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Ashura and Remembering the Real Legacy of Musa A.S.
7-25-2023
The virtues of fasting the day of Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram, are widely known to many. Millions of Muslims all around the world fast this day in the hope that it will atone for their sins in the previous year. The Prophet (sall Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “It will expiate the sins of the past year.” [1]
In light of this, the story of the interaction of the Prophet (sall Allahu alayhi wa sallam) with the Jews of Madinah comes to mind, as it is similarly well known and quoted alongside other hadith that the Jews would also fast on this day. Hence, the Prophet (sall Allahu alayhi wa sallam) commanded us to fast an additional day in order to distinguish the practice of Muslims from that of other religions.
Ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhu) reported:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came to Medina and found the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. The Prophet said, “What is this day you are fasting” They said, “This is a great day in which Allah saved Moses and his people, and he drowned Pharaoh and his people. Moses fasted on it due to gratitude, so we also fast on it.” The Prophet said, “We have more of a right to Moses and are closer to him than you.” The Prophet fasted the day of Ashura and commanded fasting on it.” [2]
The Jews of Madinah were following the tradition of Musa (alayhi al-Salam) to fast the day on which Allah (sub?anahu wa taala) saved him and his people from Firaun. The Prophet (sall Allahu alayhi wa sallam) is telling us that we as Muslims have more of a right to Musa (alayhi al-Salam) than the Jews, and thus commanded us to fast on this day. The Prophet (sall Allahu alayhi wa sallam) is informing us that the legacy of Musa (alayhi al-Salam) belongs to this Ummah.
However, is this magnificent legacy that we have inherited limited to following a single tradition of fasting the day of Ashura? Or does our right to Musa (alayhi al-Salam) extend beyond such a limited understanding?
If we truly wish to commemorate the vanquishing of Firaun and his army, as well as the salvation of Musa (alayhi al-Salam) and his people, we must remember the background to this glorious day and the events that preceded it. The miraculous intervention of Allah (subanahu wa taala) did not occur in a vacuum. Instead, it was the pinnacle of a series of interactions between Musa (alayhi al-Salam) and Firaun.
In doing so, we can take away at least three powerful characteristics of Musa (alayhi al-Salam) that we should strive to implement in our daily lives.
1. Speaking truth to power
Firstly, we must recognise the courage of Musa (alayhi al-Salam) in speaking truth to power. The only reason that Firaun and his army were chasing Musa (alayhi al-Salam) and Bani Isra’il on the day of Ashura was because Musa (alayhi al-Salam) had challenged Firaun’s claim to lordship, his tyranny, and his enslavement of Bani Isra’il. Musa (alayhi al-Salam) did all this despite the incredible natural fear that festered inside him from standing up to such a tyrant. The anxiety of confronting this powerful king who ruled with a god complex could only have been immeasurably magnified by Musa (alayhi al-Salam)’s speech impediment, his status as a second-class citizen, and his having an arrest warrant issued against him for murder. Yet Musa (alayhi al-Salam) was able to overcome all of this to boldly walk into the court of Firaun and warn him of his wrongdoing. Remarkably, this was not an isolated incident; Musa (alayhi al-Salam) persisted in speaking truth to power over a significant period of time regardless of the taunts and threats that Firaun threw his way.
The legacy we have inherited mandates that we make it part of our character to have this type of courage, to speak truth to power, and to not shy away from it out of fear for our personal safety or potential difficulties we may face as a result of doing so. As the Prophet (sall Allahu ?alayhi wa sallam) advised us, “The best jihad is a word of truth before a tyrant ruler.” [3]
2. Exert your maximum effort
Secondly, we learn that the miraculous intervention by Allah (subanahu wa taala) occurs after Musa (alayhi al-Salam) exhausted his maximum efforts to fulfil the commands of Allah (sub?anahu wa taala). It came after a period of time during which he advised the Bani Isra’il, spoke out against Firaun’s tyranny on numerous occasions, competed with Firaun’s magicians, and taken his people out of Egypt. It is at the point where they are between death by drowning and death by the sword that Allah (sub?anahu wa ta?ala) fulfils His promise and causes the sea to part to enable their escape. Even here, as if to emphasise the point, Allah (subanahu wa taala) commands Musa (alayhi al-Salam) to strike the sea with his staff so that there is literally nothing more he can do after this except to wait for the help of Allah (subanahu wa taala).
When we witness injustice and oppression around us, whether from the state and its machinations or from elements within our societies, it is not from the legacy of Musa (alayhi al-Salam) to silently condemn it and simply pray for the help of Allah (subanahu wa taala).
3. Having trust and certainty in Allah
Finally, and most importantly, the legacy of Musa (alayhi al-Salam) requires us to have unwavering trust and certainty in the promise of Allah (subanahu wa taala). Even when Musa (alayhi al-Salam) was trapped between the sea and Firaun and his army – with thousands of men, women, and children on the verge of being slaughtered, and with the naysayers amidst his people complaining that they were doomed – his faith in Allah (subanahu wa taala) remained as strong as ever. His vision was not limited to the tangible things his eyes could see but was instead guided by his heart, which was attached to Allah (subanahu wa taala) and His promise.
“No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me.” [4]
As believers and inheritors of the legacy of one of the greatest prophets to walk the face of this Earth, we must continue this great tradition of speaking truth to power. This entails devoting ourselves to the cause, maximising our efforts, and always having a firmly resolute faith that Allah (subanahu wa taala) will give us victory. This is the real legacy of Musa (alayhi al-Salam) that we should be striving to replicate in our lives.
Source: www.islam21c.com
Notes:
[1] Muslim
[2] Bukhari and Muslim
[3] Abu Dawud
[4] Al-Qur’an, 26:62
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