6 Interesting Facts About the Day of Ashura

With the Day of Ashura 202right around the corner, we’ve put together a list of interesting, useful and enlightening facts about this holy day…

The word “Ashura” simply means “tenth”

The word “Ashura” has its roots in Syro-Arabian languages, and the Ashura meaning is simply that of “the tenth day” – the 10th of Muharram. Some scholars even interpret the Ashura meaning to be that the Day of Ashura is the tenth most important day which Allah (SWT) has blessed us with.

It was on this day that Allah (SWT) freed Musa (as) and the Children of Israel

Ashura marks the day that Allah (SWT) freed Prophet Musa (as) and the Children of Israel from wicked Pharaoh of Egypt. After years of torture and enslavement, Allah (SWT) split the Red Sea so they could escape to freedom.

When the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) spoke about this day, he said: “This is a great day when Allah saved Musa and his people and drowned Pharaoh and his people.” (Sahih Muslim)

The Prophet Nuh (as) and his companions left the Ark on this day

It was on the Day of Ashura that Nuh’s (as) Ark laded on Mount Judi, in modern day Turkey, after the great flood. The flood lasted for 6 months, after forty days and nights of rain, but Allah (SWT) kept Nuh (as), his family and his companions safe from harm.

“O Nuh, disembark in security from Us and blessings upon you and upon nations [descending] from those with you.” [Qur’an 11:48]

It commemorates the Battle of Karbala, 1400 years ago

Thousands of years later, on this same day, another historic event took place: Imam Hussain (ra), grandson of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), was martyred in the Battle of Karbala, along with his family and supporters.

Imam Hussain (ra) had travelled to Iraq to answer the call of the Muslims of Kufa to come to their land so they could swear allegiance to him as their ruler.

But once he’d arrived at Karbala (modern-day Iraq), Imam Hussain (ra) was met by violent and torturous soldiers. In the swelteringly hot desert, Imam Hussain (ra) and his children were deprived of water for days, so that when Imam Hussain (ra) was killed, he died thirsty. It’s narrated that his youngest child, at just six months old, died of thirst during this battle in Karbala.

Your blessings will be multiplied on the Day of Ashura

In the following Qur’an verse, Allah (SWT) tells us the month of Muharram is so important that, sinning should be avoided more than usual:

‘Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months [in a year], so was it ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred [i.e. the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12th months]. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein…’  [9:36]

From this, the scholars understand that if sinning is worse during sacred months like Muharram; that means good deeds are also multiplied. So, on the Day of Ashura, we should do everything possible to increase our worship and good deeds.

Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) told us: ‘There are three prayers that are not rejected: the prayer of a father for his child, the prayer of the fasting person and the prayer of the traveller.’ (Sahih Tirmidhi)

To make the most of this special day, you can also do other acts of worship, including reciting Qur’an, fasting, reciting dhikr, or giving to charity on Ashura.

You could donate a sustainable Rainwater Harvesting system and provide clean water for poverty-stricken communities around the world, as well as honouring the memory of Imam Hussain (ra) and his family. Since providing water is an act oSadaqah Jariyah, the reward for your Ashura charity would be multiplied more times than you can even imagine.

Giving on the Day of Ashura is equal to a year’s worth of charity

Not only will your blessings be multiplied on the Day of Ashura, but the Prophet (ﷺ) also described how your charitable deeds mean even more on this blessed day:

“On the authority of ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin al-‘As (may Allah be pleased with both of them) that he said, “Whoever fasts ‘Ashura’ it is as if he has fasted the entire year. And whoever gives charity this day it is like the charity of an entire year”. (Ibn Rajab’s Lata’if al-Ma‘arif)

You could donate a well, a Rainwater Harvesting System or help build a Solar Panel Water and Power Centre on the Day of Ashura, and provide clean water for poverty-stricken communities around the world, as well as honouring the memory of Imam Hussain (ra) and his family.

Your Ashura charity will be equal to a year’s worth of charity, in the eyes of Allah (SWT) - and since providing water is an act of Sadaqah Jariyah, the reward for your Ashura charity would be multiplied more times than you can even imagine.

The Day of Ashura 2021

The Day of Ashura 2021will take place on Wednesday 18^th August. You can fast on this day and the day before if you’d like to go the extra mile in following the Sunnah.

Charity, fasting and other good deeds are filled with bountiful blessings. This special day has generations of rich history and lessons to teach us, and we can take those lessons and make sure that we are celebrating the freedom of Musa (as), the faithfulness of Nuh (as), the righteousness of Imam Hussain (ra) and the rewards which Allah (SWT) showers upon us on this day.

Make the most of the Day of Ashura 202by building a life-saving well for just £25 a month, observing the fasts on the 9th and 10th of Muharram, and remembering Musa (as), Nuh (as) and Imam Hussain (ra).