Aadam and the Day of Aashura

Ask our children:

1. How many months are there in the Islamic calendar, and what are their names?
2. How many months have special virtue and importance, and which are these months?
3. Which day is the Day of Aashura and what is the importance of this day?
4. What should we do on the Day of Aashura?

Now tell them the story:

Aadam walked into madrasah, two minutes before class would start, and sat next to his friend, Haaroon. Haaroon was excited and said to him, “Assalaamu Alaikum! Did you hear Aadam? The moon was sighted last night! Muharram has started!”

Just then, Moulana walked into the classroom. Moulana heard what Haaroon had mentioned and said, “Yes! You are right Haaroon! The moon was sighted last night! That means that today is not only the beginning of a new Islamic month, but is also the beginning of a new Islamic year, because Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar!”

Moulana then called the whole class around his desk and asked them, “Children! Who can tell me how many months are in the Islamic calendar?” Little Muhammed put his hand up and said, “I know Moulana! Twelve months! January, February…” Moulana corrected Muhammed and said, “There are twelve months in the Islamic calendar – but they are not January and February. Those are the months of the English calendar.”

Ruwaidah put her hand up and said, “I know Moulana! The twelve months are: Muharram, Safar, Rabee’-ul-Awwal, Rabee’-ul-Aakhir, Jumaadaa Oola, Jumaadaa Ukhra, Rajab, Sha’baan, Ramadhaan, Shawwaal, Zul Qa’dah and Zul Hijjah!” Moulana was happy and said, “Masha Allah Ruwaidah! You got the answer right!”

Then, Moulana said, “From all the months in the Islamic calendar, the greatest month is Ramadhaan. However, besides Ramadhaan, there are four special months which have more importance and virtue than the other months.  Allah Ta‘ala mentions these four great months in the Quraan Majeed. In these months, if any person does a good deed, he will receive even more reward than at other times, and if someone does a sin in these special months, then the sin will also be more. Who knows which months are the four special months?”

Saying this, Moulana looked around the classroom, but all the students were silent. None of them knew the answer! Finally, Moulana told them the answer. He said, “The four special months are: Muharram, Rajab, Zul Qa’dah and Zul Hijjah. The month which we have just started now is the month of Muharram. The month of Muharram is such a special month that it is the only month that is called ‘Shahrullah’ – the month of Allah Ta‘ala. One of the special virtues of Muharram is that if any person keeps a nafl fast on any day during this great month, then he will receive the reward of fasting for one entire month!”

When Moulana said this, Aadam’s eyes became big and he thought to himself, “Wow! One whole month’s reward for fasting just one day! I MUST make sure that I fast at least one day this month!”

Moulana then said to the students, “There is a special day found in the month of Muharram. Who knows what this day is, and why it is special?” Little Muhammed put his hand up again and said, “I know Moulana! The special day is Aashura! On the Day of Aashura, we fast, and then my mummy makes my favourite food, like crispy samoosas, spicy bhajias, saucy roast chicken, and home-made ice cream, and my father gives me nice presents!”

Moulana said, “Yes, it is the Day of Aashura which is the 10^th of Muharram. Now, let me tell you children about the Day of Aashura. The Day of Aashura is such a special day, that even before Islam, the Quraish in Makkah Mukarramah would fast on the Day of Aashura. Before performing hijrah and moving to Madinah Munawwarah, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would also fast on the Day of Aashura.

“After Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) made hijrah and came to Madinah Munawwarah, Allah Ta‘ala commanded Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) to fast on the Day of Aashura and made this fast fardh. Later on, when fasting in the month of Ramadhaan became fardh, then this fast of Aashura became Sunnah.

“Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) loved fasting on the Day of Aashura so much that after the fasts of Ramadhaan, it was this fast of Aashura that he looked forward to the most. The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) also loved to fast on this day, and even their children would fast on the Day of Aashura.

“When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) came to Madinah Munawwarah, he saw that the Jews were also fasting on this day. When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) asked the Jews why they were fasting on this day, they said to him, ‘We are fasting on this day because this is the day when Allah Ta‘ala had saved Nabi Musa (‘alaihis salaam) and the Bani Israa’eel from Fir’aun who was chasing them and wanted to kill them!’

“Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) never liked his ummah to resemble the Jews and Christians in any way. Since the Jews were fasting on the Day of Aashura, which is the 10^th, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) told the ummah that to be different from the Jews, we should not fast for only one day, like them. Rather, we should fast for two days! We should fast on the 9^th and 10^th, or on the 10^th and the 11^th.”

Moulana next asked the children, “Tell me, what is the reward for fasting on the Day of Aashura?” Ruwaidah again answered and said, “I know Moulana! The reward for fasting on Aashura is that Allah Ta‘ala will forgive one year’s sins of the fasting person!”

Aadam and his friend Haaroon were already planning the two days when they were going to fast. When everyone was going to get so much of reward through fasting, they did not want to be left out!

Just then, Ruwaidah asked, “Moulana! We understood what you said about Aashura and the reward for fasting, but why do our parents feed us special food and give us presents and gifts on this day?” Moulana replied, “Good question Ruwaidah! The reason is that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) told the ummah that if a person is generous and spends on his family on the Day of Aashura, then Allah Ta‘ala will bless him with barakah for the entire year!”

Now the children understood the importance of the month of Muharram and the great Day of Aashura, and they knew what they needed to do at this time. They all decided that they would keep the two fasts of Aashura to get the great rewards that Allah Ta‘ala had promised us.

Lessons:

1. There are twelve months in the Islamic calendar. They are: Muharram, Safar, Rabee’-ul-Awwal, Rabee’-ul-Aakhir, Jumaadaa Oola, Jumaadaa Ukhra, Rajab, Sha’baan, Ramadhaan, Shawwaal, Zul Qa’dah and Zul Hijjah.
2. The greatest month in the Islamic calendar is the month of Ramadhaan. After Ramadhaan, there are four great months that have special virtue and importance. These four months are: Muharram, Rajab, Zul Qa’dah and Zul Hijjah.
3. The Day of Aashura is the 10^th of Muharram. It is a special day because it is the day when Allah Ta‘ala had saved Nabi Musa (‘alaihis salaam) and the Bani Israa’eel from Fir’aun.
4. On the occasion of Aashura, we must try to keep two fasts. We must either fast on the 9^th and 10^th, or the 10^th and 11^th. Fathers should also spend generously on their families on the Day of Aashura. If they do so, Allah Ta‘ala will bless them with barakah for the whole year.