Sex in Islam, - Part 1 - Sex in Islam: Its Role and Purpose

Author's Note: We received an e-mail enquiry recently from a
non-Muslim lady requesting information concerning the issue of sexual
relations and menopause in Islam. We felt that her question warranted
a more thorough approach, so we decided to publish a detailed answer.
Here is her original letter to us and our initial response to her.Her
name and e-mail address have been withheld.
Her original letter to us:
I saw your posting on soc.religion.islam and hope you don't mind my writing you.
I've been trying to find information on how Islam, specifically the
Qur'an, deals with the subject of sex. I am sure this may seem like a
set-up of some sort but please let me assure you, it is not.
I'm on several menopause mailing lists, and the subject of sex and
religion has come up. Some religions feel that sex should be only for
procreation and not for enjoyment. With menopause putting an end to a
woman's
fertility, those religions would appear to be saying that once a woman
reaches menopause, she shouldn't be having sex.
I've been submerging myself in Islam newsgroups and books for the past
month, and for the life of me, I can not find the reference that
indicated that Islam dictates sexual relations only within marriage,
and only for procreation.
Am I wrong? I'd appreciate any references that you might be able to
provide. Please feel free to forward this message to anyone you feel
may be able to help me. . . end of letter
Our initial e-mail response to her:
Thank you for your enquiry . . .
Briefly, here are some quick answers to your two questions:
1. Procreation is NOT the only purpose of marriage in Islam, because a
secondary purpose is also companionship and enjoyment.
2. Menopause does NOT put an end to sexual relations in a Muslim marriage.
End of our initial e-mail response to her
A more detailed response now follows . . .
Sex in Islam - Its Role and Purpose
by Syed Mumtaz Ali & Rabia Mills
In the Islamic faith, the first and the foremost and the most reliable
and highest form of religious law for faithful Muslims is contained
within the holy Qur'an. The Prophetic Traditions (also known
asHadith,which arethe sayings and doings and tacit approval of things
said or done in the presence of the Prophet Muhammad, p.b.u.h.) (1)are
a second source of law. With that said, we hope the following reply
will answer your question.
According to Islam, procreation isnotthe sole and only purpose of
marriage. While procreation is a primary purpose, companionship and
enjoyment of the spouse along with avoidance of unlawful or sinful
relationships are also secondary purposes. These secondary purposes
play their own important roles in the Islamic teachings which govern
sexual relations. In other words, although procreation is definitely
anaim, it isnot an exclusive aim. Procreation is the major purpose,
but nonetheless enjoyment and other purposes also play significant
roles in married life as evidenced by the Islamic teachings which
relate to sexual relations.
Although the primarypurposeof sex is procreation, the Qur'an does not
forbid it when a woman reaches menopause. For example, in the Qur'an
is the story is about the Prophet Zakariya a.s. (2)(Christian spelling
-- Zakaria) [see Qur'an 19:1-15] who had fathered a child well into
his old age. One verse in particular reads:
"He [Zakariya] said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son, when my wife
is barren and I have grown quite decrepit from old age?" [Qur'an 19:8]
"He said: "So (it will be): thy Lord saith, "That is easy for Me: I
did indeed create thee before, when thou hadst been nothing!" [Qur'an
19:9]
The Qur'anic reference above, then, shows the case of a couple
carrying on sexual relations well into old age. This in turn signifies
that these relations are allowed within marriage and into old age for
Muslim couples.
You will recall that this same story is found in the Old Testament
with reference to Zakaria a.s. who was made to be mute for three days
and nights as a sign from God.
In this connection, it is interesting to note that even in our
relatively recent times, history has recorded the fact that the great
SufiShaikh, Abdul Qadir Gilani r.a., was born on the 1st day of
Ramadan 470 A.H [some historians say 471 A.H] which corresponds to
March 18, 1078 A.D. His mother was 60 years of age at the time of his
birth.
In terms of the Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad, p.b.u.h. we can
see another meaningful example of this in the life of the Prophet. The
Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h. married his first wife (Khadija aged 40)
when he was 25 years old, and he remained monogamous throughout his
entire 26 years of marriage to her. He then married A'isha at the age
of 54, but this was three years after the death of Khadija. It was
after this marriage that he then took other wives. By the way, many
non-Muslim writers have directed a great deal of unjust criticism
against him for this. In fact all of these women were quite old or
were widows who had been left destitute and without protection during
those troubled times. And so as the head of State at Medina, the only
proper way (according to Arab code) in which Muhammad p.b.u.h. could
extend both protection and maintenance to them was by marriage.
