Islam's Green

Salvation in Kochi

In mid May (how time flies) I made a short trip to India to attend and speak at an exhibition there organised by Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen. Now I must admit that I was rather concerned about the mujahideen part, and was beginning to think that I had inadvertently accepted an invitation from some extremist entity, or perhaps they were a throw back to days of resistance to the British Empire! When I arrived after a thirteen hour flight at Kochiairport and was met by the brothers there it was one of the first questions I asked on the forty five minute drive from the airport to the hotel Abad Plazain the the town centre. I was reassured with a laugh. The term was meant in the broadest sense, and that they worked with the full co-operation of the Indian government. When the organisation was established in 1950 they had to fight a sea of ignorance, mostly with in the Muslim community. Apart from the call to worship Allah alone, and to abandon the shirk of grave and saint worship, they had to combat the prevalent attitude that women should not be educated. In fact according to "Imams" of that time, they did not even allow women to read the Quran! They spearheaded the education of Muslims in Kerela, which now has one of the most educated Muslim populations in India.

Kochi is the commercial hub of the state of Kerela, but not the capital. That honour goes to Thiruvananthapuram. Kerela itself is pitched as a tourist destination, and certainly if tropical humidity and palm trees is your thing, this might be the place to go, not that I had the time or energy to explore much. The exhibition itself was was very similar in concept and layout to the Peace exhibition in Chenia and Bombay, however the emphasis here was on the lectures. Also staying in hotel was Hussein Ye and two brothers from a dawa centre in Bahrain which whom I spent most of my time.

The exhibition was massive and very well attended. On Sunday the queue to get into it was two and a half kilometers long! My two llectures where not so well attended. One was on the Seerah of the Prophet and the other on Dawa.

There were occasional moments of confusion as I was shuttled back and forth to the hotel, but on Saturday we had some time free whilst waiting for my lecture, so we took the car for a quick drive round the city. Our driver was a Christian named, and decided that he would take us to a local Catholic shrine. When I told him that I used to be Catholic he became some what subdued. He told the brothers with me that he had no idea, but it was the start of some conversations that took place as we drove back and forth from the hotel to the exhibition. He asked a very intelligent question: "What is faith?" I was momentarily taken aback by this, and was not expecting it in the least, but was in fact delighted by it, because it allowed me to get to the very heart of the discussion straight away.

This is of course a very important matter that many people involved in discussions about different religions, and indeed with atheists ignore. You see what Jude (the driver) and I understood by faith was something quite different. I explained that for a Muslim, for someone who was Muslim by conviction rather than fate of birth, faith meant believing something quite believable with proof. That there is a Creator, and God is One and Unique, is entirely rational and believable. That the Quran is word of God and that Mohammed is the Prophet is also something that can be established through some objective evidences. Through this we can have faith that is truth. Jude's understanding of faith was somewhat different. It meant to believe in something completely without question, or doubt. That was fine, I responded, but how do you know your faith is true, what criterion or means do you use to know that your faith is right and another wrong? The discussion went back and forth through translation, and became quite animated. Jude could only keep affirming his faith, and I just kept going back to the point, but how did he know?

We we soon arrived at the hotel and he had to go, but Ahmed Shaz, the translator between us, phoned me later in the hotel room saying that Jude wanted to talk to me and he was going to convert me back to Catholicism!

Well, we met in the hotel lobby that evening and had a long discussion. It emerged that he and his wife had been trying for a child for many years and then one day he prayed to Jesus and then his wife conceived. This is what his faith was based upon. Well of course I said that that was fantastic, but the problem here was what did it really prove, because a Muslim or Hindu might, and in fact do claim exactly the same type of experience. So who is right?

Then I explained about the Oneness of Allah. Why this and this alone had to be the basis of faith. That faith should be reasoned this way, and how the idea that Jesus is God contradicts this basis by asking one to believe an impossibility, that something is Eternal and mortal, finite and infinite, needy and sufficient both at the same time.

Well he didn't take shahada, but we certainly left on good terms, and he admitted that he had a lot to think about!

 

Really scary Americans!

Just keep watching this until the end.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=gtwKRM1fOFY

The Cursed Generation

I found the article below under the title of "The cursed generation."

It is amazing how much we are still rooted in our past, despite the elightenment and the industrial revolution and the pretence of democracy, we still seem to live in a version of feudalism. Certainly the great land owners and feudal lords have had their powers whilted away, but it has only become possible through decreasing dependance on agriculture. There was a time when most people in the West were serfs. A serf was in everything but name a slave, tied to the land and his or her fuedal Lord. Their life was spent working and indeed fighting on behalf of the feudal Lord.  The land could never produce enough to free them selves from the dept to the Lord, and indeed in time of trouble he was the only recourse they had. Thus they became more and more indepted and tied to the master. The indusrial revolution saw serfdome replaced by something perhaps even more permicious, the mill and factory worker. For them the company owner became the new, master. The wages they earned was often not enough to pay for accomadation and food, and an increasing dept cycle enslaved them to the factory. This method of control is of course still going on in third world sweat shop facories. Perhpas we thought that we had escaped such control. It seems not. These days a knew variation of the feudal Lord has taken over. The Bank!

All praise is due to Allah who has warned us and kept us away from riba and all its derivatives, and from dept and its snares. May He guide us to a live a life within our means, and upon gratitiude to Him, the Exhailted.

read these verses if you like:

"Those who eat Riba (usury) will not stand (on the Day of Resurrection) except like the standing of a person beaten by Shaitan (Satan) leading him to insanity. That is because they say: "Trading is only like Riba (usury)," whereas Allah has permitted trading and forbidden Riba (usury). So whosoever receives an admonition from his Lord and stops eating Riba (usury) shall not be punished for the past; his case is for Allah (to judge); but whoever returns [to Riba (usury)], such are the dwellers of the Fire - they will abide therein.

Allah will deprive usury of all blessing, but will give increase for deeds of charity: For He loveth not creatures ungrateful and wicked."  Quran 2:275-6

Worse off than ever before

By Naomi Caine

June 10 2008

With our fast cars, handheld computers and digital television sets, it's easy to feel better off than the previous generation. But there's more to prosperity than electrical goods - and in many ways today's 30 and 40-somethings are worse off than their parents.

