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Ashura: Honoring Prophet Musa’s Legacy

The Children of Israel (descendants of Prophet Yaqub (A)) entered Egypt at the time of the Prophet Yusuf (A), but became enslaved over the years. The Pharaoh, the ruler-king of Egypt, had a dream that an Israelite would devastate his kingdom, and so he ordered that Israelite male infants be killed upon birth. Prophet Musa was the Israelite chosen by Allah to preach tawhid to Pharaoh, who called himself a god, and to free his people from oppression.

Ashura, or the 10th of Muharram, is the day Prophet Musa split the Red Sea with his staff to create safe passage for his people, liberating them from the grasp of Pharaoh through Allah’s will. This opening served as a new beginning for him and his people to create a new homeland for themselves where they could live freely and practice their faith in peace.

The early Muslims took solace in this story revealed in the Quran as they made their own migration out of Makkah, where they were persecuted by the pagan leadership. After the hijrah to Medina, they attained the freedom to worship Allah freely and were able to effectively organize to defend themselves against their oppressors.

Abdullah Ibn Abbas (R) reported: The Messenger of Allah (S) came to Medina, and he found the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. The Prophet (S) said, “What is this day you are fasting?” They said, “This is a great day in which Allah saved Musa and his people, and he drowned Pharaoh and his people. Musa fasted on it due to gratitude, so we also fast on it. The Prophet (S) said, “We are more deserving and are closer to Musa than you.” The Prophet fasted the day of Ashura, and he commanded fasting on it. ” [Bukhari]

The Prophet Mohammad (S) had made it obligatory to fast the 10th of Muharram before the commandment to fast the month of Ramadan was revealed. Afterwards, even when it was no longer mandatory to fast on Ashura, the Prophet (S) was reported to be more eager to fast on this day than any other outside of Ramadan. It carries the reward of forgiveness of one’s past year of sins.

Prophet Musa’s story resonated with the early Muslims, and also resonates with us today countless years later. We learn that during our most difficult times, when we feel we are trapped or that there is no way out, we must have full trust and confidence in Allah’s power and might. When we fast Ashura and reflect on this new beginning Allah granted Moses and his people, let us it as an opportunity to:

  • start a new chapter of spirituality in our own lives
  • make a promise to ourselves that we will not go back to old habits that are not pleasing to Allah
  • make a commitment to take up new habits that will bring us closer to Allah

Beginning the Islamic Hijri New Year with the Du’as of Prophet Musa

As we commemorate both the new Hijri year and Ashura this Muharram, Prophet Musa’s (A) life provides some of the best inspiration we need to begin the new year on the right note. Though it is neglected, du’a is one of the most beloved forms of worship to Allah. Here are five Quranic du’as from the Prophet Musa to memorize now and recite all year-round.

1 – Forgiveness:
As imperfect human beings, there are sure to be things we’ve done in the past year that Allah warned us against and have been harmful for us. Now is the time to ask for forgiveness.

رَبِّ إِنِّى ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِى فَٱغْفِرْ لِى

“My Lord! I have definitely wronged my soul, so forgive me.” [Al-Qasas: 16]

2 – Safety:
Allah warns us about destructive forces in our surroundings, including ill-intentioned people. When you are feeling unsafe, recite this du’a of Prophet Musa:

رَبِّ نَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

“My Lord! Deliver me from the wrongdoing people.” [Al-Qasas: 21]

3 – Rizq/Provision
Looking for a new job, marriage, or simply any form of goodness in the coming year? This du’a made by Prophet Musa in his most desperate state, gave him all these things in one day.

رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلْتَ إِلَىَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍۢ فَقِيرٌۭ

“My Lord! I am truly in ˹desperate˺ need of whatever provision You may have in store for me.” [Al-Qasas: 24]

4 – Confidence/Eloquence
A classic du’a you are probably familiar with, but a powerful weapon nonetheless for when you want a confidence boost from Allah to take on a difficult task or conversation.

رَبِّ ٱشْرَحْ لِى صَدْرِى وَيَسِّرْ لِىٓ أَمْرِى وَٱحْلُلْ عُقْدَةًۭ مِّن لِّسَانِى يَفْقَهُوا۟ قَوْلِى

“My Lord! Uplift my heart for me, and make my task easy, and remove the impediment from my tongue so people may understand my speech…” [Taha: 25-28]

5 – Allah’s Mercy
No matter what, at the end of the day, Allah’s mercy is what we need to get through all aspects of life and attain success in the hereafter. Ask for it often.

