GIVING GIFTS ON AASHURA DAY

Question:

assalamualaikum Is it a sunnah or mustahab act to give gifts on ashura day and what exactly should we do on this day what are the virtues of this day. shukran

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

The Fast of the Day of Aashura (10th of Muharram)

The 10th of Muharram is a significant day in Islamic History. Rasulullah ﷺ used to fast on this day and commanded the Sahabah (Radhiyallahu Anhum) also to fast. The fast of this day was initially Waajib (compulsory), but the compulsion was waived when the fasts of Ramadhaan were made Fardh. The Muslims then had a choice to either fast on this day or not to fast. However, the virtues of this fast have been expounded in the Ahadith. Among these is the virtue that the previous year’s sins are forgiven.

VIRTUE OF THE FAST

Hadhrat Abu Qataadah (Radhiyallahu Anhu) narrated that Rasulullah said, “I have strong hope that Allah Ta’āla will forgive the previous year’s sins for fasting on the day of Aashura.

The sins referred to here are minor sins. Taubah is required to secure forgiveness for major sins.

The history of this fast stems from the time of Hadhrat Moosa (Alayhis Salaam). Because it was on the day of Aashura that Hadhrat Moosa (Alayhis Salaam) and the Bani Isra’eel were saved from Fir’oun, Hadhrat Moosa (Alayhis Salaam) fasted on this day to express his gratitude to Allah. The Bani Isra’eel also did the same and this day was always regarded as a day of fasting among the Bani Isra’eel. Emulating this practice of the Jews, the Quraysh also fasted on this day. Rasulullah ﷺ also kept this fast (in Makkah). When Rasulullah ﷺ arrived in Madinah, he asked the Jews why they observed this fast. They informed him that they fasted because it was on this day that Allah delivered them from the tyranny of Fir’oun. Rasulullah ﷺ said to them that the Muslims are closer to Hadhrat Moosa (Alayhis Salaam) than they are. Therefore, Rasulullah ﷺ fasted on this day and instructed the Muslims to do so as well.

Although Rasulullah ﷺ initially preferred to do things according to the ways of the Ahlul Kitaab (Jews and Christians) to win them over to Islam, Allah later commanded him to oppose their ways. It was then that Rasulullah ﷺ announced that he would fast on the 9th as well if he lived until the next Muharram. It is because the Jews fast only on the 10th that the Shari’ah regards fasting on the 10th only as a Makruh Tanzihi (disliked) act. Muslims ought to oppose their ways and fast on the 9th as well.

SPENDING FREELY ON ONE’S FAMILY

Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood (Radhiyallahu Anhu) who mentions that Rasulullah ﷺ said:

من وسع على عياله  فى يوم عاشوراء وسع الله عليه السنة كلها

TRANSLATION:

“Allah Ta’āla will grant prosperity throughout the year to the person who spends freely on his family on the day of Aashura.”

Apart from the virtue of fasting on the Day of Aashura, Nabi ﷺ has also encouraged that one should be generous upon one’s family on this auspicious day. It should be additional and special than other days.

“Spending” in its literal sense is general and therefore this could be in cash or kind, foods, drink, or gifts.

For a detailed discussion on Muharram and Aashura – Virtues and Laws – you may refer to this link By Sheikhul Hadith Hadhrat Moulana Fazlur-Rahman Azmi (Daamat Barakaatuhum)

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

[Mufti] Safwaan Ibn Ml Ahmed Ibn Ibrahim

Darul Iftaa
Limbe, Malawi

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

_____________________

الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (6/ 430) – دار الفكر-بيروت
[رد المحتار]
فِي الْحَدِيثِ بِقَوْلِهِ «مَنْ وَسَّعَ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ فِي يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ وَسَّعَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ سَائِرَ سَنَتِهِ» فَأَخَذَ النَّاسُ مِنْهُ أَنْ وَسَّعُوا بِاسْتِعْمَالِ أَنْوَاعٍ مِنْ الْحُبُوبِ، وَهُوَ مِمَّا يَصْدُقُ عَلَيْهِ التَّوْسِعَةُ. وَقَدْ رَأَيْت لِبَعْضِ الْعُلَمَاءِ كَلَامًا حَسَنًا مُحَصَّلُهُ: أَنَّهُ لَا يُقْتَصَرُ فِيهِ عَلَى التَّوْسِعَةِ بِنَوْعٍ وَاحِدٍ بَلْ يَعُمُّهَا فِي الْمَآكِلِ وَالْمَلَابِسِ وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ، وَأَنَّهُ أَحَقُّ مِنْ سَائِرِ الْمَوَاسِمِ بِمَا يُعْمَلُ فِيهَا مِنْ التَّوَسُّعَاتِ الْغَيْرِ الْمَشْرُوعَةِ فِيهَا كَالْأَعْيَادِ وَنَحْوِهَا اهـ

سنن الترمذي ت شاكر (3/ 117) – شركة مكتبة ومطبعة مصطفى البابي الحلبي – مصر)

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدَةَ الضَّبِّيُّ، قَالَا: حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ غَيْلَانَ بْنِ جَرِيرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَعْبَدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ، إِنِّي أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ» وَفِي البَابِ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ صَيْفِيٍّ، وَسَلَمَةَ بْنِ الأَكْوَعِ، وَهِنْدِ بْنِ أَسْمَاءَ، وَابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، وَالرُّبَيِّعِ بِنْتِ مُعَوِّذِ ابْنِ عَفْرَاءَ، وَعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَلَمَةَ الخُزَاعِيِّ، عَنْ عَمِّهِ، وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ. ذَكَرُوا عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ حَثَّ عَلَى صِيَامِ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ: ” لَا نَعْلَمُ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنَ الرِّوَايَاتِ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: «صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ كَفَّارَةُ سَنَةٍ»، إِلَّا فِي حَدِيثِ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، «وَبِحَدِيثِ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، يَقُولُ أَحْمَدُ، وَإِسْحَاقُ

سنن ابن ماجه ت الأرنؤوط (2/ 627) – دار الرسالة العالمية

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدَةَ، أَخبَرنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، حَدّثَنَا غَيْلَانُ بْنُ جَرِيرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَعْبَدٍ الزِّمَّانِي عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ -: “صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ، إِنِّي أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ” (1)

__________

 (1) إسناده صحيح. وأخرجه مسلم (1162)، وأبو داود (2425)، والترمذي (762) من طريق غيلان بن جرير، به. ولفظ مسلم وأبي داود ضمن حديث طويل. وأخرجه النسائي في “الكبرى” (2809 – 2811) و (2813) (2816 – 2820) من طريق حرملة بن إياس- أو إياس بن حرملة، وقيل: أبو حرملة-، و (2815) من طريق عبد الله بن أبي قتادة، و (2812) من طريق مولى لأبي قتادة، و (2814) و (2821) و (2822) من طريق أبي الخليل، كلهم عن أبي قتادة. قلنا: وحرملة بن إياس أخذ الحديث عن مولى لأبي قتادة كما في (2812) فتكون روايته مرسلة كما قال الحافظ العلائي في “جامع التحصيل”. وكذلك رواية أبي الخليل مرسلة لأنه روى الحديث عن أبي حرملة، ولهذا قال الترمذي فيما نقله العلائي في “جامع التحصيل”: لم يسمع من أبي قتادة شيئًا.

Muharram and Aashura – Virtues and Laws – By Sheikhul Hadith Hadhrat Moulana Fazlur-Rahman Azmi (Daamat Barakaatuhum)

اليواقيت الغاليہ (2/5-81) – مجلس دعوۃ الحق

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