The Eleventh Discourse

Concerning the special qualities of

the Day of 'Ashura'
Adapted from "Al-Ghunya li-Talibi Tariq al-Haqq" Volume Three, Eleventh Discourse

By Sultan Muhyuddin Sayyidinaa Shaikh Abdul Qadir Al-Jilani Radhi Allahu 'anhu

As translated b Sidi Muhtar Holland [Rahimuhullah] and published by al-Baz Publications

www.al-baz.com

Allah (Exalted is He) has told Us:

The number of the months in the sight of Allah is twelve months.

[They were already inscribed] in the Book of Allah on the day when He created the
heavens and the earth; four of them are sacred.] 9:36

The Month of Muharram is one of the four sacred months. {al-ashhur al-muharrama} in the
sight of Allah (Exalted is He). It includes the day of Ashura, and Allah (Exalted is He)
enormously enhances the recompense of those who worshipfully obey Him on that day.

As we are reliably informed by [Sayyidinaa] Shaikh Abu Nasr [Muhammad ibn al-Banna],
Allah's Messenger [Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim] once said:

If someone observes a day of fasting during Muharram, for every such day he will be
credited with thirty days.

According to another traditional report, transmitted by Maimun ibn Mihran on the

authority of [Sayyidinaa] Ibn Abbas (May Allah ta' ala be pleased with him and his father),
Allah's Messenger [Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim] also said:

If someone fast on the day of Ashura in Muharram, he will be granted the spiritual
reward of ten thousand angels [malak]. If someone fasts on the day of 'Ashura' in
Muharram, he will be granted the spiritual reward of ten thousand angels [malak]. If
someone fasts on the day of 'Ashura; in Muharram, he will be granted the spiritual reward
of ten thousand martyrs [shahid], as well as the spiritual reward of ten thousand pilgrims
[hajj] and visitants [mu'tamir]

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 If someone strokes the head of an orphan with his hand on the day of 'Ashura' for
every hair on the orphan's head, Allah ta ála will promote him by one degree in the Garden
of Paradise.

If someone provides a believer [mu'min] with a meal to break his fast on the night of
'Ashura', it will be just as if the entire Community [Umma] of Muhammad had broken fast
as his guests, and had filled their stomachs to capacity.

"O Messenger of Allah", his listeners exclaimed, ' it would seem that Allah ta' ala has given
preference to the day of 'Ashura' over all the other days!' "Yes," said he as he went on to
explain:

Allah (Exalted is He) created the heavens on the day of ' Ashura'. He created the
mountains on the day of ' Ashura. He created the oceans on the day of ' Ashura'. He created
the Pen [Qalam} on the day of 'Ashura'. He created the Tablet [Lawh] on the day of 'Ashura'.
He created Adam (peace be upon him) on the day of 'Ashura', and He caused him to enter
the Garden of Paradise on the day of 'Ashura'.

[Sayyidinaa]Abraham [Ibrahim] [peace be upon him] was born on the day of 'Ashura,
and Allah ta'ala delivered him form the fiery furnace on the day of 'Ashura', then He
redeemed his son from being sacrificed on the day of 'Ashura'. He caused Pharaoh to drown
on the day of 'Ashura'. Allah (Exalted is He) relieved [Sayyidinaa]Job [Ayyub] (peace be
upon him) of his trials and tribulations on the day of 'Ashura'.

Allah [Exalted is He] relented toward Sayyidinaa Adam (peace be upon him) on the day
of 'Ashura'. Allah [Exalted is He] accepted the dua’ of [Sayyidinaa]David [Dawud] (peace be
upon him) on the day of 'Ashura'. Jesus {Isa] (Peace be upon him) was born on the day of
'Ashura'. The Day of Resurrection [Yawm al-Qiyama] will occur on the day of 'Ashura'.

According to another version of this report, likewise transmitted on the authority of

[Sayyidinaa] Ibn Abbas (may Allah ta'ala be pleased with him and his father), Allah's
Messenger [Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim] said:

If someone fast on the day of 'Ashura', Allah will record in his favor the worshipful
service [ibada] of sixty years devoted to fasting by day and keeping vigil by night. If
someone fasts on the day of 'Ashura', he will be granted the spiritual reward of a thousand
martyrs [shahid]. If someone fasts on the day of 'Ashura', Allah ta'ala will record in his
credit column the recompense of the inhabitants of the seven heavens.