(3)[see also Appendix A]Those marriages were not only consummated, but
ancillary sexual relations have also been reported to us through the
Hadith literature. Hence another proof that sexual relations are
considered acceptable well into old age. "Polygamy was not always
considered to be so reprehensible as it is now. For example, St.
Augustine himself observed that there was no intrinsic immorality or
sinfulness in it, and declared that polygamy was not a crime where it
was the legal institution of a country." (4)This subject matter,
however, is another topic altogether. [see also Appendix B]
We have reproduced an excerpt on our website by Dr. M.A. Rauf from his
book'Marriage in Islam'.In this excerpt, Dr. Rauf discusses in great
detail the advantages and possible disadvantages of marriage. Among
the advantages that he discusses are procreation, fulfilment of the
natural urge, companionship, comfort and relief to the soul, and so
on. He also discusses the disadvantages and the types of burdens and
risks involved with marriage. All of the advantages or benefits are in
effect meant to be regarded as the secondary purpose of marriage which
supplement its major aim or purpose, namely procreation. We would
highly recommend that you read this excerpt for a more complete
understanding of our present response to you.
With regards to your question regarding menopause, we would also
strongly suggest that you read the book "The Proper Conduct of
Marriage in Islam" by Imam al-Ghazzali. (5)[see also Appendix C] We
would particularly refer you to where al-Ghazzali explains the
rationale and reasoningfor the recommendation of marriage - even for
the impotent. In his Conclusion, al-Ghazzali discusses the other
purposes of marriage and that is to fulfil the natural sexual desires
as well as to experience its joy and protection from the perils of
lust.
If one cohabits with one's own wife -- not for carnal pleasure alone,
but for performing the duty imposed by God -- it would be an act of
piety and devotion, meriting the pleasure and reward from God and this
is as the Prophet p.b.u.h. has observed. This is what has been
described asspiritualizingtemporal duties. [see also Appendix D] You
might also refer to where Imam al-Ghazzali discusses the subject of
relaxation and recreationfor the soul and so on.
Islam also prescribes certain rules of sexual etiquette. Imam
al-Ghazzali also sets out the PropheticTraditionswhich deal with the
pleasures of 'foreplay' and other similar enjoyments that are
permitted when the wife is menstruating. Not permitted, however, is to
go so far as to copulate by means of penetration into the vagina
during menstruation.
Islam has declared fornication (which by definition in Islam includes
adultery) unlawful, and it goes to great lengths to make it repugnant
by sanction and deterrent. It has even gone so far as to make any
alliances of this type of unlawful sexual relationship a heinous sin
and an odious offence. In other words, sexual relations of any kind,
that fall outside of lawful marriage, are absolutely forbidden. For
example:
"Nor come nigh to adultery for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil,
opening the road (to other evils)."[Qur'an 17:32]
"The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication - flog each
of them with a hundred stripes. Let not compassion move you in their
case, in a matter prescribed by Allah, if ye believe in Allah and the
Last Day. And let a party of the Believers witness their
punishment."[Qur'an 24:2]
"Those who bring the charge of adultery against chaste women but
cannot produce four witnesses to prove the charge, give them 80 lashes
and their testimony should never be believed."[Qur'an 24:4]
Four Prophetic Traditions [Hadith]:
1. "Said the Prophet: 'A grievously heinous sin in the estimation of
God is to commit adultery with a woman living in one's neighbourhood'"
[Bukhari & Muslim]
2. " He or she who casts a lewd glance at another and allows himself
of herself to be attracted likewise, both meet the displeasure of
God." [Dailami]
3. "There is nothing which God abhors more than adultery."
4. "Observed the Prophet: 'Whenever a calamity befalls a centre of
population, take it for granted that immorality is rampant in that
place.' [Dailami]
More Qur'anic quotes and Hadith:
"And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among
yourselves, that ye maydwell in tranquillitywith them, andHe has put
love and mercy between your (hearts). Verily in that are Signs for
those who reflect."[Qur'an 30:21]
"And those who pray, "Our Lord! Grant unto us wives and offspring who
will be thecomfort of our eyes, and give us (the grace) to lead the
righteous." [Qur'an 25:74]
"Your wives are a tilth unto you; so go to your tilth when or how you
will."[Qur'an 2:223]
Hadith:"Narrated Abdullah Ibn Abbas: Ibn Umar misunderstood (the
Qur'anic verse, "So come to your tilth however you will") - may Allah
forgive him. The fact is that this clan of the Ansar, who were
idolaters, lived in the company of the Jews who were the people of the
Book. They (the Ansar) accepted their superiority over themselves in
respect of knowledge and the followed most of their actions. The
people of the Book (i.e., the Jews) used to have intercourse with
their women on one side alone (i.e., lying on their backs). This was
the most concealing position for (the vagina of) the women. This clan
of the Ansar adopted this practice from them. But this tribe of the
Quraysh used to uncover their women completely, and seek pleasure with
them from in front and behind and laying them on their backs.
