Why Muslims Commemorate Ashura Day

According to the Calendar of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the 10th day of the month of Muharram is commemorated as Ashura Day or Yawm Ashura. Yawm Ashura falls this year on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 (1446 AH).

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) fasted on the tenth day of Muharram during his stay in Mecca, and after arriving in Medina, he found Jews fasting Ashura. On that occasion, he asked: "What is this?" They said: "This is a blessed day, the day on which Moses (peace be upon him) and the Children of Israel were saved from their enemy, so Moses fasted on this day." He said: "I am more closely related to Moses than you are!" – so he fasted and ordered others to fast. (Bukhari)

"It is narrated from Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that when the Prophet (peace be upon him) fasted Ashura and ordered the companions to fast, he was told: 'O Messenger of Allah, this is a day that Jews and Christians celebrate!'" The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"Next year, God willing, we will also fast on the ninth day!" He did not live to see the next year, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed away that year!" (Muslim)

When asked about the day of Ashura, the Messenger of Allah said that fasting Ashura is a cause for the forgiveness of sins committed in the past year.

The recommendation of God's Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him) is to fast on the 9th and 10th of Muharram, or the 10th and 11th day of this month.

The commemoration of Ashura Day is deeply rooted in Muslim tradition, but it is necessary to remind that Muslims live and practice their tradition in accordance with the Quran and Sunnah.

The tenth day of Muharram is also commemorated by preparing and serving a special dish simply called hašure (Arabic: Ashura) in Bosnia. It is actually a type of mixed compote or hošaf made from fruits, grains, and cereals.

Bosnian oral literature mentions hašure with 44 to 70 types of fruits, vegetables, and grains. If more cannot be gathered, then there must be at least seven ingredients in hašure. Some writers believe that the number seven is related to the depleted food reserves that Prophet Noah found in his supplies when his ark finally landed on Ararat. Prophet Noah found only seven types of food in his supplies, from which he prepared a festive meal in gratitude to God. This is probably why, among Bosniaks in some parts of Bosnia, it was customary to purchase and buy seven basic food items, such as flour from various grains, salt, fat, rice, potatoes, sugar, dried fruit, or other food items, depending on the nature of the agricultural crops grown in that region, for blessings before the Muslim New Year.

Given the significant events that occurred to God's Prophets on this day, the tenth day of Muharram is also referred to in Muslim tradition as "Id al-Anbiya" (Festival of the Prophets).

According to a hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), there are several significant events that occurred to God's Prophets on this day. Here are some of those events:

– Moses (peace be upon him) managed, with the Children of Israel, to cross the Red Sea to the Sinai Peninsula and save his people from Pharaoh's tyranny,

– Noah (peace be upon him) disembarked with the believers on Mount Judi and thus escaped the flood,

– Jonah (peace be upon him) was expelled by a whale from its jaws onto the seashore,

– Allah (SWT) created Adam (peace be upon him) and forgave him the sin committed in Paradise,

– The merchant caravan traveling to Egypt pulled Joseph (peace be upon him) out of the well into which his brothers had thrown him out of envy,

– Jesus (peace be upon him) was born and raised from this world,

– Abraham (peace be upon him) was saved on that day (from the fire into which he was thrown), and on that day he was also gifted a ram for sacrifice in exchange for his son Ishmael,

– Jacob (peace be upon him), the father of Joseph (peace be upon him), had his sight restored, which he lost from weeping for his son Joseph,

– Job (peace be upon him) regained his health after many years of illness,

– Solomon (peace be upon him) took over the rule of the Children of Israel,

On the eve of the tenth day of Muharram, it is recommended to perform a special voluntary prayer.