The 10th of Moharram

Text and Translation

The Day of Ashoora

On this day, Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) was martyred. It is indeed the day of the calamitous misfortune and the day of grief for the Holy Imams (a.s.) and their adherents. Thus, the Shi’ah are required to stop earning any worldly benefit, stop storing anything in their houses, and devote themselves to weeping and mourning the misfortunes of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.). They are thus required to hold consolation ceremonies in the same way as they do for their dead sons and relatives. They are also required to visit the holy tomb of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) with the famous form of Ziyarah ([Ziyarat Ashoora](G4)). They are also required to invoke curse upon the enemies and slayers of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) and to express sympathy to each other, saying,

اَعْظَمَ اللهُ اُجُوْرَنَا بِمُصَابِنَا بِالْحُسَيْنِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ

AA’ZAMAL LAAHO OJOORANA BE-MOSAABENAA BIL-HUSAINE A’LAIHIS SALAAMO

May Allah double up our rewards on account of our sorrow for (the martyrdom of) al-Husain, peace be upon him.

وَ جَعَلَنَا وَ اِيَّاكُمْ مِنَ الطَّالِبِيْنَ بِثَارِهٖ

WA JA-A’LANAA WA IYYAAKUM MENAT TAALEBEENA BE-SAAREHI

and may He include you and us with those who shall take revenge upon his killers

مَعَ وَلِيِّهِ الْاِمَامِ الْمَهْدِيِّ مِنَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَامُ

MA-A’ WALIYYEHIL EMAAMIL MAHDIYYE MIN AALE MOHAMMADIN A’LAIHEMUS SALAAM

with his blood-claimer; Imam al-Mahdee, who belongs to the Household of Muhammad, peace be upon them all.

The adherents (Shi’ah) of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) should confer the martyrdom of their Imam and should weep for him. It is narrated that when Prophet Moosa (a.s.) was ordered to meet the Scholar, namely al-Khizr (a.s.), the first matter they discussed was the misfortune that the Household of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) would face. They therefore wept heavily for these misfortunes.

Ibn Abbas is reported to have said, “When I accompanied Imam Ali (a.s.) in Zeeqar, he took out a paper comprising the dictations of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and handwritten by Imam Ali (a.s.) himself. He read some segments of that paper and I heard. It contained the story of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.)’s martyrdom with full details of the way he would be killed, the person who would kill him, those who would support him, and those who would be martyred with him. Imam Ali (a.s.) then wept heavily and caused me to weep.”

There is not enough space in this book to mention a part of the story of Imam al-Husayn’s martyrdom; therefore, the complete story can be seen in the books specified for this respect. These books are called al-maqtal.

At any rate, if one offers water to people on this day at the holy tomb of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.), his reward will be similar to the reward of one who offered water to the companions of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) at Karbala. A great reward is also recorded for one who repeats Surah al-Tawheed one thousand times on this day. It is narrated that Almighty Allah shall have a merciful look at one who repeats this Surah one thousand times on this day.

Sayyed Ibn Taaoos has mentioned a supplicatory prayer similar to Dua al-Ashraat to be said on this day. More specifically, this supplicatory prayer seems to be the same as Dua al-Ashraat but according to another narration.

Shaykh al-Tusi has mentioned that Abdullah ibn Sinan reported from Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) a four unit prayer and a supplicatory prayer to be offered and said at the first hours of this day; but on account of briefness, they will not be cited in this book. They, however, can be seen in the book of Zad al-Ma’d.

The adherents of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) are required not to eat or drink anything on this day, but not in the intention of ritual fasting, and to break this abstention from food and drink with a meal that is usually offered to the unfortunate people, such as yoghurt, milk, or the like meals; and that should be at the last hour of this day after the afternoon time. In other words, they should avoid having rich or delicious meals on this day, for it is a day of misfortune. They are also required to put on clean dresses and to unfasten the buttons and raise their sleeves just like the unfortunate people.

Forgeries of the Enemies of Imam Husayn (a.s.)

In Zaad al-Ma’d, Allamah al-Majlisi says that it is preferable not to observe fasting on the ninth and tenth of Moharram because the Umayyads used to observe fasting on these two days in order to express delight for and to gloat over the martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.). Having seen a good omen in the killing of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.), the Umayyads and their fans fabricated many lies against the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and falsely ascribed to him that he mentioned many merits to be the reward of those who would observe fasting on these two days. On the other hand, the Holy Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.) are reported to have warned against observing fasting on these two days in general and on the tenth of Moharram, the Day of ‘Ashoora’, in particular.

