The Specialties of Muharram and `Ashura

In the name of Allah the Most Merciful the Most Compassionate,

Our beloved Maulana Sheikh Nazim (qs) fasted today Jan 19, Friday as it's the end of the year and beginning of the first month of the Islamic calendar; Muharram is the first month of the lunar calendar and is one of the four sacred months.

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]

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 tenth 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."... so Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu `alayhi wa allam) observed fast (on the day of `Ashura) and gave us orders to observe it. [Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim]

`Ashura is a day of great historical significance. On this day:
Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) accepted the repentance of Sayyidina Adam ('Alaihis-Salaam) after his exile from Paradise; Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) saved Sayyidina Nuh ('Alaihis-Salaam) and his companions in the ark; Allah extinguished the fire in which Sayyidina Ibrahim ('Alaihis-Salaam) was thrown by Nimrod; And Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) spoke directly to Sayyidina Musa ('Alaihis-Salaam) and gave him the Commandments. On this same 10th of Muharram, Sayyidina Ayyub ('Alaihis-Salaam) was restored to health (from leprosy); Sayyidina Yusuf ('Alaihis-Salaam) was reunited with his father Ya'qub ('Alaihis-Salaam) ; Sayyidina Yunus ('Alaihis-Salaam) was taken out from the belly of the fish; and the sea was divided as the nation of israel was delivered from captivity and Pharoah's army was destroyed. `Ashura is also the day when Sayyidina Dawud ('Alaihis-Salaam) was forgiven; the kingdom of Sulaiman ('Alaihis-Salaam) was restored; Sayyidina Isa ('Alaihis-Salaam) was raised to Jannah and Sayyidina al-Husayn (Radiyallahu 'anh) (the Holy Prophet's, Sallallahu `alayhi wa Sallam, grandson) achieved the honor of Martyrdom.1

Worship Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) as much as you can on `Ashura.
Whoever fasts on this day is like one who fasts all his life. Whoever clothes a naked person Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) will release him from a painful punishment. He who visits a sick person, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) will grant him a reward that will not be decreased. Whoever places his hand on an orphan's head, or feeds a hungry person or gives water to a thirsty man, Allah will feed him a feast from Paradise and will quench his thirst with Salsabil (a wine that does not intoxicate). And who ever takes a Ghusl on this day will enjoy excellent health and freedom from sickness and indolence. Whoever provides generously for his family on this day, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) will be generous to him throughout this year. And whoever applies Kuhl to his eyes will never suffer from eye-sore again, inSha'Allah al-Aziz.2

O' Allah! Bless us to perform good deeds and gain their reward
on `Ashura. Make the new year one of unity, cooperation and success
for Muslims in this city and around the world. Ameen.

1. These are mentioned as what scholars have determined as the specialties of that day in Ghunya li-Talibi Tariq al-Haqq, Sayyidina
Abdul Qadir al-Jilani.
2. These specialties are mentioned in Ghunya li-Talibi Tariq al-
Haqq, Sayyidina Abdul Qadir al-Jilani.

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1. Narrated from Ibn al-'Abbas r.a. that the Prophet s.a.w. said, "Whoever fasts the last day of Dhul Hijjah and the first day of Muharram, he completes a whole year's worth of fasting in that previous year, and Allah gives him penance for fifty [50] years."[1]

[1]Meaning, fast two [2] days: last day of Dhul Hijjah + first day of Muharram = complete year's fasting and penance for 50 years.

2. Narrated from Anas r.a. that the Prophet s.a.w. said, "Whoever fasts the first Friday of Muharram Allah will forgive his preceding sins[2], and whoever fasts three days of Muharram - Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Allah will write for him worship and prayers for nine hundred [900] years."[3]

[2]Meaning, fast first Friday [one day's worth] = preceding sins forgiven.
[3]Fast three [3] days [Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of any week in Muharram] = 900 yrs worship.

3. Narrated from 'A`ishah Umm al-Mu'minin r.a. that the Prophet s.a.w. said, "Whoever fasts the first ten days up till 'Ashura, he will inherit the Paradise al-Firdaus." [4]

[4] Meaning, fast first ten [10] days = get Jannat al-Firdaus.

4. Fasting of 'Ashura is Sunnah Mu`akkadah, that which is highly desired. When the Prophet s.a.w. saw the Jews of Madinah fasting on that day, he asked them for what it was. They told him it was the day Musa a.s. led the Bani Isra`il from Pharaoh. ...So he fasted that day and ordered for its observance. This was part of a longer narration from 'A`ishah r.a.