A quick glance at house prices helps you understand why. Property values have soared by 171% over the past 10 years. The average house now costs £191,556, up from £70,696 a decade ago. It's a lot of money on any measure, but especially when you consider that wages have not kept pace, rising an average of 50% over 10 years.

High price for family homes
High house prices put the squeeze on family finances. The typical house now costs more than six times the typical salary, according to figures from the Halifax. If you look back a generation, the average property was worth about 2.8 times the average earnings.

If you earn below the average income, it's a struggle. More than 70% of towns are unaffordable to key sector workers. First-time buyers are also finding it hard to get onto the housing ladder. The average house is now beyond the financial reach of a first-time buyer in 466 out of 483 towns in the UK. No wonder the number of first-time buyers fell to about 300,000 in 2007 - the lowest level since 1980 and a 44% drop on 2002's figure of 532,000.

Mortgage slaves
Soaring house prices equal big mortgages. So people in their 30s and 40s are slaves to their home loan. And that makes them slaves to their jobs. But the job market has changed over the past 25 years. Unemployment is thankfully low at below 800,000, a drop of 125,000 over the past year.

But we don't enjoy the same occupational certainty as our parents, many of whom took a job for life. Nowadays we work on the edge, where short-term contracts, freelancing and part-time work are the norm. The lack of job certainty makes us financially precarious. It also means that many of us must forgo the comfort of sick pay, holiday pay and maternity benefits.

Few final salary schemes
We can't even look forward to a decent pension when we retire. Our parents are probably the last generation to enjoy the gold standard of pensions - a final salary scheme. Only about a third of final salary schemes are now open to new members, a figure that is expected to decline. So, our pension won't be linked to our earnings and underwritten by our employers. No, we will have to rely on the stock market to fund our old age.

That's if we bother saving into a pension. More than half of adults don't contribute to any kind of pension, according to the Prudential 2008 Retirement Savings Report. People who choose to save, have halved their contributions over the past 12 months to an average of £144.57 a month.

Inflation issues
If that were not bad enough, it's getting harder to make ends meet because prices are rising. The government's official rate of inflation jumped to 3% in April and is expected to stay above the target of 2% for at least the next two years.

The driving forces behind the rising inflation rate are higher energy and food costs. Wholesale gas prices, for example, have more than doubled since the middle of 2007, prompting the big energy companies to announce gas and electricity price hikes at the beginning of the year. Then there's food. World agricultural prices rose by more than 40% in the year to January 2008. Over the past 12 months, average prices for bread, biscuits and cereals have shot up 8.5%, an all-time record.

Higher taxes
Bigger tax bills don't help. The typical council tax bill, for example, has risen more than 90% over the past decade. In fact, total tax receipts have almost doubled over the past ten years from £289 billion in 2006-07, when Labour came to power, to £520 billion in the last tax year. The increase in the tax take means that families on average paid £5,600 more in tax in real terms in 2007-8 compared with 1996-7, according to figures from the Institute of Fiscal Studies.

What's our solution to our financial problems? We borrow money to make ends meet. So, we take out a bigger mortgage to unlock some of the equity in our home. We run an overdraft, arrange a personal loan or spend on a credit card. We even turn to our parents for help. More than 10 million adult children have "sapped" their parents' savings, according to a report from Scottish Widows. The average amount given by parents to their offspring is £12,300, causing a total savings sap of £55 billion.

Debt mountain
It all adds up to the biggest debt mountain on record. It also adds up to a whole lot of trouble for the next generation. If we have big debts but little or no savings, what's left for our children? How can we give them a financial leg up if we are already on our knees? And they might need our help.

We have lived through an economic boom. But the storm clouds are gathering. The credit crunch dragged growth down to 0.4% in the first three months of the year, the slowest pace for three years, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. The annual growth rate is now about 2.5%, compared with 2.8% in the last three months of 2007.

Official Treasury forecasts suggest the economy will grow by between 1.75% and 2.25% this year. But its predictions are more optimistic than those of most economists. The Bank of England predicts annual growth could drop to as low as 1% over the next two years.

It could get very bloody if house prices continue to fall and unemployment starts to rise.

No legacy worth having
It's not much of a legacy is it? It seems our children will pay the price for our debt-fuelled consumer spending spree. But if they won't inherit any wealth from their cash-strapped parents, at least they might inherit a more responsible attitude to money. Let's hope so, for all our sakes.

Shahada

by Fatima Barkatulla

www.muslimmotherhood.blogspot.com

Brother ARG I have to tell you about this because I've learnt many da'wah points of wisdom from you and other Du'at:

The message of the Prophet reaches another heart:

Ma sha Allah a few weeks ago in Birmingham I had the opportunity by the grace of Allah to take a sister's Shahadah. It was the first time somebody repeated the Shahadah after me and so I found it very moving as I had been making du'a that Allah would give me that chance. It went something like this (I've called her 'D'):

D had been told that she could attend the tarbiyah programme to get to know more about Muslims, so she was sitting in the tarbiyah programme hall and had been observing us teaching salaah, wudhu and recitation of Suratul Fatiha with Tajweed. Then after my talk I was walking past her when it looked like she wanted to say something. So I went over to her and asked her if all was OK.
"How are you finding it?"
"Good...yeah....er...I just wanted to ask you what a person has to do to become a Muslim."
"Oh." I said, "you think you might like to?"
"Well, I don't really know how to do anything and I don't know if I could do it all..."
"Well you know, it takes time and slowly slowly you learn more everyday and do more. You can't be expected to do everything all at once or know everything all at once. Look at us....even we are still learning." I said. She nodded. "So look, do you believe that there is only One God and He alone deserves to be worshipped?"
"Yeah" she said...she had been reading and learning and she was definitely sure about that one.
"OK, and do you know about the Prophet Muhammad?"
"Well, I've read about him"
"OK, so are you convinced that he was a Prophet of God. The last messenger?
"Yes."
"You accept that?" I was getting excited by now!
"Yes."
"Then you are already a Muslim. You just need to declare it so that you acknowledge it to God and to us Muslims. That's the Shahadah, you're testifying that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah, the One and Only God and that Muhammad is the messenger of God." She nodded sweetly. "So, D, are you ready? You don't have to do it on the microphone or anything."
A pause.
"The most important thing now is to declare what you believe. So that you'll be counted as a Believer. Because we don't know what could happen to any one of us when we walk out of this place tonight. May Allah protect us but we don't know when death will come."
She looked down, nodding and then raised her head and said "Yeah. I'm ready."
Then I sat down next to her. Some sisters had figured out something big was going on and had begun to congregate around us. Some sat next to her.
"Could you explain what I have to say first."
"Yeah. You say Ash hadu Allaa ilaaha illallah. Wa Ash hadu anna muhammadan rasoolullah. Which means, I bear witness or I testify that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah. And I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. OK?" She nodded. "What was your religion before this?" I asked.
"Nothing" she said. I'd asked her, to make sure that if she had been a Christian, that she definitely believed that Jesus was a Prophet and not the son of God. Sometimes Christians find that concept hard to let go of, but in her case it wasn't an issue.
"OK so repeat after me. We'll say it in Arabic and then in English."
Then she repeated the Shahadah after me in Arabic. In the middle of it I couldn't stop the tears flowing and had to stop for a moment to gather myself. I found it so moving at that moment to feel that the message of the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had indeed reached so far, over the world and that we, in the middle of Rum (Rome as the Arab's called Europe at that time) were sitting here taking a persons declaration of faith in the message that that kind shepherd, the orphan who became the leader and liberator of Arabia had come with (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) How truly momentous each and every Shahadah is. It reminds me of the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam at his farewell pilgrimage when he was so careful to ask the people gathered at Arafah "Have I conveyed the message?" And they replied in unison "Yes!" And he said to Allah "Oh Allah bear witness!"

