Sending
Prayers to the Philippines!
Let us send our prayers of safety
and love to our global family in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Yolanda, one
of strongest storms ever, heads for central Philippines. To our friends in the
Philippines, you do not stand alone and to recite the universal message of
peace. May Peace be in the Philippines,
May Peace Prevail on Earth?
In the name of Allah, We
praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides
none can misguide, and who-ever He allows falling astray, none can guide them
aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no
prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we
bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His
Messengers.
The month of Muharram is
the first month of the Islamic Hijrah calendar. Muharram is
also one of the four ‘haraam’ or sacred months as mentioned by Allah in the
Holy Quran. The other sacred months are Dhil-Qada,
Dhil-Hajja and Rajab. Even the pagans of Makkah
used to respect these months before the advent of Islam, and they would not
fight wars or do any hostilities in these sacred months.
Allah says in the Holy Quran
Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 36: The fact is that the number of months ordained
by Allah has been twelve since the time He created the heavens and the earth,
and out of these, four are forbidden months. This is the right code of
reckoning, therefore, do not wrong yourselves by violating these months.
It has been reported in an
authentic narration that somebody asked the Prophet (saws): “Which prayer is
the best after the obligatory prayers?” He (saws) said: “Prayer during the middle of the
night.” The person asked: “Which fast
is the best after the fast of Rarnadan?” He (saws) said, “The month of Allah that you call Muharram.”
It has been reported in an
authentic narration that when the Prophet came to Madinah and found the Jews
fasting on the day of 'Ashurah’. He asked them: “What is this fast?” They said: “A great day. Allah saved Moses and the tribes of
Israel from their enemies on this day and therefore, Moses fasted on this
day.” The Prophet (saws) said: “We (muslims) have
more of a right to Moses than you,” so he fasted on that day also and ordered
the people to fast on that day.
The Messenger of Allah (saws)
fasted on the day of 'Ashurah and ordered the people to fast on it. The people
said: “O Messenger of Allah, it is a day that the Jews and Christians
honor.” The Prophet (saws) said, “When the following
year comes--Allah willing--we shall fast on the ninth (of Muharram
also).” The death of the Prophet came
before the following year."
It has also been reported,
amongst many other narrations, that the 10th of Muharram was the day when Adam (a.s.) and Hawwa met on this
earth on the plains of Arafat. It has
also been reported that it was this day of Aashura that the ark of Noah reached
its destination or embarked on Mount Judi. It has also been reported that Prophet Ayub (a.s.) was cured of
his diseases on this day of Aashura. It has also been reported that Prophet
Yunus (a.s.) was forgiven by Allah and released from the stomach of the fish on
this day of Aashura.
The month of Muharram and
especially the day of Aashura marks a very sorry, sad, and painful day in the
history of Islam. It was on this day of Aashura that the grandson of our
beloved Messenger of Allah (saws), Imam Hussain ibn Ali (r.a.)
and his family were ruthlessly martyred on the fields of Karbala. This was one
of the darkest days in the annuls of Islamic history, and every muslim, no
matter what sect of Islam he claims to belong to, should feel pain and sorrow
in his heart.
But Allah and His
Messenger (saws) did not allow us to do ‘matam’ or physically beat ourselves,
and wail over our martyrs. The Messenger of Allah (saws)
said in an authentic narration that: “He is not a believer who wails, beats
himself, and tears his clothes, when afflicted by a calamity.” Every
muslim should feel the pain and sorrow in his heart, and pray to Allah to grant
all the martyrs of Karbala the highest honor in Paradise, on the Day of
Judgment.
But to spend the day of
Aashura in waling and beating ourselves is not a part of the deen of Islam. Some sects have huge gatherings, where they
recite the stories with extra ingredients, and wail and cry and beat themselves
in frenzy! These acts have absolutely no place in Islam,
and are nothing but innovations. Allah will
reward the martyrs of Karbala for their deeds, and Allah will punish the
murderers for their deeds, and Allah will not ask us about their deeds:
Allah says in the Holy Quran
Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 134: They were
a people who passed away. They shall receive the reward
of what they earned and you shall have the reward of what you will
earn. And you will not be questioned
as to what they did.
The above aayah is one of
the principles of Islam. Allah will reward each and everyone for their deeds,
and we will not be asked about the deeds of others.
Thus, it is not a part of
Islam to beat ourselves and wail for any calamity that might have befallen us
or on anybody we love. Allah is sufficient
to account for the good deeds as well as the bad deeds on the Day of Judgment. But if we wail, cry and beat ourselves
physically, to please some of the martyrs of Karbala, or anybody else other
than Allah, hoping that these martyrs will recognize and appreciate our efforts
on the Day of Judgement, then this becomes more than following an innovation;
it becomes ‘shirk’, and ‘shirk’ is an abomination of a sin!
And Allah Alone Knows
Best, and He is the Only Source of Strength.
May Allah guide us to the
Straight Path of Islam?
May Allah guide you and us all
to the Siraat al-Mustaqeem
Whatever written of Truth
and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of
error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only
Source of Strength.
Your brother and well
wisher in Islam,
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