]
Alhamdulillah, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) has blessed us to see another year. The first month of this year is Muharram. In this month is an excellent day—the day of ‘Ashura—which falls on the 10th of Muharram. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) recommended that we fast on this day, by his Sunnah. He also indicated how we should observe the fast of ‘Ashura.
Hakam ibn Al-Arat (Radiyallahu 'anh) relates: I went to Ibn Abbas (Radiyallahu 'anh)… I said to him: Tell me about fasting on ‘Ashura. He said, "When you seen the new moon of Muharram count the (days) and (begin to) observe fast on the 9th." I said to him: "Is it how the Holy Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) observed the fast?" He said, "Yes." [Sahih Muslim]
Hazrat Ibn Abbas (Radiyallahu 'anh) relates that when the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said: "If I survive till next year, I will definitely observe fast on the 9th of Muharram (as well)." [Sahih Muslim]
(Note: What the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) meant was that he would also fast on the 9th as well as the 10th to which he was accustomed. We also should try fasting on the 9th and the 10th of Muharram.)
Hazrat Ibn Abbas (Radiyallahu 'anh) reports that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) arrived in Madinah and found the Jews observing fast on the day of ‘Ashura… They said: "It is the day of great (significance) when Allah delivered Hazrat Musa ('Alaihis-Salaam) and his people and drowned Pharoah and his people, and Sayyidina Musa ('Alaihis-Salaam) observed fast out of gratitude. And we also observe it." The Holy Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) responded: "We have more right, and we have closer connection with Sayyidina Musa ('Alaihis-Salaam) than you have"; so Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) observed fast (on the day of ‘Ashura) and gave us orders to observe it. [Sahih Bukhari and Muslim]
http://www.jannah.org/qurantrans/
http://www.sacred-texts.com/isl/quran/index.html
http://site.dukandar.com/books/quran-yusufalicha2.html
http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/quran/
Thank you, Adirai, for the precisions and the hadiths!
Going through your article, I came to the conclusion, that the H. Prophet (P) saw the Jews fasting and ordered the Muslims to follow the same, right? How is it possible for the H. Prophet (P) to go against the command of Allah and follow the path of the Jews? Allah (S) has clearly mentioned in the H. Qur'an …And if you follow their (Jews & Christians) desires after the knowledge that has come to you, you shall have no guardian from Allah, nor any helper. (2:120).
And if you meant to say that H. Prophet (P) directed the Muslims to fast on the 10th of Muharram because the life of Prophet Moses (P) was miraculously saved, then obviously he would have commanded his followers to fast on all those days on which the life of other Prophets were miraculously saved and today every Muslim would have fasted on the day of Eid-uz-Zuha, because on this very day the life of Prophet Ismail (P) was miraculously saved but we find that fasting on the day of Eid is haraam (forbidden). How can a sunnah of H. Prophet (P) becomes haraam?
And if Prophet used to give order on such following of Jews & christian then we should have more such cases of fasting & ritual whey they used to do.. And Islam would be a copy-cat of other religion.
Also the tradition mentioned by Adirai, truely contradicts with the tradition above. In the incident the Holy porphet is ordering to fast on this day but the tradition by Muwaiya says...whoever likes should fast it.
Mu’awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan (Radiyallahu 'anh) relates: I heard the Messenger of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) say: "It is the day of ‘Ashura. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) has not made fasting obligatory for you. But I am fasting. He who likes to observe fast among you should do so, and he who likes not to observe it (does not have to) observe it." [Sahih Muslim]
All these are weak traditions which totally contraditcs with Quran & Islam.
Hi, MoralandEthics,
I'm not sure where you're going with this, but it seems to me you may be mixing a number of things here.
Well, let's start by agreeing on this:
وما ينطق عن الهوى إن هو إلا وحي يوحي
"Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only a Revelation revealed"
(Al-Najm, 3&4)
As such, it's not a question of "following the path of the Jews". the Prophet wouldn't have suggested a fast if, essentially, it wasn't a divine suggestion. (Since Gabriel was acting as the hotline with God, effectively). The verse you cite - 2-120, from Al-baqara - is more for us than it is for the Prophet, and clearly does not apply here.
- "then obviously he would have commanded his followers to fast on all those days on which..."
What makes it so 'obvious'? There is no reason really. Furthermore, indeed, we do not fast on Eid-ul-Adha. Better: it's a holiday. One of only two days of feast. We feed the poor, hold special prayers, greet our friends. It's a day of rejoicing and partying. Fasting is just the low-key celebration. :)
- "How can a sunnah of H. Prophet (P) becomes haraam?"
Fasting on Eid day was never a sunnah to begin with.
- "then we should have more such cases of fasting & ritual whey(??) they used to do"
Again, that's your own assumption.
- A sunnah by definition is not obligatory. Therefore, if you choose not to follow it, it's your prerogative.
One day, a new Muslim went to the prophet, and said: "Prophet, I will follow your religion, I will do my prayers, I will fast Ramadan. I will do the basic furudh (obligations), refrain from what is forbidden, but not an inch more". And left. To that the Prophet said: "if he does what he says, he shall go to heaven".
So, fasting Ashura is not a fardh (obligation). It's just highly recommended.
As such, I do not see any of the contradictions you do.
Assalam u Laykum. Till now all the Muslim Scholars have been telling clearly to Fast on Ashura as it expiates the sins of the previous 1 year and they are far greater learned Scholars but this year many Muslims have started to point out that there is no fast of Ashura cause the jews do not fast on the 10th and Ashura means 10th. They say that the jews are telling the muslims thats they never fasted on Ashura. I do not know how this all is possible. I will surely surf the net more and speak to a Scholar for guidance.
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