And in this Hadeeth: One day when the Prophet returned from a journey and went to Fatima’s house, Fatima welcomed him and kissed his face, his mouth and his eyes and wept. “Why do you cry?” the Prophet asked. “I see you, O Rasul Allah,” she said, “Your colour is pale and sallow and your clothes have become worn and shabby.” “O Fatima,” the Prophet replied tenderly, “don’t cry for Allah has sent your father with a mission which He would cause to affect every house on the face of the earth whether it be in towns, villages or tents (in the desert) bringing either glory or humiliation until this mission is fulfilled just as night (inevitably) comes.”

How I wished I could tell the Prophet how far his message had come! "Yes! Oh Prophet of Allah...you indeed conveyed the message! The whole world testifies!"

Then she completed repeating the Shahadah after me in Arabic and then in English. By now a large crowd of sisters had gathered around us. All silently observing this miracle. The miracle of Hidaayah or guidance. How Allah turns a person towards Him and guides them and makes them into our Sisters and Brothers in Islam. The sisters embraced her and called out Takbeers. One sister who had embraced Islam just a few months earlier said to her "You've made the right decision sister. You won't regret it!"
I encouraged the sisters not to allow this to be the end of their love and enthusiasm for this sister. That is was our responsibility to open up our homes, to really make this sister a member of our families.

Some responsible sisters took on the role of being mentor to her and exchanged email addresses and phone numbers. We emphasised Salah to her (even just doing the actions and reciting some basic things like Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah and Allahu Akbar during salah until she learns it properly and keeping away from Major sins....insha Allah over time, by keeping to Salah she will become stronger and do more and more.

I felt like it was the best day of my life so far and when I got home I did Sajdah of Thanks to Allah.

The Journey to Allah

 

 

For those of us who are castrated by the lack of adequate Arabic, we'll have to keep relying on translators to bring us ilm in a language we can understand. We are fortunate to have a vast range of materials available to us in the English language, some of which is so badly translated that it might as well have stayed in Arabic, or is so verbose that one needs a dictionary at hand to make head or tail of it, but on the other hand we have the likes of Abu Rumaysah who's translations of some of the works of ibn Rajab al Hanbali strike a nice balance between academic propriety, the poetic and comprehensible. There is whole series published by Daar us Sunnah, but I am referring here to a most valuable treaties called "The Journey to Allah".

The book begins with four hadith that bear somewhat the same meaning, and the rest of the treatise could be looked at as an explanation of those invaluable words of guidance from the Prophet saws.

The hadith reminds us of what ibn Rajab calls "the great principle", and the first five chapters of the book deal with "the great principle" and how to understand and apply it. "The great principle" is that our deeds are not enough to save us from hell fire or attain paradise. What is of upmost importance is our humility and seeking forgiveness of Allah and our being grateful to Him. So this is the path that we should tread on our journey to Him, the exalted. The deeds that are most beloved to Allah are those done continuously, even if they are few, and we should be steadfast, balanced and through moderation we will reach our goal.

Bukhari records on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet saws said "This religion is easy, none makes it hard upon himself except that it overwhelms him; therefore be firm, steadfast, and balanced; upon which have glad tidings! Seek help in this by journeying to Allah at the beginning of the day, at the end of the day, and portion of the latter part of the night."

This is a hadith that needs to be expounded from every minbar and talked about in every gathering, because the destructive effects of the madness that is sold by some as deen these days is in danger of consuming us all!

The book was a personal timely reminder for myself at a time when my exertions in travelling a dawa had begun to take a server toll on me, and I was feeling very "burnt out". The danger at this stage is that one can easily abandon the good that one was upon, where as the solution lies in adopting a balance approach from the outset.

The final chapters talk about the excellence of drawing close to Allah and the types of reaching Him, in this life and the next, with a warning of those things that can destroy our deeds and leave us in poverty on the inevitable day we meet our Lord.

This is a book to be read and re-read, remembered and acted upon. A veritable treasure in a mere 70 pages!

Palestinain Film Festival

Not that I'll have time to go, but it looks great.

http://www.palestinefilm.org/2008/

Go, encourage others to go, because if Ken is out and Boris in because we didn't bother to vote I'm not sure we'll be having many more of these!

Also check this out and tell me what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqbQWxHIn4

I found it very emotional. Stragely enough a brother sent it to me as proof of Islamophobia, which we can't deny yet I saw it more as a hope for justice and truth!

Us and Them

 

I've just decided to start reading the Hobbit. I had a go a while back whilst in my late teens when I was ploughing my way through books and trying to read all the classics, but I never got beyond the first page. I'm not sure why, because it is indeed delightful.

I'm not really sure I have time to read such books, and I probably shouldn't. Rather I should engage myself in some more profound activity. Perhaps that's why I've put the book down and opened my laptop and decided to pen some words about a thought that came to me whilst reading about the dwarves and Gandolf coming for tea sitting down and having a merry time. Bilbo is asking if they will all stay for supper, and I'm thinking "It's time to pray asr!"

