Sacred Months, - The history of 'Aashooraa'

Muslims must fear Allaah and take lessons from what He has told us in
the Noble Quran regarding the Prophets and Messengers of Allaah and
the previous nations.
Allaah Says )what means(:"There was certainly in their stories a
lesson for those of understanding. Never was the Quran a narration
invented, but a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed
explanation of all things and guidance and mercy for a people who
believe."]Quran 12: 111[
And among the stories that Allaah has narrated to us in His Book is
what happened in Allaah's month, the sacred month of Muharram, and
that is the story of Prophet Moosa)Moses( and Pharaoh, the tyrant of
Egypt. Allaah Almighty Says )what means(:"We recite to you from the
news of Moosa and Pharaoh in truth for a people who believe. Indeed,
Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and made its people into factions,
oppressing a sector among them,slaughtering their ]newborn[ sons and
keeping their females alive. Indeed, he was of the corrupters. And We
wanted to confer favor upon those who were oppressed in the land and
make them leaders and make them inheritors. And establish them in the
land and show Pharaoh and )his minister( Haman and their soldiers
throughthem that which they had feared."]Quran 28: 3-6[
Pharaoh dominated the nation ofIsrael and enslaved them, killing their
newborn sons but letting their females live. The reason he committed
this criminal act was the fear of the truth coming out from one of
those newborn males. The nation of Israel used to know, according to
what cameto them from Prophet Ibraaheem)Abraham(, that someone from
his lineage would destroy the king of Egypt. These glad tidings were
famous among them; and the news of it was made known to Pharaoh.
Pharaoh ordered his soldiers to kill all newborn boys of the nation of
Israel; in order to secure himself from destruction.
However, all of the precautions that he made were not enough to
protect him from what Allaah wanted, which was for this newborn boy to
be raised in the house of Pharaoh himself. The Will of Allaah cannot
be stopped by any precautions and His Abilityconquers anything. So,
Allaah chose for the Prophet Moosa to be born safely, to be saved from
being killed, and also to be raisedin Pharaoh's own home under the
protection of Allaah until he was an adult.
Later, Moosaaccidentally killed a person from Pharaoh's people by
mistake. Moosawas afraid that he would be captured and be killed for
this, sohe fled to the land of Madyan and abided there for some time.
He married there and then returned to Egypt. On the way back, Allaah
talked to him )by revelation( and told him he was aProphet and the
Messenger to Pharaoh. Allaah told him many signs by which he will be
known as the prophet of Allaah and they would show that hewas a true
prophet.
Moosawent to Pharaoh and showed him the signs of Allaah but Pharaoh
was arrogant and stubborn. Allaah Says )what means(:"Has there reached
you the story of Moosa? - When his Lord called to him in the sacred
valley of Tuwa, )Saying(: "Go to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed.
And say to him, 'Would you ]be willing to[ purify yourself And let me
guide you to your Lord so you would fear]Him[?'" And he showed him the
greatest sign. But Pharaoh denied and disobeyed. Then he turned his
back, striving. And he gathered ]his people[ and called out. And said,
"I am your most exalted lord."]Quran 79: 15-24[
Pharaoh claimed that the signs Moosabrought were only magic and that
he had magic that would overtake the magic ofMoosa. So Pharaoh
gathered magicians from his kingdom and they presented their magic.
Moosapresented what he had from the signs, which Allaah had given him.
Allaah Says )what means(:"So thetruth was established, and abolished
was what they were doing. And Pharaoh and his people were overcome
right there and became debased. And the magicians fell down in
prostration )to Allaah(. They said,"We have believed in the Lord of
the worlds, The Lord of Moosa and Haaroon )Aaron(."]Quran 7: 118-122[
At that time, Pharaoh decided to try a different plan - fear, force
and retaliation. Allaah told Moosato get every believer out of Egypt
and direct them to where Allaah would tell him. Pharaoh gathered his
army and forces, which were around one million soldiers, according to
some references, and he chased Moosaand his people, hoping to destroy
them completely. Moosaended up at the sea, with Pharaoh and his army
behind him. The believers were afraid because the sea was in front of
them and the enemy was behind them.
Allaah Says )what means(:"And when the two companies saw one another,
the companions of Moses said, "Indeed, we are to beovertaken!" ]Moses[
said, "No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me."]Quran 26:
61-62[
Whoever is close to Allaah, Allaah will never let him down or leave
him on his own. Allaah ordered Moosato strike the sea with his staff.
Moosadid so and the sea opened up for them to cross. Allaah Says )what
means(:"And We had inspired to Moosa,"Travel by night with My servants
and strike for them a dry path through the sea; you will not fearbeing
overtaken ]by Pharaoh[ norbe afraid ]of drowning[."]Quran 20: 77[
Moosawalked across the path that opened in the sea and the last of his
people left the sea and every soldier of Pharaoh's army was inside the
path. At this time Allaah ordered the sea to collapse upon them,
drowning Pharaoh and his army.
That was the victory of the truth over falsehood. The Promise of
Allaah was true – He made the people of Moosavictorious over Pharaoh
and his army. From this story we see how the truth isvictorious,
regardless of the size or seeming power of falsehood. Falsehood has
its own limited time, but the truth is always victorious.
This story should enrich the hearts of the believers and make them
steadfast in the face of their enemies, regardless of size or seeming
power of their enemies. The believer should alsobenefit from this
story by understanding that the people offalsehood claim that they are
on the right path and are calling people to the truth. In fact, the
opposite is true - they rely on lies and deception.
This great event – the victory Allaah gave Moosaand the believers over
Pharaoh and his army - occurred on the 10th of the sacred month of
Muharram and the day is called 'Aashooraa'. It is a day that has a
great merit. Prophet Moosafasted on that day, and ordered his people
to fast that day.
We also benefit from the story of Prophet Moosaby learning that the
Sunnah of the Prophets is to thank and praise Allaah in times of peace
and when they gain victory over their enemies. Prophet Moosafasted on
the10th, the day on which Allaah made his followers victorious over
Pharaoh; and this is another sign that the truth will always