The Umayyads - may Allah curse them - used to store up their annual nutriment in their houses on the tenth of Moharram; accordingly, Imam al-Reza (a.s.) is reported to have said, “If one refrains from arranging for any worldly benefit on the tenth of Moharram, Almighty Allah will grant him all his needs for this world and the world to come. If one considers the tenth of Moharram to be the day of his misfortune, sadness, and weeping, Almighty Allah will make the Resurrection Day the day of his delight and happiness; and he will be delighted by us in Paradise. If one considers the tenth of Moharram to be a blessed day and he thus stores up any annual nutriment on that day, Almighty Allah will not bless that which he stored up and will add him to the gang of Yazeed, Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad, and Umar ibn Sa’d - may Allah curse them all.”

In conclusion, it is required to suspend any worldly activity on this day and to devote oneself to weeping, mourning the martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.), recalling his misfortunes, and ordering one’s family members to hold a consolation ceremony in the same way as one may hold for his dearest people. It is also required to abstain from eating and drinking up to the last hour of the day at which one may break the abstention with a drink of water at least, without intending ritual fasting, since to observe fasting on this day is discommended except in cases of obligatory fasting, such as vow fasting and the like. It is also required not to store up anything in the houses, not to laugh, not to entertain oneself, and not to play. It is recommended, on this day, to invoke Almighty Allah to lay curse on the slayers of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) one thousand times by saying following statement:

اَللّٰهُمَّ الْعَنْ قَتَلَةَ الْحُسَيْنِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ.

ALLAAHUMMAL’AN QATALATAL HUSAYNE A’LAYHIS SALAAMO.

O Allah, curse the killers of al-Husayn, peace be upon him.

The summary of the aforementioned worthy essay of Allamah al-Majlisi is that the reports that are ascribed to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) concerning the merits of the tenth of Moharram, the Day of ‘Ashoora’, are all in all fabricated. This topic has been discussed at length by the author of Shifa al-Sudoor (Ayatullah Mirza Abul Fazl al-Tehrani) at explaining the famous ‘Ziyarat Ashoora’ and, precisely, the statement that reads, “O Allah, verily, the descendants of Umayyah saw a good omen in this day... etc.”

The summary of the author’s explanation is as follows: The Umayyads used to regard this day as good omen and they thus used to do many things on it.

(1) They betook as custom on this day storing up the annual nutriment considering such to achieve happiness, good livelihood, and luxury up to the next year. In order to deny this bad habit, the Holy Imams (a.s.) warned against it in many narrations.

(2) They considered the tenth of Moharram a feast day on which they would commit to the manners of celebration, such as conferring upon the family members with whatever they need, procuring new clothes, having one’s mustache cut, trimming the nails, and shaking hands with each other as well as other norms.

(3) They and their fans have been observing fasting on the tenth of Moharram after they have fabricated numerous traditions entailing the significance of observing fasting on this day.

(4) They and their fans have declared that it is recommended to supplicate Almighty Allah on this day. In order to confirm this forgery, they have invented many merits for this day, included them with fabricated supplications, and taught them to the miscreants of the nation so that they would confuse people and make the matter ambiguous for them. The pro-Umayyad orators used to declare before people that a good event occurred to each Prophet on this day, such as that the fire that Nimrod the tyrannical ruler provoked in order to throw Prophet Abraham (a.s.) there was extinguished on the tenth of Moharram! Firaun who chased Prophet Moosa (a.s.) was drowned on the tenth of Moharram! Prophet Eesaa (a.s.) was saved from crucifixion on the tenth of Moharram! (All these are fabrications that were invented by the Umayyads and their fans in order to cover their crime of slaying Imam al-Husain (a.s.) and in order to make people forget this astounding event.)

Supporting this, Shaykh al-Saduq has reported that Jibillah al-Makkiyyah said that she heard Meesum al-Tammar - may Allah sanctify his soul - saying, “By Allah I swear, this nation will kill the grandson of their Prophet on the tenth of Moharram. The enemies of Allah will betake that day as blessed day. This shall inevitably take place, because it has been already cited in the eternal knowledge of Almighty Allah. I knew these facts from my master and the commander of the believers (namely, Imam Ali ibn Abi-Talib) (a.s.).”

Jibillah (the reporter) then said that she asked Meesum, “How come that the people will betake the day on which al-Husayn (a.s.) will be slain as blessed day?”