رَبِّ ٱغْفِرْ لِى وَلِأَخِى وَأَدْخِلْنَا فِى رَحْمَتِكَ ۖ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ

“My Lord! Forgive me and my brother! And admit us into Your mercy. You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.” [Al A’raf: 151]

Kindness to Parents (Final Part)

BRANCHES OF FAITH

Kindness to Parents (Final Part)

  • Aisha RA says regarding Fatima RA (daughter of the prophet) that “If the Prophet (pbuh) entered her home, she would stand for him, take him by the hand, kiss him, and seat him in her place” (Abu Dawud).
  • Yet Al-Birr (kindness) is not limited to just kissing the forehead or hands, or even the feet of your parents. Rather, it is to obey them immediately, willingly and happily. It is to do what your parents want before you are even told. Such a child is called البار الموفق and is granted success in all his affairs.

VIRTUES & BENEFITS

  • A companion came to the Prophet (pbuh) and said: “O Messenger of Allah! I want to go out and fight (in Jihad) and I have come to ask your advice.” He said: “Do you have a mother?” He said: “Yes.” He said: “Then stay with her (and obey her), for Paradise is beneath her feet.” (An-Nasa’i)
  • Our Prophet (pbuh) also said:

‎مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يُبْسَطَ لَهُ فِي رِزْقِهِ وَيُنْسَأَ لَهُ فِي أَثَرِهِ فَلْيَصِلْ رَحِمَهُ ‏

  • Whoever desires an expansion in his sustenance and age, should keep good relations with his kith and kin (Abu Dawud)

O Allah! be merciful to them as they cared for us when we were children

Kindness to Parents (Part 4)

BRANCHES OF FAITH

Kindness to Parents (Part 4)

Birr Al-Waalidayn is a characteristic of the believer (Mu’min). Al-Hasan Al Basri defined it saying, “Al-Birr is to obey the parents in everything that they ask so long as it is not to disobey Allah (SWT‎). “Uqooq” is to disown your parents, denying them all of your goodness.”

Ad-Daylami collected from Al-Husayn ibn Ali, that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “If Allah knew any smaller than ‘uff’ to be disrespectful to parents, He would have decreed it to be Haram!” In Bukhari, a man came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) – seeking permission to go for Jihad. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) asked him, “Are your parents alive?” He said, “Yes.” He (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Perform Jihad (in you kind treatment) of them.”

If someone came to you today and offered you a free lunch, what would be your response? No doubt you would smile, speak kindly to and of them, and reserve a special place in your heart for their memory. Why is it then that our parents receive only cold stares, harsh words and bitter treatment and they are who they are in our lives? For twenty or thirty years they fed us, clothed us, washed us, and showered their mercy on our soft skin. Their love for us never dies even if we do, love that goes even beyond us, to our children and even their children.

We all have parents – whether they are with us or not – and many have not understood the their grand position in our lives and their right to be respected and revered.

Kindness to Parents (Part 3)

BRANCHES OF FAITH

Kindness to Parents (Part 3)

  • The Aayah (17:23) enjoins that after Allah (‎ﷻ)’s right, the greatest of all the human rights is the right of parents. Even saying “Uff” which is the lowest form of expressing discomfort and annoyance is explicitly prohibited! Let alone rebuking, disobeying or disrespecting them.

The prophet (ﷺ) said:

‎“الْعَبْدَ الْمُطِيعَ لِوَالِدَيْهِ، وَالْمُطِيعَ لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ،فِي أَعَلَى عِلِّيِّينَ” (مسند الفردوس، الديلمي)

“The servant of God who is obedient to his parents and also obedient to the lord of the universe is in the highest of highs (in paradise).

  • The collective morality of society should make it incumbent on children to be grateful and respectful to their parents and should ensure that parents are continuously served and honoured by them throughout their lives.

Kindness to Parents (Part 2)

BRANCHES OF FAITH

Kindness to Parents (Part 2)

  • In in the Qur’an (15:23), Allah (swt) commands the believers to be kind with their parents immediately after commanding them with Tawheed (affirming his oneness).