And there is it! No, not beginning a new paragraph with "and", but there it is: them and us. The Kaffir, the Muslim, the difference. You see it's clear that Hobbits are very hospitable creatures, which indeed is a noble trait that Tolkien attributes to his imaginary creatures, but so were the pagan Arabs, ever hospitable indeed, in fact legendarily hospitable. In fact you will find virtually every nation and group of people has some worthy characteristic or another, but this is difference between the believer and the infidel; prayer. Not just the occasional prayer, mind you, like those who cry out only in times of trouble but regular like clockwork five times a day, just a part of my normal everyday life because it is the centre of my life prayer. It the type of prayer that breaks up every part of the day and directs it toward the Mighty King of all creation, and imbibes the love and worship and fear of Him in one's life. It's the type of prayer that makes life centred around Him, since knowing Him is the very purpose of existence, and the one who knows Him understands that our willing servitude, our praising and asking Him is beloved to Him, and through that we become His beloved and His "awliya".

Now if we Muslims hate adventure like Hobbits hate it because it disturbs the regularity of their suppers, we would be like that because it disrupts our prayers, and regular reading of the Quran and attending the masjid, because as a Hobbits joy is in food and ease ours is in prayer and worship. This is the gulf between them and us. A gulf about what we love and why, what we do and why.

Google Mail - Be The Change - Support IFEES to Support Planet Earth

BE THE CHANGE - SUPPORT IFEES TO SUPPORT PLANET EARTH
http://www.justgiving.com/ecoislam
“Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what
the hands of humankind have earned. So that (Allah) may
give them a taste of some of their actions, in order that
they may turn back to Him.” Qur’an, 30:41
We are all more than aware of the unprecedented damage that
has been caused to the earth through selfish human behavior.
Climate Change, pollution, deforestation, poisoned food chains
and social upheaval are now part of our daily diet of news.
Ecosystems are in crisis in many parts of the Muslim world.
“The creation of the heavens and the earth is far greater
than the creation of mankind. But most of mankind do not
know it.” Qur’an, 40:56
SO HERE’S THE CHALLENGE!
“It is He who has appointed you as viceroys in the earth.”
Qur’an, 6:165
Allah has described mankind as His Guardians on earth. It is
therefore our responsibility to take care of other creatures
and the earth itself. Yet how many of us take these duties
seriously as an integral part of our way of life?
IFEES’ CONSERVATION WORK IS BASED ON QUR’AN AND SHARIAH DERIVED PRINCIPLES
Support IFEES to continue raising the importance of this issue
through the production of educational literature and also designing
training programmes and campaigns. Your support will also help us
to set up a global network of Muslim environmentalists and boost
our project work from Aceh to Zanzibar.
HELP US TO RAISE £20,000 TO CARRY THIS WORK FORWARD.
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It
is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: The Islamic Foundation
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SO PLEASE SUPPORT US NOW AND THANK YOU.
To donate please goto www.justgiving.com/ecoislam
Wassalaam 'alaikum wa rahmatullaah.
- Islamic Foundation for Ecology
and Environmental Sciences (IFEES)

Laax Flims, Crap and Snotribe

 

Figure 1 view from top of "baby park" 

 

What's that all about? Don't you mean Films and lax? Green misspelling again. As for the crap bit, well I've said it before and I'll say it again, but actually I don't mean crap as in poo. No siree. Crap in this case is German for peak, as in the peak of the mountain. Laax/Flims is the name of a ski resort in Switzerland The views from the top are simply some of the most stunning I have ever seen in the Alps. There are couple of mountains that look like some lopsided snow covered Toblerones. Snotribe, well that's the name of a freestyle ski tour group who we decided to let take control of our skiing and churn us out as top notch experts.

Why am I writing about this? Well in part to big Snotribe up. If you want to go skiing I really recommend going with these guys. Not only is the package superb value for money, the guys who run it are really top guys. They love the sport. and I mean love it with dedication, and that comes through with everything they do. They are also superchilled. Now I know this may sound corny, and I've no idea how they did it, but they actually said my name with like no problems! It sort of crossed my mind that they might of rehearsed it!  Anyway, the competence of these guys in pronouncing my name was not a snitch on the competence that these guys displayed on the slopes, or more specifically "the park." Now these guys can ski and board the whole mountain, but freestyle is their speciality.

 

Figure 2 Andy Bennett and Chris 

Now perhaps a little explanation is in order here for the uninitiated, as I was somewhat before this trip. Well, not entirely uninitiated to tell the truth. In fact I have visited "parks" before, but in truth my "sessions" were pretty feeble.

A "park" is a place on the mountain where you find various features that freestylers pull tricks off, like rails (as in staircase rails) that skiers and boarders slide down. It takes awesome balance and skill. Two of the kids in our group cracked their wrists on the beginner's version of it, a small table top, yes as in the top of table, which you also slide down, sideways, or even backwards. Then there are the jumps, which range from a few feet to 30 plus. Then there is the half pipe. At least I can say after a couple of weeks with freestyle school under the expert tuition of Andy Bennett I feel much more at ease in the park. I pulled a few 180's, even though it needs some refinement, and managed a basic pop and turn on the half pipe. Actually, we should say Uber pipe, because the Laxx/Flims pipe is massive. Scary big, and all 110kg of me took a tumble from the top. Not nice. Anyway readers will probably be thinking "serves you right, act your age not your shoe size, bla de bla!" It's about right really, since that average age of your top pro freestyler is 16. Anyway, Andy Bennett is formerly UK's top freestyler. He used to be 15 in the world and it the best freestyler the UK has ever produced. He now coaches the UK freestyle team, a few of whom we saw pulling tricks on the pipe, to which he would throw some advice every now and then. The UK freestyle scene all started in Sheffield, which is not surprising since its one of the few, or maybe only dry slope half pipe in the UK. 

Me and me mate Imran had some adrenalin pumping race on the four-cross track, which he's been begging me to blog, mostly because he won, through sheer guts and glory and practically pulling me out of the way, which was not intentional, but rather because he was so out of control he was trying to hold on to me to keep balance. Not amusing at speed over all sorts of mad jumps and bumps! Anyway, I let him lead all the way because I knew I could take him on the chicanes, and did within sight of the finish line, but Imran was having none of it and in a act of madness and desperation flew over the last triple bumps to victory. I must add that he refused a rematch!

