ASHURA PORRIDGE!
NOVEMBER 20, 2014 AAUSER LEAVE A COMMENT
porridge

Ashura is coming up, let’s find out what to do…

Narrated `Aisha RA: (The tribe of) Quraysh used to fast on the day of Ashura’ in the Pre-Islamic period, and then Allah’s Apostle ordered (Muslims) to fast on it till the fasting in the month of Ramadan was prescribed; whereupon the Prophet said, “He who wants to fast (on ‘Ashura’) may fast, and he who does not want to fast may not fast.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1893)

Narrated Ibn `Abbas RA: The Prophet (May Peace Be Upon Him) came to Medina and saw the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. He asked them about that. They replied, “This is a good day, the day on which Allah rescued Bani Israel from their enemy. So, Moses fasted this day.” The Prophet said, “We have more claim over Moses than you.” So, the Prophet fasted on that day and ordered (the Muslims) to fast (on that day).

Weirdly, this is also the time for “Ashura Porridge”. In some parts of the world, there are muslims who believe that Prophet Nuh made “Ashura Porridge” after the big flood. Hence, every Muharram 10th, some Muslims cook this dish and give it away to friends, neighbours, families and mosques. This innovation has become so widespread that even “Shaykh Google” has recipes for this porridge! (Not that Shaykh google is reliable!) Nevertheless, this tradition has not been reported in the authentic Sunnah.

Innovations are not limited to Porridge, there are other innovations done during Ashura, which have no basis in the Sunnah. People have introduced numerous innovations, ranging from the simple porridge, to body beating and much more. Below is just a few of the many:

-Spending the evening of Ashura by praying 4 rakaah prayers (reciting surah Al-Ikhlaas 50 times in every rakaah), believing in the reward of his sins for the past 50 years before and 50 years in the future will be forgiven.

-Fasting 9 days before Ashura, believing it as Sunnah.

– Believing that ghusl on Ashura wouldn’t make them sick for a year.

– Singling out Ashura to wear kohl, believing in the rewards.

-Of course, who could forget the shiite? The deviant sect that proclaimed themselves as Muslim and yet, every Ashura they manage to prove themselves otherwise. The shiite mourn with self-mutilation and self flaggelation every Ashura, which contrary to the Sunnah.

More and more of these innovated acts are promoted and encouraged, and each day, we keep on forgetting the simple task of the Sunnah.

The Sunnah says to fast. It’s a simple act. It was stated by the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). It was done by the Salaf-us-saalih (pious predecessors). Whereas, these innovated acts has no basis, no history that will link us to the Prophet.

Some people come with excuses, saying that it is okay to perform these innovated actions. They said “it’s all in the niyyah (intention), if we are sincere, we will get reward”. Well, the Buddhist monks claimed that they are sincere, but is that enough, when they do not have Tawheed Ruboobiyyah and Tawheed Uluhiyyah? They said The Prophet never forbade us to do these innovated acts such as ghusul during Ashura. Neither did he encourage us!

Sometimes in our eagerness to grab the rewards for the hereafter, we overlook the things we consider as minor, yet it is the most important thing. This does not happen only during Ashura, it happens on every other occasion.

All we need to do is to stop and ask, is this a Sunnah?

Isn’t it scary, how it is easy to perform these innovated acts, and yet, when a sunnah is presented, we start questioning them.

Hassaan ibn ‘Atiyah said: “No people introduce innovation into their religion but an equivalent amount of Sunnah will be taken away.”(Al-Laalkaa’i in Sharh Usool I’tiqaad Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah)

Sufyaan Ath-Thawree said: “Innovation is more beloved to Iblees than sin, since a sin may be repented from but innovation is not repented from.” (Sharh Usool I’tiqaad Ahlis-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah, #238)

May Allah keep us on the Siraat al Mustaqeem, and upon the correct Sunnah.

Anisah Matasim