If someone provides a believer [mu'min] with a meal to break his fast on the night of
'Ashura', it will be just as if the entire Community [Umma] of [Sayyidinaa] Muhammad [Sall
Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim] had broken fast as his guests, and had filled their
stomach to capacity.

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 If someone strokes the head of an orphan with his hand on the day of 'Ashura', for every
hair on the orphan's head, Allah ta' ala will promote him by one degree in the garden of
Paradise.

"O Messenger of Allah, exclaimed [Sayyidinaa] Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased
with him), Allah (Exalted is He) has treated us with favor, by granting us the day of
'Ashura'!" The Prophet then said:

Allah (Exalted is He) created the heavens on the day of 'Ashura', and the earth likewise.
He created the mountains on the day of 'Ashura', and the stars likewise. He created the
Heavenly Throne [Arsh] on the day of 'Ashura' and the Pedestal [Kursi] likewise. He
created the Tablet [Lawh] on the day of 'Ashura', and the Pen [Qalam] likewise.

He created Gabriel on the day of 'Ashura, and the angels likewise. He created
[Sayyidinaa] Adam on the day of 'Ashura'. [Sayyidinaa]Abraham [Ibrahim] was born on the
day of 'Ashura', and Allah ta'ala delivered him from the fiery furnace on the day of 'Ashura',
then Allah ta'ala redeemed his son from being sacrificed on the day of 'Ashura'. He caused
Pharaoh to drown on the day of 'Ashura'.

He raised Idris (peace be upon him) up to heaven on the day of 'Ashura'. He relieved Job
[Ayyub] of his agony on the day of 'Ashura' He raised Jesus [Isa} (peace be upon him) on
the day of 'Ashura', and Jesus was born on the day of 'ashura'. Allah ta'ala relented toward
Adam (peace be upon him) on the day of 'Ashura', and He accepted the dua’ of David
[Dawud] (peace be upon him) on the day of 'Ashura'. Allah ta'ala granted kingship to
Solomon [Sulaiman] on the day of 'Ashura'.

The Lord (Exalted is He) established Himself upon the Heavenly Throne ['Arsh] on the
day of 'Ashura'. The Day of Resurrection [Yawm al-Qiyama] will occur on the day of
'Ashura'. The first rain fell from the sky on the day of 'Ashura'. The first gift of mercy
[rahma] came down from above on the day of 'Ashura'.

If someone performs the major ritual ablution [ightasal] on the day of 'Ashura', he will
never experience any illness, apart for the sickness of death. If someone anoints his eyelids
with antimony (Khul) on the day of 'Ashura, he will not suffer inflammation of the eyes
throughout the entire course of the year.

If someone pays a visit to a sick person on the day of 'Ashura', it is just as if he had visited
all the children of [Sayyidinaa] Adam. If someone gives [a thirsty person] a drink of water
on the day of 'Ashura, it is just as if he had never disobeyed Allah ta 'ala for a single instant.

If someone performs four cycles of ritual prayer (salla arba'a raka'at) on the day of
'Ashura, reciting in each cycle the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al Kitab], one time, and
the Sura that begins with "Qul Huwa 'llahu Ahad [Say: He is Allah, One!'] fifty times, Allah

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(Exalted is He) will forgive him the sins of fifty bygone years, and of fifty years that are still
in the future Allah (Exalted is He) will also build for him, in the midst of the heavenly host
[al-mala'al-'la], a thousand palaces of light.

[Sayyidinaa] Abu Huraira (may Allah ta'ala be pleased with him) once said:

It was made incumbent upon the Children of Israel (Bani Isra'il) to fast on one day in the
year, namely, the day of ; Ashura', the tenth of Muharram, so they devoted it to fasting, and
on it they treated their dependents with special generosity. If someone uses his wealth to
treat his dependents with special generosity on the day of 'Ashura;, Allah will treat the
person with special generosity throughout the rest of the year. If someone devotes the day
to fasting, it will count in his favor as the atonement [kaffara] of forty years. If someone
spends the night of 'Ashura; in viligant worship, and enters upon the morning in a state of
fasting, he will die without knowing the agony of death.

According to a tradition [hadith] reported by [Sayyidinaa] Ali [ibn Abi Talib] (may Allah
ennoble his countenance), Allah's Messenger [Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim] once
said:

If someone spends the night of Áshura; in vigilant worship, Allah (Exalted is He) will let
him live as long as he wishes.