Anyway, I don't want to get all anthropological, but it was just cool to be involved (however commercially) with a whole culture, and watching ski movies takes on a different dimension of appreciation when you begin to realise just how hard it is to pull even basic versions of the stunts and tricks that these guys seem to pull so effortlessly.

The kids also had an amazing time, which is the main thing, but alhamdulillah, I'm still ahead of the game with them. Just!

 

Figure 3 me in the pipe

Imran 180

Above two photos taken by Ric Hutchings   http://www.rickhutchings.com/

 

Benfits of Muharam and the day of Ashura and warnings against some innovations practiced in it.

I received this email and thought I would post it, may Allah bless the author. Of special benefit to me is a fatwa from Sheikul-Islam ibnul Taymiyya about the Naasibi's who display hatred to Al Husayn and his family by making the day of Ashura like an eid.
Last year I was invited to a certain University during Muharram in order to give a lecture about the Wives of the Prophet, and the purpose was to refute some of the false allegations and wrong ideas the Shia have about Aisha and Ahl Bayt.
Some of the Shia who attended complained to me that on the Day of Ashura the I Soc had been distributing sweets, and this was very offensive to them since it was a day of mourning for them due to the murder of Imam Husayn (raa) on that day. Although I told them that no Muslim could or would celebrate such an event, the sister assured me that in Iraq people did this on purpose just to antagonise the Shia.
When I confronted the I Soc they said that their intention was only to distribute some packets for those where fasting that day! How easy to misunderstand each other and to cause unnecessary offense! May Allah guide us all to path of His good pleasure.

Praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets and Chief of the Messengers, and upon all his family and companions.

 

Allaah’s sacred month of Muharram is a blessed and important month. It is the first month of the Hijri calendar and is one of the four sacred months concerning which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“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. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein…” [al-Tawbah 9:36]

Abu Bakrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The year is twelve months of which four are sacred, the three consecutive months of Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab Mudar which comes between Jumaada and Sha’baan.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 2958).

Muharram is so called because it is a sacred (muharram) month and to confirm its sanctity. Allaah’s words (interpretation of the meaning): “...so wrong not yourselves therein…” mean do not wrong yourselves in these sacred months, because sin in these months is worse than in other months. It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas said that this phrase (...so wrong not yourselves therein…) referred to all the months, then these four were singled out and made sacred, so that sin in these months is more serious and good deeds bring a greater reward.

Qutaadah said concerning this phrase (...so wrong not yourselves therein…) that wrongdoing during the sacred months is more serious and more sinful that wrongdoing at any other time. Wrongdoing at any time is a serious matter, but Allaah gives more weight to whichever of His commands He will. Allaah has chosen certain ones of His creation. He has chosen from among the angels Messengers and from among mankind Messengers. He chose from among speech the remembrance of Him (dhikr). He chose from among the earth the mosques, from among the months Ramadaan and the sacred months, from among the days Friday and from among the nights Laylat al-Qadr, so venerate that which Allaah has told us to venerate. People of understanding and wisdom venerate the things that Allaah has told us to venerate. (Summarized from the Tafseer of Ibn Katheer, may Allaah have mercy on him. Tafseer of Surat al-Tawbah, aayah 36).

 

The Virtue of observing more naafil fasts during Muharram

Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘The best of fasting after Ramadaan is fasting Allaah’s month of Muharram.’ ” (reported by Muslim, 1982).

 

The phrase “Allaah’s month”, connecting the name of the month to the name of Allaah in a genitive grammatical structure, signifies the importance of the month. Al-Qaari said: “The apparent meaning is all of the month of Muharram.” But it was proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) never fasted any whole month apart from Ramadan, so this hadeeth is probably meant to encourage increasing one’s fasting during Muharram, without meaning that one should fast for the entire month.

It was reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast more in Sha’baan. It is likely that the virtue of Muharram was not revealed to him until the end of his life, before he was able to fast during this month. (Sharh al-Nawawi ‘ala Saheeh Muslim).

 

Allaah chooses whatever times and places He wills

Al-‘Izz ibn ‘Abd al-Salaam (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Times and places may be given preferred status in two ways, either temporal or religious/spiritual. With regard to the latter, this is because Allaah bestows His generosity on His slaves at those times or in those places, by giving a greater reward for deeds done, such as giving a greater reward for fasting in Ramadaan than for fasting at all other times, and also on the day of ‘Aashooraa’, the virtue of which is due to Allaah’s generosity and kindness towards His slaves on that day…” (Qawaa’id al-Ahkaam, 1/38).

 

‘Aashooraa’ in History

Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came to Madeenah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of ‘Aashooraa’. He said, ‘What is this?’ They said, ‘This is a righteous day, it is the day when Allaah saved the Children of Israel from their enemies, so Moosa fasted on this day.’ He said, ‘We have more right to Moosa than you,’ so he fasted on that day and commanded [the Muslims] to fast on that day.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 1865). “This is a righteous day” – in a report narrated by Muslim, [the Jews said:] “This is a great day, on which Allaah saved Moosa and his people, and drowned Pharaoh and his people.” “Moosa fasted on this day” – a report narrated by Muslim adds: “… in thanksgiving to Allaah, so we fast on this day.” According to a report narrated by al-Bukhaari: “… so we fast on this day to venerate it.” A version narrated by Imaam Ahmad adds: “This is the day on which the Ark settled on Mount Joodi, so Nooh fasted this day in thanksgiving.” “and commanded [the Muslims] to fast on that day” – according to another report also narrated by al-Bukhaari: “He said to his Companions: ‘You have more right to Moosa than they do, so fast on that day.' ” 

 

The practice of fasting on ‘Aashooraa’ was known even in the days of Jaahiliyyah, before the Prophet’s mission. It was reported that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “The people of Jaahiliyyah used to fast on that day…”

 

Al-Qurtubi said: “Perhaps Quraysh used to fast on that day on the basis of some past law, such as that of Ibraaheem, upon whom be peace.”