As he wept, Meesum answered, “They will fabricate traditions and will falsely claim that Almighty Allah accepted the repentance of Prophet Adam on the tenth of Moharram. The truth about this is that Almighty Allah accepted the repentance of Prophet Adam (a.s.) in Zilhajj. They will falsely claim that Almighty Allah saved Prophet Jonah from the fish that had swallowed him on the tenth of Moharram. The truth about this is that the event was in Zilqad. They will falsely claim that the Ark of Prophet Nooh (a.s.) rested on Mount Judi on the tenth of Moharram. The truth about this is that the Ark rested on the tenth of Zilhajj. They will falsely claim that Almighty Allah split the river for Prophet Moosa (a.s.) to cross on the tenth of Moharram. The truth about this is that the event occurred in Rabee al-Awwal... etc.”

This narration of Meesum al-Tammar has, openly and plainly, confirmed that such traditions were invented and fabricated against the Holy Infallibles (a.s.). It is also one of the signs indicating the true Prophethood of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) and the true Divinely commissioned leadership of the Holy Imams (a.s.). Finally, it acts as one of the proofs on the veracity and honesty of Shi’ism. In this narration, Imam Ali (a.s.) undoubtedly predicted that which we have been experiencing and witnessing, which is the fabrications and the forgery of lies against the Holy Infallibles (a.s.).

Despite all that, the most surprising thing is to notice that some people contrive a supplicatory prayer comprising the aforementioned lies and some unskilled and inexpert writers add such a fabricated supplication to their books that take their way to the publics who will then recite it, although it is surely forbidden to believe in such a false supplication, because it is fabricated. Beginning with statements of praise and glorification of Almighty Allah, this false supplication comprises statements such as “O He Who accepted the repentance of Adam on the Day of Ashoora’! O He Who raised Idris to the heavens on the Day of Ashoora’! O He Who made the Ark of Nooh (a.s.) rest on Mount Judi on the Day of Ashoora’! O He Who saved Abraham from fire on the Day of ‘Ashoora’... etc.”

Undoubtedly, this supplication was invented by the Nasibis (or Nawasib) (Nasibees (or Nawasib) are those who openly declare enmity towards the Ahl al-Bayt and their adherents. Addressing to the Shi’ah, Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) defines a Nasibee as the one who shows enmity to the followers of the Holy Imams (a.s.)) of al-Madinah, the Khawarij of Muscat, or their likes who imitated the Umayyads in their wrongdoings against the Household of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.).

Devotional Acts on the Day of ‘Ashoora'

At the last hours of the Day of ‘Ashoora’, it is necessary to bring to mind the situation of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.)’s harem at those hours when they were taken as captives in Karbala’ while they were unimaginably depressed and unfortunate that they could do nothing but weeping. No author can ever describe the actual manner of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.)’s harem, daughters, and children at these hours since the misfortunes that they had to encounter had never stricken any human being on this earth.

فَاجِعَةٌ اِنْ اَرَدْتُ اَكْتُبُهَا

FAAJEA’TUN IN ARADTO AKTOBOHAA

A catastrophe—if I wish to write it down

مُجْمَلَةً ذِكْرَةً لِمُدَّكِرٍ

MUJMALATAN ZIKRATAL LEMUDDAKERIN

In brief, as a reminder for the one who remembers—

جَرَتْ دُمُوْعِىْ فَحَالَ حَائِلُهَا

JARAT DOMOOE’E FAHAALA HAAELOHAA

My tears flowed, and their barrier stood

مَا بَیْنَ لَحْظِ الْجُفُوْنِ وَالزُّبُرِ

MAA BAYNA LAHZIL JOFOONE WAZ ZOBORE

Between the gaze of my eyelids and the pages.

وَقَالَ قَلْبِىْ بُقْیَا عَلَىَّ فَلَا

WA QAALA QALBEE BUQYAA A’LAYYA FALAA

And my heart said, "Have mercy on me, for no,

وَاللهِ مَا قَدْ طُبِعْتُ مِنْ حَجَرٍ

WAL LAAHE MAA QAD TOBE’TO MIN HAJARIN

By Allah, I was not fashioned out of stone."

بَكَتْلَهَاالْاَرْضُ وَالسَّمَاۤءُوَمَا

BAKAT LAHAL ARZO WAS SAMAAA-O WA MAA

The earth and the heaven wept for it, and whatever

بَیْنَهُمَا فِىْ مَدَامِعٍ حُمُرٍ

BAYNAHOMAA FEE MADAAMEI’N HOMORIN.

Is between them, in tears of crimson red.