The Night Before Ashura: Worship in the Shadow of Martyrdom

The Night Before Ashura: Worship in the Shadow of Martyrdom

On the night before Ashura, the camp of Imam al-Hussain (رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ was cloaked not in fear, but in light, prayer, and the mellifluous recitation of the Qur’an. The 10th of Muharram was to bring with it pain, blood, and martyrdom, but the night before was filled with submission to Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, a deep sense of peace, Tawakkul and a love for worship that is rarely witnessed in our busy, modern lives. 

The companions of Imam Hussain (رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ, and his noble family (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُم), knew that death was inevitable at dawn. Yet, what did they choose to do in their final hours? 

They chose Qur’an. 

They chose du‘a. 

They chose dhikr. 

They chose Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى. 

A Night of Worship While Knowing What Lay Ahea

Imam Zayn al-Abidin (رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ, the son of Imam al-Hussain (رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ, narrated: 

“I was ill on the night before Ashura, but I remember the sound of the recitation of the Qur’an, tahleel, takbeer, and supplications coming from the tents of my father’s companions. It was as though bees were humming… They were in a state of deep peace.” 

Imagine this: knowing the sword awaits you at sunrise, yet spending the night in prayer-bowing, prostrating, and whispering the words of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى. 

Compare this to us today. 

We scroll through our phones before bed, watch a final episode, or fall asleep after casual conversations, barely remembering to say SubhanAllah while experiencing Allah’s blessings in our lives or open the Qur’an except for Ramadan, weddings, funerals or setting out on a long journey. Often, our mus’hafs gather dust, untouched, unread, waiting for a calamity to bring us back to them; although momentarily till the time we are out of that hardship. 

As Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) rightly mentioned in the Qur’an: 

“And when affliction touches man, he calls upon Us—lying on his side, or sitting, or standing. But when We remove from him his affliction, he continues as if he had never called upon Us for relief from the affliction that touched him." 
(Surah Yunus, 10:12) 

Yet, how pure were these souls in Karbala who turned to the Qur’an in their final hours, amidst brutal threats to their own lives, of their women and children, in a state of extreme thirst and hunger! They did not use the Qur’an as an escape, but as an anchor. 

The Power of the Qur’an in Times of Tria

The Prophet ﷺ said: 

"The best of you are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it." 
(Sahih al-Bukhari) 

The night before Ashura teaches us this very principle: that the Qur’an is not just for times of ease or formality, but it is the strength we turn to when everything else is about to fall apart. 

Imam al-Hussain (رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ), when bidding farewell to his loved ones, reminded them to trust in Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, to remain steadfast, and to place the Qur’an at the heart of their lives. 

What about us? When we’re tired, overwhelmed, or wronged, do we turn to the Book of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, or to distraction? When our children face challenges, do we teach them to open the Qur’an, or to run to the world? Are our lives more stressed than that of the martyrs of Karbala who were surrounded by blood thirsty war mongers? Is our resilience really more fragile than that of Siberian birds who migrate from one country to far off lands in search of food? Our souls yearn to migrate towards the love of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) through the teachings of the Prophet (ﷺ) and his blessed Ahlul Bayt (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُم), yet we keep delaying every call till the time it becomes too late. 

Quiet Goodbyes, Last Embrace

The night before Ashura was heavy with love, grief, and farewell. 

Mothers kissed their sons one last time. Brothers embraced knowing they’d part forever in this temporary world. Imam Hussain (رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ) went tent to tent, checking on his companions, praying for them, and preparing their souls. 

 As the night of Ashura deepened, Imam al-Hussain (رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ) gathered his companions in the stillness of the tent. With a heart full of love and mercy, he dimmed the lantern and addressed them with words that would echo through time. 

 “Whoever wishes to leave,” he said, “may do so now. The enemy seeks only my life. You are free to go.”  

In that sacred moment, silence enveloped the tent-not the silence of hesitation, but of unwavering loyalty. One by one, voices rose-not in farewell, but in devotion. “Ya Aba Abdillah,” they said, “if we were to be killed and brought back to life a thousand times, we would still stand by you.” Not a single soul left. Their feet were rooted not just in soil, but in faith. Their hearts had already ascended to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) .  

In a world where loyalty is often fleeting, their steadfastness remains a guiding light for a lesson in love, truth, and sacrifice. 

This wasn’t the preparation of warriors-it was the preparation of Waliyullah (friends of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). 

And it reminds us: what legacy are we preparing in our homes? What are our children watching us value? 

A Night That Holds a Mirror to U

The night before Ashura is not just history. It is a mirror. 

Do we speak to our children about the Qur’an like Imam Hussain (رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ did? 

 Do we make time to pray Tahajjud even once a week? 

Do we bid goodbye to each day with dhikr on our lips and gratitude in our hearts? 

The Qur’an says: 

"Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example..." 
(Surah Al-Ahzab 33:21) 

And from the Messenger (ﷺ) came Hussain (رضي الله عنه), about whom he said: 

"Hussain is from me, and I am from Hussain." 
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi – Sahih) 

Let’s not let these nights pass like any other. Let’s reconnect with the Qur’an. Let’s return to the legacy of Karbala, not as a tragedy to mourn once a year, but as a blueprint for life. 

 Hifz Orphans

As we reflect on the orphans of Karbala, the children left behind after the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ and his loyal companions, let us turn this grief into action. 

Today, countless children around the world are orphaned, some fleeing war, some born into poverty, many without access to Qur’anic learning or basic education. But you can help rewrite their story. 

Sponsor a Hifz orphan in memory of the children of Karbala. Let their tears become verses. Let their loss become light. 

May Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى soften our hearts, revive our homes with the Qur’an, and allow us to walk in the path of Hussain (رضي الله عنه) with sincerity and love. Ameen.