It was also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast on ‘Aashooraa’ in Makkah, before he migrated to Madeenah. When he migrated to Madeenah, he found the Jews celebrating this day, so he asked them why, and they replied as described in the hadeeth quoted above. He commanded the Muslims to be different from the Jews, who took it as a festival, as was reported in the hadeeth of Abu Moosa (may Allaah be pleased with him), who said: “The Jews used to take the day of ‘Aashooraa’ as a festival [according to a report narrated by Muslim: the day of ‘Aashooraa’ was venerated by the Jews, who took it as a festival. According to another report also narrated by Muslim: the people of Khaybar (the Jews) used to take it as a festival and their women would wear their jewellery and symbols on that day]. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘So you [Muslims] should fast on that day.’ ” (Reported by al-Bukhaari). Apparently the motive for commanding the Muslims to fast on this day was the desire to be different from the Jews, so that the Muslims would fast when the Jews did not, because people do not fast on a day of celebration. (Summarized from the words of al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar – may Allaah have mercy on him – in Fath al-Baari Sharh ‘ala Saheeh al-Bukhaari).

 

Fasting on ‘Aashooraa’ was a gradual step in the process of introducing fasting as a prescribed obligation in Islam. Fasting appeared in three forms. When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came to Madeenah, he told the Muslims to fast on three days of every month and on the day of ‘Aashooraa’, then Allaah made fasting obligatory when He said (interpretation of the meaning): “… observing the fasting is prescribed for you…” [al-Baqarah 2:183] (Ahkaam al-Qur’aan by al-Jassas, part 1).

 

The obligation was transferred from the fast of ‘Aashooraa’ to the fast of Ramadaan, and this one of the proofs in the field of Usool al-Fiqh that it is possible to abrogate a lighter duty in favour of a heavier duty.

Before the obligation of fasting ‘Aashooraa’ was abrogated, fasting on this day was obligatory, as can be seen from the clear command to observe this fast. Then it was further confirmed later on, then reaffirmed by making it a general command addressed to everybody, and once again by instructing mothers not to breastfeed their infants during this fast. It was reported from Ibn Mas’ood that when fasting Ramadaan was made obligatory, the obligation to fast ‘Aashooraa’ was lifted, i.e., it was no longer obligatory to fast on this day, but it is still desirable (mustahabb).

 

The virtues of fasting ‘Aashooraa’

Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with them both) said: “I never saw the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) so keen to fast any day and give it priority over any other than this day, the day of ‘Aashooraa’, and this month, meaning Ramadaan.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 1867).

 

The meaning of his being keen was that he intended to fast on that day in the hope of earning the reward for doing so. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “For fasting the day of ‘Aashooraa’, I hope that Allaah will accept it as expiation for the year that went before.” (Reported by Muslim, 1976). This is from the bounty of Allaah towards us: for fasting one day He gives us expiation for the sins of a whole year. And Allaah is the Owner of Great Bounty.

 

Which day is ‘Aashooraa’?

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “ ‘Aashooraa’ and Taasoo’aa’ are two elongated names [the vowels are elongated] as is stated in books on the Arabic language. Our companions said: ‘Aashooraa’ is the tenth day of Muharram and Taasoo’aa’ is the ninth day. This is our opinion, and that of the majority of scholars. This is the apparent meaning of the ahaadeeth and is what we understand from the general wording. It is also what is usually understood by scholars of the language.” (al-Majmoo’)

‘Aashooraa’ is an Islamic name that was not known at the time of Jaahiliyyah. (Kashshaaf al-Qinaa’, part 2, Sawm Muharram).

Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “ ‘Aashooraa’ is the tenth day of Muharram. This is the opinion of Sa’eed ibn al-Musayyib and al-Hasan. It was what was reported by Ibn ‘Abbaas, who said: ‘The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded us to fast ‘Aashooraa’, the tenth day of Muharram.’” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, who said, a saheeh hasan hadeeth). It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: ‘The ninth,’ and reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast the ninth. (Reported by Muslim). ‘Ataa’ reported that he said, ‘Fast the ninth and the tenth, and do not be like the Jews.’ If this is understood, we can say on this basis that it is mustahabb (encouraged) to fast on the ninth and the tenth, for that reason. This is what Ahmad said, and it is the opinion of Ishaaq.”

 

It is mustahabb (encouraged) to fast Taasoo’aa’ with ‘Aashooraa’

‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with them both) said: “When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) fasted on ‘Aashooraa’ and commanded the Muslims to fast as well, they said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, it is a day that is venerated by the Jews and Christians.’ The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, ‘If I live to see the next year, in sha Allaah, we will fast on the ninth day too.’ But it so happened that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) passed away before the next year came.” (Reported by Muslim, 1916).

 

Al-Shaafa'i and his companions, Ahmad, Ishaaq and others said: “It is mustahabb to fast on both the ninth and tenth days, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) fasted on the tenth, and intended to fast on the ninth.”

 

On this basis it may be said that there are varying degrees of fasting ‘Aashooraa’, the least of which is to fast only on the tenth and the best of which is to fast the ninth as well. The more one fasts in Muharram, the better it is.

 

The reason why it is mustahabb to fast on Taasoo’aa’

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The scholars – our companions and others – mentioned several reasons why it is mustahabb to fast on Taasoo’aa’:

1. the intention behind it is to be different from the Jews, who only venerate the tenth day. This opinion was reported from Ibn ‘Abbaas… 
2. the intention is to add another day’s fast to ‘Aashooraa’. This is akin to the prohibition on fasting a Friday by itself, as was mentioned by al-Khattaabi and others.
3. To be on the safe side and make sure that one fasts on the tenth, in case there is some error in sighting the crescent moon at the beginning of Muharram and the ninth is in fact the tenth.” 

The strongest of these reasons is being different from the People of the Book. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade imitating the People of the Book in many ahaadeeth, for example, his words concerning ‘Aashooraa’: ‘If I live until the next year, I will certainly fast on the ninth day.’” (al-Fataawa al-Kubra, part 6, Sadd al-Dharaa’i’ al-Mufdiyah ila’l-Mahaarim )

 

Ibn Hajar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said in his commentary on the hadeeth “If I live until the next year, I will certainly fast on the ninth day” and “What he meant by fasting on the ninth day was probably not that he would limit himself to that day, but would add it to the tenth, either to be on the safe side or to be different from the Jews and Christians, which is more likely. This is also what we can understand from some of the reports narrated by Muslim.” (Fath, 4/245).