According to a report transmitted by [Sayyidinaa] Sufyan ibn Uyina, on the authority of

[Sayyidinaa] Ja'far al-Kufi, it was Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ibn al-Muntashir - reputedly one
of the finest characters in the Kufa of his time - who told him that the Prophet [Sall Allahu
‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim]once said:

If someone treats his dependents [íyali-hi] with special generosity on the day of Áshura;,
Allah (Exalted is He) will treat that person with special generosity throughout the rest of
the year.

"He gave us that information fifty years ago," said [Sayyidinaa] Sufyan (may Allah bestow
his Mercy upon him). and since then we have experienced nothing but prosperity."

As reported by [Sayyidinaa]'Abdullah [Ibn Mas'ud al-Hudhali] (may Allah be well

pleased with him), Allah's Messenger [Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim] once said:

If someone treats his family [ahli-hi] with special generosity on the day of 'Ashura', Allah
(Exalted is He) will treat that person with special generosity throughout the rest of the
year.

One of our worthy forefathers [salaf] is said to have declared: 'If someone fasts on the
day of adornment [Yawm az-zina], meaning the day of 'Ashura', he will thereby make up for
all the fasting that he has failed to keep in the course of the whole year. And if someone
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gives a charitable donation on that day, he will thereby make up for any charitable
donation [sadaqa that he has failed to give in the course of the whole year"

It was Yahya ibn Kathir (may Allah bestow His mercy upon him) who said:

"If someone anoints his eyelids on the say of 'Ashura', using a mixture of kohl [kuhl]
and musk [misk], he will have no reason to complain of any problem with his eyes until that
same day in the year ahead."

As we are reliably informed by Shaikh Abu Nasr [Muhammad ibn al-Banna'], it was
Abu Ghaliz ibn Umayya ibn Khalaf al-Jamhi who said:

"The Prophet [Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim] once spotted a sparrow hawk
[surad] on the roof of my house, so he said: "This is the first bird to keep the fast on the day
of 'Ashura'."

It was [Sayyidinaa]Qais ibn 'Ubada who said: "Even the wild beasts used to fast on the day
of 'Ashura'.

[Sayyidinaa] Abu Huraira (may Allah be well pleased with him) is reported as having
stated that Allah's Messenger [Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim] once said:

The most meritorious fasting, after the month of Ramadan, is [fasting in] the month of
Allah which they call the Sacred Month [al-Muharram]. And the most meritorious ritual
prayer [salaat] - after that which is prescribed as an obligatory duty [mafruda], and that
which is performed in the middle of the night - is the ritual prayer [salat] of the day of
'Ashura'.

[Sayyidinaa]Ali [ibn Abi Talib] (may Allah ennoble his countenance) is reported as
having stated that the Prophet

In Allah's Sacred Month [al-Muharram], Allah ta'ala has relented toward certain people,
and He will also relent toward others.

[Sayyidinaa] Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be well pleased with him and with his father) is
reported as having stated that Allah's Messenger [Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim]
once said:

If someone fast on the last day of Dhu'l-Hija and on the first day of Muharram, he will
have sealed the old year with fasting, and ushered in the new year with fasting, and Allah
Almighty and Glorious is He), will grant him the atonement [kaffara] of fifty years."?

According to a report from [Sayyidinaa]'Urwa [the Prophet's wife] [Sayyidatinaa]

Á'isha (may Allah be well pleased with her) once said:

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 "'Ashura' was observed as a day of fasting by Quraish in the [re-Islamic] days time of
ignorance [al-Jahiliyya]. Allah's Messenger [Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim] devoted
it to fasting, while he was in Mecca, but when he moved to Medina, he made the Fast of
Ramadan an obligatory religious duty. so, if anyone wishes to do it, he may keep the fast on
the day of 'Ashura', and if anyone so wishes, he may abstain from observing it."

[Sayyidinaa] Ibn Abbas (may Allah be well pleased with him and with his father is
reported as having said:

"When Allah's Messenger [Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim]moved to Medina,

he discovered the Jews [al-Yahud] were observing the day of 'Ashura' as a day of fasting, so
he inquired about that practice of theirs, and they told him: 'This is the day on which Allah
(Almighty and Exalted is He) rendered Moses [Musa] and the Children of Israel [Bani
Isra'il] victorious over the people of Pharaoh, so we devoted it to fasting in his honor . 'The
Prophet responded to this by saying" 'We are more worthy of Moses [Musa] than you are!
'Then he commanded [the Muslims] to observe it as a day of fasting. "

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