Friday, February 18, 2005

hot brown sugah opens her trap yet again

Good Day

hope i'm not too late! (okay la, late la....)

Fasting the Day of `Ashura'

`Ashura' commemorates the day that Allah saved the Children of Israel from
Pharaoh.

Fasting on Muharram 10, known as the Day of `Ashura', expiates for the sins
of the past year. This year it corresponds with Saturday February 19th.

When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived in Madinah in 622CE, he found that the Jews there fasted on Muharram 10 and asked them the
reason for their fasting on this day. They said, "This is a blessed day. On
this day Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy (in Egypt) and
so Prophet Musa [Moses] fasted on this day giving thanks to Allah." The
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "We are closer to Musa than
you are." He fasted on that day and commanded Muslims to fast on this day.
(Al-Bukhari).

The following year, Allah commanded the Muslims to fast the month of
Ramadan, and the fasting of `Ashura' became optional.

It is also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
intended to fast on the ninth and tenth. Ibn `Abbas reported: The Messenger
of Allah fasted on the day of `Ashura' 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 said, "When the following year comes, Allah
willing, we shall fast on the ninth." The death of the Prophet came before
the following year. (Muslim and Abu Dawud).

(For more on `Ashura' and Muharram, please read:
The Significance of Fasting the Day of `Ashura')

Virtues of the Month of Muharram & Fasting during It

Thus, according to scholars, you may choose to fast `Ashura' on three days
(ninth, tenth, and eleventh); two days (ninth and tenth); or one day only
(the tenth).

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Fasting the day of
`Ashura' (is of great merits), I hope that Allah will accept it as an
expiation for (the sins committed in) the previous year." (Muslim).

But this expiation of minor sins comes only if you avoid major sins. It is abig mistake to rely on fasting a single day to "wipe your slate clean." If
you neglect your daily Prayers or the fast of Ramadan, or if you backbite,
lie, commit adultery or other major sins, fasting on `Ashura' alone will notatone for your sins.

The great scholar Ibn Al-Qayyim Al-Jawziyya (b. 691
AH/1292 CE) wrote:

This misguided person does not know that fasting in Ramadan and praying five
times a day are much more important than fasting on the Day of Arafah and
the Day of `Ashura', and that they expiate for the sins between one Ramadan
and the next, or between one Friday and the next, so long as one avoids
major sins. But they cannot expiate for minor sins unless one also avoids
major sins; when the two things are put together, they have the strength to
expiate for minor sins. Among those deceived people may be one who thinks
that his good deeds are more than his sins, because he does not pay
attention to his bad deeds or check on his sins, but if he does a good deed
he remembers it and relies on it. This is like the one who seeks Allah's
forgiveness with his tongue (that is, by words only), and glorifies Allah by
saying "subhan Allah" one hundred times a day, then he backbites about the
Muslims and slanders their honor, and speaks all day long about things that
are not pleasing to Allah. This person is always thinking about the virtues
of his saying "subhan Allah" and saying "la ilaha illa Allah" but he pays no
attention to what has been reported concerning those who backbite, tell
lies, and slander others, or commit other sins of the tongue. They are
completely deceived.
(Al-Mawsu`ah Al-Fiqhiyyah, part 31, Ghuroor).

You may hear of some customs associated with `Ashura' such as cooking and
eating certain foods on that day, wearing kohl or henna, or even
merrymaking. Others consider this a day of mourning and wailing in honor of
the Prophet's grandson Al-Husayn, who was killed in battle on that day. The
scholar Ibn Taymiyah (b. 661 AH/1263 CE) stated that all of these are
bid`ahs (reprehensible innovations) that should be avoided.Take advantage of this opportunity to bring yourself closer to Allah on
`Ashura' by fasting and praying for forgiveness.

Selamat Berpuasa!

(haiyaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! 36 hours left in lion city!! boohoo!!!!!!)

+ > the glamour babe posted at 8:41 AM < +