‎وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوۤا۟ إِلَّاۤ إِیَّاهُ وَبِٱلۡوَ ٰ⁠لِدَیۡنِ إِحۡسَـٰنًاۚ إِمَّا یَبۡلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلۡكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَاۤ أَوۡ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَاۤ أُفࣲّ وَلَا تَنۡهَرۡهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوۡلࣰا كَرِیمࣰا

Your Lord has decreed that you should worship none but Him, and that you be kind to your parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, say not to them as much as “uff”, and do not be harsh with them, but speak to them respectfully

Commentary on the above Verse:

When children are young, they take up all their parents’ vigour, health, effort and attention. But children soon forget all this and move ahead with life while neglecting them. This is the natural course of life. Thus parents do not need any encouragement to be kind to their children. It is the children who need to be reminded of their duty towards the generation that has become in need of tender care, after having spent most of its vitality in bringing them up.

Branches of Faith: Kindness to Parents (P1)

  • Birr Al-Walidain (Kindness to Parents) is obligatory upon all muslims, even concerning non-believing parents.
  • Linguistically, it is derived from the verb Barra which points to truthfulness, righteousness kindness and good conduct.

The prophet (ﷺ) said:

‎الْبِرُّ حُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ* وَالإِثْمُ مَا حَاكَ فِي صَدْرِكَ وَكَرِهْتَ أَنْ يَطَّلِعَ عَلَيْهِ النَّاسُ

The essence of Birr is (manifested in) good morals (Akhlaq) whereas sinful conduct is that which turns in your heart (making you feel uncomfortable) and you dislike that it other people become aware of it.

  • Regarding parents and relatives, Birr pertains to obeying their orders (except in the disobedience of Allah ‎ﷻ), and *fulfilling their needs* and requirements. Its opposite is ‘Uquq عُقُوق’, which pertains to disrespect and neglecting/disregarding (their) rights.

Preserving Ramadan (Final Part)

◼️Even though night prayer during Ramadan might have gone, night prayer throughout the year is also highly recommended. In the beautiful Hadith narrated by At Tirmidhi where Muaadh RA asked the messenger of Allah (ﷺ): _”Inform me of an act which will cause me to enter Jannah and keep me far from Hell”, _ part of the prophet response was
_“standing in prayers by a slave of Allah during the last third part of the night.” Then he SAWS recited the 16th and 17th verses of Surah Sajda._
◼️While there are some youths, who during the noble month of Ramadan, were busy passing their time in lustful things, sins and acts of disobedience, there are others who were busy doing deeds of righteousness such as i`tikaf (spiritual retreat) in the houses of Allah. They gave preference to their Lord’s obedience over their own desires. You would see them bowing, prostrating, and reciting the Glorious Qur’an. Such youths are the hope and pride of this Ummah!
May Allah grant us righteousness and Istiqaamah. Allahumma Aameen.

Preserving Ramadan (Part 4)

◼️The person’s continuation of good deeds without restricting it to a certain period, particular month, or special place is a sign of one’s righteousness and acceptance of his good deeds.

◼️Though the Ramadan season is now gone, yet, fasting is still recommended in other months. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) has recommended fasting on Mondays and Thursdays. Imam At-Tirmidhi reported that the Prophet ﷺ said,
_“Deeds are presented (to Allah) on Monday and Thursday and I would like that my deeds be presented while I am fasting.”_

◼️It is also reported that the prophet ﷺ used to command his companions to fast the white days (Al Ayyaam Al Beedh) of each lunar month i.e the 13th, 14th and 15th day.

Preserving Ramadan (Part 3)

◼️Worshipping Allah should not be restricted to Ramadan alone for there is no end to the Muslim’s worship except when he dies (refer to the last ayah of Surah Al Hijr).

◼️Certainly, there are signs for the acceptance and rejection of deeds in Ramadan. Among the signs of acceptance of good deeds is to follow them with more good deeds. Likewise, it is a sign of rejection to follow one’s good deeds with evil ones (refer to Surah Hud Ayah 114).

◼️The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: _“Fear Allah wherever you are, follow the evil deed with a good one to erase it, and treat people with good manners.” (At-Tirmidhi)_

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