When themuhajirun(the immigrants) came to Medina, a man married a
woman of the Ansar. He began to do the same kind of action with her,
but she disliked it, and said to him: We were approached on one side
(i.e. lying on the back); do it so, otherwise keep away from me. The
matter of theirs spread widely and it reached the Apostle of Allah
(peace be upon him).
So Allah, the Exalted, sent down the Qur'anic verse: "Your wives are a
tilth to you, so come to your tilth however you will," i.e., from in
front, from behind or lying on the back. But this verse meant the
place of the delivery of the child, i.e., the vagina." [from
theHadithliterature: Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 11, Number 2159]
"Permitted to you, on the night of the fasts, is the approach to your
wives.They are your garments and ye are their garments."[Qur'an 2:187]
"It is He Who has created you from a single person (Adam), and (then)
He has created from him his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], in order that he
mightenjoy the pleasureof living with her . . ."[Qur'an 7:189]
"And Allah has made for youmates (and companions)of your own nature,
and made for you, out of them, sons and daughters and grandchildren,
and provided for you sustenance of the best: will they then believe in
vain things, and be ungrateful for Allah's favours?"[Qur'an 16:72]
Hadith:On the authority of Abu Dharr : Some of the companions of the
messenger of Allah said :" O Messenger of Allah, the affluent have
made off with the rewards, they pray as we pray they fast as we fast,
and they give away in charity the superfluity of their wealth." He
said:" Has not Allah made things for you to give away in charity ?
Everytasbihahis a charity, everytakbirahis a charity, everytahmidahis
a charity, and everytahlilahis a charity, to enjoin a good action is a
charity, to forbid an evil action is a charity, and in the sexual act
of each of you there is a charity." They said: "O Messenger of Allah,
when one of us fulfils his sexual desire will he have some reward for
that?" He said: "Do you not think that were he to act upon it
unlawfully he would be sinning ? Likewise, if he has acted upon it
lawfully he will have a reward." [Muslim]
Appendix A
From "Life of Muhammad" by A.H. Hamid Siddiqui. Hilal Publications,
Calcutta 1981. Pages 243-247.
Marriages of the Holy Prophet
"He was hardly twenty-five years of age when he married Khadijah, who
was fifteen years older than himself. It was with her and her alone
that he passed all the years of his youth and manhood until she died
three years before Hijra, when he was already a man of fifty. After
the sad demise of Khadijah, he again went in for a widow, this time a
helpless one in great distress. She was one of the earliest converts
to Islam who had suffered many hardships for the cause of Truth.
The Holy Prophet married A'ishah, the daughter of his devoted friend
Abu Bakr. She was the only virgin wife of Muhammad (peace be upon
him).
Events took a very serious turn in Medina. The enmity of the Quraysh
resulted in armed battles in which so many of the noble Muslims fell
as martyrs. It was, therefore, the bounden duty of the Holy Prophet
and his companions to alleviate the sufferings of the widows and the
orphans who had been deprived of their husbands and fathers. Muhammad
(peace be upon him) undertook the major burden on himself and married
Hafsa, daughter of 'Umar, whose husband had died in the battle of
Badr. It was on this ground of clemency and compassion that the Holy
Prophet married Zaynab, the daughter of Khuzaimah, who had been
deprived of her husband in Uhud. Her parents were non-Muslims living
in Mecca and after the martyrdom of her husband, there was none to
take care of her. The next lady to enter the hospitable household of
the Holy Prophet was Umm Salamah whose husband had received fatal
injuries in the battle of Uhud and died leaving behind a pregnant
widow and a daughter. The Prophet was moved by her pitiable condition
and honoured her by taking her as his wife. The events relating to the
marriage of Zaynab bint Jahsh have been discussed in great detail in
the foregoing pages and it has been established that this marriage was
governed by some important social considerations, i.e. to obliterate
the customs of adoptive affinity and also to remove the false notion
then prevalent in society that the divorce of a noble lady by a freed
slave undermined her prestige.
Besides these widows of his faithful followers, whom it fell to his
lot to take under his protection and share their sufferings and
sorrows, the Holy Prophet also took three widows of his enemies in
marriage. The entry of these three ladies, Juwayriyah, Maymuna and
Safiyyah (may Allah be pleased with them) in the house of the Holy
Prophet, became the means whereby relations with various tribes were
cemented and this is how hostilities came to an end.
