Think of Good things on the day of Ashura

Late last night, I had browsed many sites to find good articles to read. Unfortunately, I didn’t find any write ups that could satiate the longing inside. While browsing, I encountered a network discussing about Ashura. Suddenly, it came to my mind this month is Muharram. As I checked the Muslim calendar widget at this blog sidebar, it tells 10 Muharram 1432.

After reading all the discussions on that network, I searched the book of Dr. Sixto Y. Orosa, (The Sulu Archipelago and Its people). I found Dr. Orosa hashed out on his book about Ashura, as one of the Muslim festivals celebrated yearly by the Tausug in entire Sulu.

In Tausug custom, Ashura is celebrated differently from other Muslims in other parts of the world. As had been traditionally practice, Ashura is celebrates in a form of duwaa salamat [Prayer for safety]. It is a part of Tausug custom, should there any duwaa salamat conducted even just a platter of foods they would prepare enable to make a jamu [charity thru giving food] in any events. The jamu usually conducted at the mosque. This is to ensure after the Imam and his congregation done with duwaa salamat they can automatically proceed to eat.

In the entire Ummah, Muslims are usually fast on the 9^th or 10^th of Muharram. This is congruent with the hadith of Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam relates by Mu’awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan (Radiyallahu anhu): I heard the Messenger of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) say: "It is the day of ‘Ashura. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) has not made fasting obligatory for you. But I am fasting. He who likes to observe fast among you should do so, and he who likes not to observe it (does not have to) observe it." [Sahih Muslim].

In another hadith Hazrat Ibn Abbas (Radiyallahu 'anh) reports that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) arrived in Madinah and found the Jews observing fast on the day of ‘Ashura… They said: "It is the day of great (significance) when Allah delivered Hazrat Musa ('Alaihis-Salaam) and his people and drowned Pharoah and his people, and Sayyidina Musa ('Alaihis-Salaam) observed fast out of gratitude. And we also observe it." The Holy Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) responded: "We have more right, and we have closer connection with Sayyidina Musa ('Alaihis-Salaam) than you have"; so Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) observed fast (on the day of ‘Ashura) and gave us orders to observe it. [Sahih Bukhari and Muslim][1].

Among the historical significance falls on 10 Muharram or the day of Ashura such as:

On this day: Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) accepted the repentance of Sayyidina Adam ('Alaihis-Salaam) after his exile from Paradise; Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) saved Sayyidina Nuh ('Alaihis-Salaam) and his companions in the ark; Allah extinguished the fire in which Sayyidina Ibrahim ('Alaihis-Salaam) was thrown by Nimrod; And Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) spoke directly to Sayyidina Musa ('Alaihis-Salaam) and gave him the Commandments. On this same 10th of Muharram, Sayyidina Ayyub ('Alaihis-Salaam) was restored to health (from leprosy); Sayyidina Yusuf ('Alaihis-Salaam) was reunited with his father Ya’qub ('Alaihis-Salaam); Sayyidina Yunus ('Alaihis-Salaam) was taken out from the belly of the fish; and the sea was divided as the nation of israel was delivered from captivity and Pharoah’s army was destroyed. ‘Ashura is also the day when Sayyidina Dawud ('Alaihis-Salaam) was forgiven; the kingdom of Sulaiman ('Alaihis-Salaam) was restored; Sayyidina Isa ('Alaihis-Salaam) was raised to Jannah and Sayyidina al-Husayn (Radiyallahu 'anh) (the Holy Prophet’s, Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam, grandson) achieved the honor of Martyrdom.[2]

I believe there are still lot of important things happened on this day. But as a matter of discussion, in Sulu there were also many memorable incidents happened to the Tausug especially the massive massacre at Bud Bagsak, Bud Dahu, Bud Talipao, Pu’ Patiyan, Pu’ Pata, and other wars happened between Tausug defenders and the Americans, and Filipino soldiers. These incidents will always present in the hearts of every Tausug who love their country [Sultanate of Sulu], race [Tausug] and religion [Islam] in any times.

Tausug Defenders with Panglima Hassan

Furthermore, even there’s no formal annual commemoration for these noble defenders, at least on every 15^th day of Sha’ban (the month of tai’tih) their spirits are always in the prayers of their descendants throughout the world.

The progenies of Prophet Muhammad in Sulu [the Sharif] and the Tausug generally, will never stop until Islam will rise again in Sulu. Today is your game, tomorrow is ours Insya’Allah!

Lastly, the day of Ashura is the day that brought goodness to the noble people in the past. I wish with the blessing showered by Allah to them on this day the Tausug will always with His forgiveness and steadily defend the rights; fight in any forms for the brighter future of their country, Sultanate of Sulu Darul Islam. Ameen.

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[1] The hadith quoted were taken from this site. http://www.sunnah.org/ibadaat/fasting/ashura.htm , 16 December 2010

[2]  These are mentioned as what scholars have determined as the specialties of that day in Ghunya li-Talibi Tariq al-Haqq, Sayyidina Abdul Qadir al-Jilani. Source: http://www.sunnah.org/ibadaat/fasting/ashura.htm

Sh. Yazir Rajim