5. In another Hadith the Prophet s.a.w. said, "Distinguish yourselves from them by fasting either the day before 'Ashura or the day after it as well."[7]

6 The Prophet said, "Whoever fasts the 'Ashura, Allah will write for him a thousand [1000] wishes and a thousand years of age[5], and will grant him the reward of a thousand martyrs, and will write for him the reward of Isma`il a.s., and writes for him seventy [70] palaces in paradise, and makes his flesh forbidden from the hellfire."

[5]Meaning, fast on 'Ashura = Allah grants 1000 wishes and writes for you an age of a 1000 yrs in worship.

7. In another Hadith the Prophet s.a.w. said, "Whoever fasts the 'Ashura, he will be granted the reward of a thousand angels. And whoever recites "Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad" a thousand [1000] times on the day of 'Ashura[6], Allah will glance at him with the Eyes of Mercy, and will write him from
amongst the Siddiqqin [The Truthful]."

[6] You may read it 1000 times in succession at any time of the Day of 'Ashura, or pray 100 sunnah rak'at, reciting 10 times Al-Ikhlas after the Fatihah in each rak'ah.

[7] Apart from fasting 'Ashura which is the 10th of Muharram, fast also on either the 9th or the 11th.

8. Whoever prays in 'Ashura four [4] sunnah rak'at on the day of 'Ashura, where after the Fatihah in each rak'ah recites "Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad" eleven [11] times[8], Allah will forgive his sins of fifty years, and will build for him a pulpit from light. And whoever takes the sunnah shower on 'Ashura he will not suffer sickness in that year except the illness of death, and whoever wears the Kuhl on his eyes on 'Ashura he will not suffer sickness on that year.

[8] This is usually done during time of Duha on the day of 'Ashura. Make intention to pray 4 rak'at (like Zuhr, 'Asr, and 'Isha prayer with 1 salam) Sunnah Yaum al-'Ashura. After the Fatihah in each rak'ah, recite Al-Ikhlas 11 times. Alhamdulillah, I did with Mawlana Shaykh Nazim and the murids in Lefke before.

9. Du'a of 'Ashura: Recite "Hasbun Allahu wa ni'mal wakil, ni'mal Maula wa ni'man Nasir" [70 x], and recite: "Hasbun Allahu mil-al Mizan wa muntaha-l 'ilma, wa mablaghal rida, wa zinatul 'arsh, la malja-a wa la manja min Allahi illa ilaihi. Subhan Allahi 'adada-sh-shaf` i wal 'arshi, wa 'adada kalimati Rabbina-t taammati kulliha. As-aluka-s Salamata bi Rahmatika Ya Arham Ar-Rahimin, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billahil 'Aliyyil 'Azhim. Wa huwa hasbii wa ni'mal wakil, ni'mal Mawla wa ni'man Nasir. Wa Sallallahu 'ala Sayyidina Muhammadin wa 'ala alihi wa sahbihi ajma'in." [7 x].

10. About an hour before the Adhan for Maghrib towards 'Ashura, sit facing the Qiblah and finish the daily Adab of Tariqah. And then make Tawassul with Sayyidina al-Husayn and the martyrs of Karbala[9], where on that day they died Shahid with Sayyidina al-Husayn and those who were with him, may Allah's favours be upon them. After breaking your fast dedicate the blessings and rewards of your fast and daily Awrad upon the Prophet s.a.w. for the oceans secrets that lie open on the 14th of Muharram.

[9] Make also Tawassul to the Prophet s.a.w. and the Mashayikh of the Naqshbandi Tariqah, and then to Sayyidina al-Husayn and the Shuhada of Karbala. The names of the Shuhada of Karbala that is used to be recited is in the Futuhat.

11. Muharram is also a month of great importance to Naqshbandi. Our Master and Imam of the Tariqah Shah Naqshband q.s. was born on the 14th of this month[10]. It is thus important and most desired that the Ahl of the Tariqah congregate on the eve of this holy day for Khatm and Dhikr, and read the Mawlid al-Nabi s.a.w. in dedication to Mawlana Shah Naqshband, and also reading excerpts from his saintly life.

[10] It is hence of utmost importance that we must hold a Haul of Shah Naqshband on that evening.

12. It is a tradition and practice of Mawlana Sultan al-Awliya' Shaykh 'Abdullah al-Daghistani q.s. to make Qurban of two sheep on the day of 'Ashura and distribute the meat to the poor and needy to the members of the Tariqah. He also did this on the birthday of Shah Naqshband q.s.

from Al-Futuhat al-Haqqaniyyah by Shaykh 'Adnan Kabbani

translated by brother Abdul Shakur Al-Rahhab
with edit by Naqshbandi staff