It is quite evident that the marriages of the Holy Prophet were
governed mainly by the feeling of compassion for the widows of his
faithful followers, who had no means to fall back upon after they were
bereft of the love and care of their husbands. This fact has been
acknowledged even by the critics of the Prophet. "It would be
remembered, however," says Bosworth Smith, "that most of Muhammad's
marriages may be explained, at least, as much by his pity for the
forlorn condition of the persons concerned, as by other motives."
Other marriages were contacted from the motives of policy, in order to
conciliate the heads of rival factions.
Then there was also one more consideration, in no way less important
than those discussed earlier, which led to these marriages. Muhammad
(peace be upon him) was the bearer of God's message not only for men,
but also for women. The womenfolk needed the prophetic guidance,
training and instruction in the same way as the males. The Holy
Prophet was fully cognizant of the need of Muslim society. He had,
therefore, in the best interest of the Ummah, endeavored to create a
new leadership amongst women, which, like its counterpart amongst men
could, by precept and example, help the formation of a new type of
womanhood representing the teachings of Islam. How could this
objective be achieved without first preparing the most perfect
specimen of Muslim womanhood. The Holy Prophet allowed some women,
belonging to different social groups, having different tastes and
tendencies and different intellectual standards to enter his household
as his wives and then by his close personal contact, nurture and train
their God-given faculties so perfectly in accordance with the
teachings of Islam that they could serve as pillars of light not only
for the womenfolk of the Islamic commonwealth, but for the whole of
womankind. One or two woman could not undertake this heavy
responsibility. A whole group was required to meet this need.
Moreover, there is a good deal of difference in the nature of training
essential for male and female. Man's life is dominated by social
activities, whereas the natural sphere of woman's work is primarily
her home. It is the wife alone who shares with the husband even the
most secret affairs of life. The Holy Prophet could not prepare the
specimen of Islamic womanhood unless he allowed some ladies to enter
the innermost chambers of his domestic life. In view of the teachings
of Islam, with regard to seclusion of sexes, only the noble wives of
the Holy Prophet could be accommodated on this plane and mankind owes
a deep debt of gratitude to these noble ladies that they communicated
to us most faithfully, the sacred account of the Prophet's private
life, which, like his public career, had so many facets and has been
made a model pattern for the believers, both men and women. The
injunction of the Qur'an: 'Verily in the Apostle of Allah, you have
the best example' (33:2) covers not only one aspect of his sacred
life, but his whole life . It was with a view to achieving this
objective, i.e., the authentic transmission of the Prophet's home life
to the people that a few noble ladies were made to enter his house as
his wives.
The Qur'anic verse:'It is not allowed to take wives after this, nor to
change them for others(33:52) implies that the Holy Prophet, like all
his other acts, contacted those marriages perfectly in accordance with
the will of the Lord. There was a divine purpose behind them and when
it was achieved, a restriction was place upon him.
That the Prophet married these ladies as a religious necessity can
well be judged from the fact that he spent his youth in the company of
one wife, Khadijah only. At the age of forty he was commissioned as a
Prophet, and during the first twelve years of his prophethood, when he
had only to instil in the minds of the people the fundamentals of
faith, i.e., Oneness of God, apostlehood of Muhammad, life after
death, he did not feel the necessity of marrying any other lady. After
the death of Khadijah, he married Sawda, a widow of advanced age. But
with the migration to Medina when Islamic society was established, the
Muslims were required to conform their social and personal behaviour
to the teachings of Islam, revelations for practical guidance in all
walks of life came from Allah. These had to be explained by the life
example of the holy Prophet. There was not one problem, but numerous
problems concerning all phases of life that needed solving at every
step. How the holy Prophet solved them must be made known to the
people as it is also an integral part of the faith for 'he does not
speak of his own desire'(Qur'an 53:3) It is God who speaks through him
in whatever he utters by way of spiritual guidance or practical
legislation. Now, whatever the Holy Prophet said or did in public
could easily be conveyed to the other people for their guidance. But
what about his private life which was equally important and divinely
inspired and had to serve as an example for the Believers? It is
through the noble wives of the holy Prophet that the Muslims learnt
the teachings of Islam in their personal concerns. It was not an
ordinary work, but an important task of vast magnitude which was
admirably accomplished by these pious ladies. (Allah be pleased with
them). How can these facts be justifiably ignored in the matter of
Muhammad's marriages?
