Chicago – July 06, 2025
Saturday 5th July will mark the 10th of Muharram, also known as ’Ashura, one of the most historically significant and blessed days in the year.
Allah (swt) says in the Qur’an, ′And We certainly sent Musa with Our signs, [saying], “Bring out your people from layers of darkness into the light and remind them of the days of Allah”. Indeed in that are surely signs for everyone who is patient and grateful’. [Qur’an, 14:5]
’Ashura is one of these days of Allah, and it is thus important to respect and pay attention to its virtues and history.
Umar (ra) listed a few events which had taken place on ’Ashura, including:
- Allah created the skies and earth on this day, along with the Preserved Tablet
- Allah created Angel Jibril (as)
- Allah created Adam (as), as well as Hawwa (as)
- Allah created Jannah
- Allah enabled Adam (as) to live in Jannah
- The first rain to fall on earth was on ’Ashura
Therefore, since before the beginning of human history, ’Ashura has been filled with significant events.
The martyrdom of Husayn (ra) on ’Ashura
It is impossible to mention how Allah tested His servants on ’Ashura without mentioning Husayn (ra), the son of Ali (ra) and the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (saw).
Numerous narrations show the great affection the Prophet (saw) had for his grandson:
Abu Hurayra said, ’Once when al-Husayn was of tender years, the Prophet, holding his forearms out, said, “O al-Husayn! Climb up! Climb up!” He started to climb till his feet were on the chest of the Prophet, and both were face to face. The Prophet kissed him with great fondness and said, ”O Allah! I love him. You too love him!“′ [Bukhari]
The Prophet (saw) also said, ‘Whoever loves me and these two, along with their mother and father, they will be with me on the Day of Judgement’. [Tirmidhi]
He (saw) also said, ’I am from al-Husayn and al-Husayn is from me. Allah loves the one who loves Husayn…′ [Tirmidhi]
Husayn (ra) was martyred on Friday 10th Muharram AH (10th October 680), at aged 56. He was martyred in Karbala, with sixteen people from his family (rh), as well as seventy-two of his followers (rh). This is according to the histories of Tabari and Suyuti.
Before being martyred, Husayn (ra), his family and his followers were tested for many days.They went without food and water in the scorching open fields of Karbala, in addition to enduring the grief and pain of being tortured in this way by the army of Yazid, led by Ibn Sa’d.
