Sheikh Abdullah Ayaz Mullanee is a scholar from the Greater Toronto Area. He is passionately involved in several initiatives around Toronto and is regularly invited to speak at youth and community based events. Shaykh Abdullah currently teaches at Khairul Ummah Academy and Mathabah Institute while conducting online classes for Lubab Academy’s Arabic Language program. He is also the editor in chief for ‘Bridging The Gap’, the official magazine for the Canadian Council of Muslim Theologians.
Our lives can be demanding. Between juggling work, education, family and ourselves, our spirituality can often dwindle. Nevertheless, Almighty Allah consistently provides opportunities to recalibrate our focus towards faith and fortify our Iman.
Daily, we are granted the serenity of the night’s final moments where we can forge intimate connections with our Lord. Weekly, Friday presents itself as a day optimized for maximizing our spiritual rewards. Each month, the 13th, 14th, and 15th present an opportunity to fast and rectify our actions. Lastly, annually, we have a calendar replete with spiritual occasions like Ramadan, Dhul Hijjah, Muharram and others in order to periodically increase our efforts.
Many of us are familiar with the spiritual energy generated during Ramadan. However, other sacred months deserve equal reverence. The Prophet (peace be upon him) has told us:
“السَّنَةُ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا، مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ، ثَلاَثَةٌ مُتَوَالِيَاتٌ ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ وَذُو الْحِجَّةِ وَالْمُحَرَّمُ، وَرَجَبُ مُضَرَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ جُمَادَى وَشَعْبَانَ”
“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 (Sahih al-Bukhari: 3197).”
Fasting on the 10th of Muharram
When Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived in Medina, he observed the Jewish community fasting on the Tenth of Muharram. Upon inquiring, he was told that they are fasting in order to commemorate the day in which Allah Almighty saved Musa (upon him be peace) from the Pharoah and his armies. Upon hearing this, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) remarked:
“ أَنْتُمْ أَحَقُّ بِمُوسَى مِنْهُمْ، فَصُومُوا ”.
“You (the Muslims) have more of a right over Musa, so observe the fast on this day (Sahih al-Bukhari: 4680).”
In other narrations he expressed:
“ أَنَا أَوْلَى بِمُوسَى مِنْهُمْ “
“I am closer to Musa than they are (Sahih al-Bukhari: 3397).”
The best month after Ramadan to fast:
Fasting on the tenth of Muharram, known as the day of Ashura, holds significant prominence within Islam. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) told us:
“أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ صِيَامِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ”
“The best of fasts after the fast of Ramadan, is that of Allah’s month, Muharram (Tirmidhi: 752).”
Forgiveness of sins:
Our beloved Prophet was asked about these fasts and he said:
” يُكَفِّرُ السَّنَةَ الْمَاضِيَةَ ”
“[It] removes the sins of the previous year (Sahih Muslim: 1162b).”
In a narration of Tirmidhi, he conveyed:
“صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ إِنِّي أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ”
“[as for the] Fast of the Day of Ashura, Indeed I anticipate that Allah will forgive (the sins of) the year before it (Jami’ al-Tirmidhi: 752).”
Imam Tirmidhi asserts under this hadith that this is the only sound tradition he know about a year’s sins being forgiven by the fast of Ashura.
It’s worth noting, though, that such Hadith typically refer to the absolution of minor sins. For major sins, a personal generally has to make Tawbah. However, if Allah Almighty choses to forgive a person’s major sins through His grace, He has every right to do so.
Spending on family:
Spending on one’s dependents and family on the day of Ashura is recommended. In a narration of Shu’ab al-Iman, we find the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saying,
«من وسع على عياله وأهله يوم عاشوراء وسع الله عليه سائر سنته».
“Who ever spends more on his dependents and family on the day of Ashura, Allah will give him more for the rest of the year (Shu’ab al-Iman: 3794).”
Imam Bahyaqi comments under this Hadith, ” Although these narrations may be weak, when they are combined, they gain strength. And Allah knows best.”[1]
Conclusion:
The month of Muharram and the day of Ashura are opportunities for us all to avail. This life will one day cease, but the rewards of such deeds will remain with us eternally.
[1] More serious students of knowledge should consider the words of Imam Sakhawi in al-Maqasid al-Hasana
حَدِيث: مَنْ وَسَّعَ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ فِي يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ وَسَّعَ اللَّه عَلَيْهِ السَّنَةَ كُلَّهَا، الطبراني في الشعب وفضائل الأوقات، وأبو الشيخ عن ابن مسعود، والأولان فقط عن أبي سعيد، والثاني فقط في الشعب عن جابر وأبي هريرة، وقال: إن أسانيده كلها ضعيفة، ولكن إذا ضم بعضها إلى بعض أفاد قوة، بل قال العراقي في أماليه: لحديث أبي هريرة طرق، صحح بعضها ابن ناصر الحافظ، وأورده ابن الجوزي في الموضوعات من طريق سليمان ابن أبي عبد اللَّه عنه، وقال: سليمان مجهول، وسليمان ذكره ابن حبان في الثقات فالحديث حسن على رأيه، قال: وله طريق عن جابر على شرط مسلم، أخرجها ابن عبد البر في الاستذكار من رواية أبي الزبير عنه، وهي أصح طرقه، ورواه هو والدارقطني في الأفراد بسند جيد، عن عمر موقوفا عليه، والبيهقي في الشعب من جهة محمد بن المنتشر، قال: كان يقال، فذكره، قال: وقد جمعت طرقه في جزء، قلت: واستدرك عليه شيخنا رحمه الله كثيرا لم يذكره، وتعقب اعتماد ابن الجوزي في الموضوعات، قول العقيلي في هيصم بن شداخ راوي حديث ابن مسعود: إنه مجهول بقوله بل ذكره ابن حبان في الثقات والضعفاء
Sheikh Abdullah Ayaz Mullanee is a scholar from the Greater Toronto Area. He is passionately involved in several initiatives around Toronto and is regularly invited to speak at youth and community based events. Shaykh Abdullah currently teaches at Khairul Ummah Academy and Mathabah Institute while conducting online classes for Lubab Academy’s Arabic Language program. He is also the editor in chief for ‘Bridging The Gap’, the official magazine for the Canadian Council of Muslim Theologians.