 

Ruling on fasting only on the day of ‘Aashooraa’

Shaykh al-Islam said: “Fasting on the day of ‘Aashoraa’ is an expiation for a year, and it is not makrooh to fast only that day…” (al-Fataawa al-Kubra, part 5). In Tuhfat al-Muhtaaj by Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, it says: “There is nothing wrong with fasting only on ‘Aashooraa’.” (part 3, Baab Sawm al-Tatawwu’).

 

Fasting on ‘Aashooraa’ even if it is a Saturday or a Friday

Al-Tahhaawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) allowed us to fast on ‘Aashooraa’ and urged us to do so. He did not say that if it falls on a Saturday we should not fast. This is evidence that all days of the week are included in this. In our view – and Allaah knows best – it could be the case that even if this is true (that it is not allowed to fast on Saturdays), it is so that we do not venerate this day and refrain from food, drink and intercourse, as the Jews do. As for the one who fasts on a Saturday without intending to venerate it, and does not do so because the Jews regard it as blessed, then this is not makrooh…” (Mushkil al-Aathaar, part 2, Baab Sawm Yawm al-Sabt).

 

The author of al-Minhaaj said: “ ‘It is disliked (makrooh) to fast on a Friday alone…’ But it is no longer makrooh if you add another day to it, as mentioned in the saheeh report to that effect. A person may fast on a Friday if it coincides with his habitual fast, or he is fasting in fulfilment of a vow, or he is making up an obligatory fast that he has missed, as was stated in a saheeh report.”

 

Al-Shaarih said in Tuhfat al-Muhtaaj: “ ‘If it coincides with his habitual fast’ – i.e., such as if he fasts alternate days, and a day that he fasts happens to be a Friday. ‘ if he is fasting in fulfilment of a vow, etc.” – this also applies to fasting on days prescribed in sharee’ah, such as ‘Aashooraa’ or ‘Arafaah. (Tuhfat al-Muhtaaj, part 3, Baab Sawm al-Tatawwu’)

Al-Bahooti (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “It is makrooh to deliberately single out a Saturday for fasting, because of the hadeeth of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Bishr, who reported from his sister: ‘Do not fast on Saturdays except in the case of obligatory fasts’ (reported by Ahmad with a jayyid isnaad and by al-Haakim, who said: according to the conditions of al-Bukhaari), and because it is a day that is venerated by the Jews, so singling it out for fasting means being like them… except when a Friday or Saturday coincides with a day when Muslims habitually fast, such as when it coincides with the day of ‘Arafaah or the day of ‘Aashooraa’, and a person has the habit of fasting on these days, in which case it is not makrooh, because a person’s habit carries some weight.” (Kashshaaf al-Qinaa’, part 2, Baab Sawm al-Tatawwu’).

 

What should be done if there is confusion about the beginning of the month?

Ahmad said: “If there is confusion about the beginning of the month, one should fast for three days, to be sure of fasting on the ninth and tenth days.” (al-Mughni by Ibn Qudaamah, part 3 – al-Siyaam – Siyaam ‘Aashooraa’).

 

If a person does not know when Muharram began, and he wants to be sure of fasting on the tenth, he should assume that Dhoo’l-Hijjah was thirty days – as is the usual rule – and should fast on the ninth and tenth. Whoever wants to be sure of fasting the ninth as well should fast the eight, ninth and tenth (then if Dhoo’l-Hijjah was twenty-nine days, he can be sure of having fasted Taasoo’aa’ and ‘Aashooraa’).

But given that fasting on ‘Aashooraa’ is mustahabb rather than waajib, people are not commanded to look for the crescent of the new moon of Muharram as they are to do in the case of Ramadaan and Shawwaal.

 

Fasting ‘Aashooraa’ – for what does it offer expiation?

Imaam al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “It expiates for all minor sins, i.e., it brings forgiveness of all sins except major sins.” Then he said (may Allaah have mercy on him): “Fasting the day of ‘Arafaah expiates for two years, and the day of ‘Aashooraa’ expiates for one year. If when a person says ‘Aameen’ it coincides with the ‘Aameen’ of the angels, he will be forgiven all his previous sins… Each one of the things that we have mentioned will bring expiation. If there are minor sins for which expiation is needed, expiation for them will be accepted; if there are no minor sins or major sins, good deeds will be added to his account and he will be raised in status… If he had committed major sins but no minor sins, we hope that his major sins will be reduced.” (al-Majmoo’ Sharh al-Muhadhdhab, part 6, Sawm Yawm ‘Arafaah).

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Tahaarah, salaah, and fasting in Ramadaan, on the day of ‘Arafaah and on ‘Aashooraa’ expiate for minor sins only.” (al-Fataawa al-Kubra, part 5).

 

Not relying too much on the reward for fasting

Some people who are deceived rely too much on things like fasting on ‘Aashooraa’ or the day of ‘Arafaah, to the extent that some of them say, “Fasting on ‘Aashooraa’ will expiate for the sins of the whole year, and fasting on the day of ‘Arafaah will bring extra rewards.” Ibn al-Qayyim said: “This misguided person does not know that fasting in Ramadaan and praying five times a day are much more important than fasting on the day of ‘Arafaah and ‘Aashooraa’, and that they expiate for the sins between one Ramadaan and the next, or between one Friday and the next, so long as one avoids major sins. But they cannot expiate for minor sins unless one also avoids major sins; when the two things are put together, they have the strength to expiate for minor sins. Among those deceived people may be one who thinks that his good deeds are more than his sins, because he does not pay attention to his bad deeds or check on his sins, but if he does a good deed he remembers it and relies on it. This is like the one who seeks Allaah’s forgiveness with his tongue (i.e., by words only), and glorifies Allaah by saying “Subhaan Allaah” one hundred times a day, then he backbites about the Muslims and slanders their honour, and speaks all day long about things that are not pleasing to Allaah. This person is always thinking about the virtues of his tasbeehaat (saying “Subhaan Allaah”) and tahleelaat (saying “Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah”) but he pays no attention to what has been reported concerning those who backbite, tell lies and slander others, or commit other sins of the tongue. They are completely deceived.” (al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah, part 31, Ghuroor).

 

Fasting ‘Aashooraa’ when one still has days to make up from Ramadaan

The fuqahaa’ differed concerning the ruling on observing voluntary fasts before a person has made up days that he or she did not fast in Ramadaan. The Hanafis said that it is permissible to observe voluntary fasts before making up days from Ramadaan, and it is not makrooh to do so, because the missed days do not have to be made up straight away. The Maalikis and Shaafa’is said that it is permissible but is makrooh, because it means that one is delaying something obligatory. Al-Dusooqi said: “It is makrooh to observe a voluntary fast when one still has to make up an obligatory fast, such as a fast in fulfilment of a vow, or a missed obligatory fast, or a fast done as an act of expiation (kafaarah), whether the voluntary fast which is being given priority over an obligatory fast is something confirmed in sharee’ah or not, such as ‘Aashooraa’ and the ninth of Dhoo’l-Hijjah, according to the most correct opinion.” The Hanbalis said that it is haraam to observe a voluntary fast before making up any fasts missed in Ramadaan, and that a voluntary fast in such cases does not count, even if there is plenty of time to make up the obligatory fast. So a person must give priority to the obligatory fasts until he has made them up.. (al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah, part 28, Sawm al-tatawwu’).

Muslims must hasten to make up any missed fasts after Ramadaan, so that they will be able to fast ‘Arafaah and ‘Aashooraa’ without any problem. If a person fasts ‘Arafaah and ‘Aashooraa’ with the intention from the night before of making up for a missed fast, this will be good enough to make up what he has missed, for the bounty of Allaah is great.

 

Bid’ahs common on ‘Aashooraa’

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about the things that people do on ‘Aashooraa’, such as wearing kohl, taking a bath (ghusl), wearing henna, shaking hands with one another, cooking grains (huboob), showing happiness and so on. Was any of this reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in a saheeh hadeeth, or not? If nothing to that effect was reported in a saheeh hadeeth, is doing these things bid’ah, or not? Is there any basis for what the other group do, such as grieving and mourning, going without anything to drink, eulogizing and wailing, reciting in a crazy manner, and rending their garments?

His reply was: ‘Praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds. Nothing to that effect has been reported in any saheeh hadeeth from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or from his Companions. None of the imaams of the Muslims encouraged or recommended such things, neither the four imaams, nor any others. No reliable scholars have narrated anything like this, neither from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), nor from the Sahaabah, nor from the Taabi’een; neither in any saheeh report or in a da’eef (weak) report; neither in the books of Saheeh, nor in al-Sunan, nor in the Musnads. No hadeeth of this nature was known during the best centuries, but some of the later narrators reported ahaadeeth like the one which says, “Whoever puts kohl in his eyes on the day of ‘Aashooraa’ will not suffer from eye disease in that year, and whoever takes a bath (does ghusl) on the day of ‘Aashooraa’ will not get sick in that year,” and so on. They also reported a fabricated hadeeth that is falsely attributed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), which says, “Whoever is generous to his family on the day of ‘Aashooraa’, Allaah will be generous to him for the rest of the year.” Reporting all of this from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is tantamount to lying.’

 

Then he [Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him)] discussed in brief the tribulations that had occurred in the early days of this ummah and the killing of al-Husayn (may Allaah be pleased with him), and what the various sects had done because of this. Then he said:

‘An ignorant, wrongful group – who were either heretics and hypocrites, or misguided and misled – made a show of allegiance to him and the members of his household, so they took the day of ‘Aashooraa’ as a day of mourning and wailing, in which they openly displayed the rituals of jaahiliyyah such as slapping their cheeks and rending their garments, grieving in the manner of the jaahiliyyah…

The Shaytaan made this attractive to those who are misled, so they took the day of ‘Aashooraa’ as an occasion of mourning, when they grieve and wail, recite poems of grief and tell stories filled with lies. Whatever truth there may be in these stories serves no purpose other than the renewal of their grief and sectarian feeling, and the stirring up of hatred and hostility among the Muslims, which they do by cursing those who came before them…

The evil and harm that they do to the Muslims cannot be enumerated by any man, no matter how eloquent he is. Some others – either Naasibis who oppose and have enmity towards al-Husayn and his family or ignorant people who try to fight evil with evil, corruption with corruption, lies with lies and bid’ah with bid’ah – opposed them by fabricating reports in favour of making the day of ‘Aashooraa’ a day of celebration, by wearing kohl and henna, spending money on one's children, cooking special dishes and other things that are done on Eids and special occasions. These people took the day of ‘Aashooraa’ as a festival like Eid, whereas the others took it as a day of mourning. Both are wrong, and both go against the Sunnah, even though the other group (those who take it as a day of mourning) are worse in intention and more ignorant and more plainly wrong…

Neither the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) nor his successors (the khulafa’ al-raashidoon) did any of these things on the day of ‘Aashooraa’, they neither made it a day of mourning nor a day of celebration…

As for the other things, such as cooking special dishes with or without grains, or wearing new clothes, or spending money on one’s family, or buying the year’s supplies on that day, or doing special acts of worship such as special prayers or deliberately slaughtering an animal on that day, or saving some of the meat of the sacrifice to cook with grains, or wearing kohl and henna, or taking a bath (ghusl), or shaking hands with one another, or visiting one another, or visiting the mosques and mashhads (shrines) and so on… all of this is reprehensible bid’ah and is wrong. None of it has anything to do with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or the way of the Khulafa’ al-Raashidoon. It was not approved of by any of the imaams of the Muslims, not Maalik, not al-Thawri, not al-Layth ibn Sa’d, not Abu Haneefah, not al-Oozaa’i, not al-Shaafa'i, not Ahmad ibn Hanbal, not Ishaaq ibn Raahwayh, not any of the imaams and scholars of the Muslims.’ (al-Fataawa al-Kubra by Ibn Taymiyah)

 

Ibn al-Haaj (may Allaah have mercy on him) mentioned that one of the bid’ahs on ‘Aashooraa’ was deliberately paying zakaat on this day, late or early, or slaughtering a chicken just for this occasion, or – in the case of women – using henna. (al-Madkhal, part 1, Yawm ‘Aashooraa’)

We ask Allaah to make us followers of the Sunnah of His Noble Prophet, to make us live in Islam and die in a state of faith. May He help us to do that which He loves and which pleases Him. We ask Him to help us to remember Him and be thankful to Him, to worship Him properly and to accept our good deeds. May He make us of those who are pious and fear Him. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and all his family and companions.