It is strange indeed that the western critics of Islam and of the holy
Prophet in their sordid endeavors to malign Muhammad (peace be upon
him) close their eyes to all those illuminating facts which prove that
his was a life of perfect sublimity and single-minded devotion to
Allah, absolutely free from the taint of base desires. It is narrated
on the authority of Jabir b. 'Abd Allah that Abu Jahl and some of the
chiefs of the Quraysh approached the holy Prophet and said:
" If you are anxious for leadership, we are prepared to declare you
our leader, if you need riches, we would collect for you an enormous
amount of wealth that will suffice not only for you but even for your
descendants; if you are impelled by sexual urge, you may choose ten
beautiful damsels out of the whole tribe of Quraysh. The holy Prophet
kept silent and did not utter a word. When their talks concluded, the
holy Prophet recited the following verse of the Qur'an:
Ha Mim! A revelation from the Beneficent, the Merciful; A Book of
which the verses are made plain, an Arabic Qur'an for people who know
and the bearer of glad tidings and a warner: Yet most of them turn
aside so that they hearken not. [Qur'an 41:4-4]
The holy Prophet recited these verses of the Qur'an and concluded them
with the following verse:
Then if they still turn away, say thou: I warn you of calamity of the
'Ad and Thamud.[Qur'an 51: 13]
Even this single event is enough to prove Muhammad's immense love for
Allah, his devotion to his sacred mission and the insignificance in
his eyes the worldly pleasures. Allurement could not distract him,
even for a moment, form the noble cause for which he stood and
suffered all kinds of hardships and privations. No opportunity could
be more attractive than that this offered by the chiefs of Quraysh for
the satisfaction of sensuous pleasures, if he were so inclined."
(Tobe continued)

Virtues of Muharram and Fasting on 'Ashura', The

Important - Muharram 1434H (2012CE)
Muharram began on 15 November according to Saudi Arabia (please note
that local sightings may differ). Therefeore, Ashura will be 24
November 2012 in Saudi Arabia.
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be
upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets and Chief of the
Messengers, and upon all his family and companions.
Allah's sacred month ofMuharramis a blessed and important month. It is
the first month of theHijricalendar and is one of the four sacred
months concerning which Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year),
so it was ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and
the earth; of them, four are sacred. That is the right religion, so
wrong not yourselves therein … "[Al-Qur'an9:36]
Abu Bakarah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:"The year is twelve
months of which four are sacred, the three consecutive months of
Dhul-Qa'dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab Mudar which comes
between Jumadah and Sha'ban."[Reported by al-Bukhari, 2958]
Muharramis so called because it is a sacred (muharram) month and to
confirm its sanctity. Allah's words (interpretation of the meaning):"
... so wrong not yourselves therein … "mean do not wrong yourselves in
these sacred months, because sin in these months is worse than in
other months. It was reported that Ibn 'Abbas said that this phrase
referred to all the months, then these four were singled out and made
sacred, so that sin in these months is more serious and good deeds
bring a greater reward.
Qatadah said concerning this phrase that wrongdoing during the sacred
months is more serious and more sinful that wrongdoing at any other
time. Wrongdoing at any time is a serious matter, but Allah gives more
weight to whichever of His commands He will. Allah has chosen certain
ones of His creation. He has chosen from among the angels Messengers
and from among mankind Messengers. He chose from among speech the
remembrance of Him (dhikr). He chose from among the earth the mosques,
from among the monthsRamadhanand the sacred months, from among the
days Friday and from among the nightsLaylatul-Qadr, so venerate that
which Allah has told us to venerate. People of understanding and
wisdom venerate the things that Allah has told us to venerate.
[Summarized from theTafsirof Ibn Kathir,may Allah have mercy on
him.TafsirofSurah at-Tawbah,ayah36]
The Virtue of Observing MoreNafilFasts During Muharram
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The Messenger of
Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:'The best of
fasting after Ramadhan is fasting Allah's month of Muharram.'"
[Reported by Muslim, 1982]
The phrase"Allah's month", connecting the name of the month to the
name of Allah in a genitive grammatical structure, signifies the
importance of the month. Al-Qari said:"The apparent meaning is all of
the month ofMuharram."But it was proven that the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) never fasted any whole month apart
fromRamadhan, so thishadithis probably meant to encourage increasing
one's fasting duringMuharram, without meaning that one should fast for
the entire month.
It was reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him) used to fast more inSha'ban. It is likely that the virtue
ofMuharramwas not revealed to him until the end of his life, before he
was able to fast during this month. [Sharh an-Nawawi 'ala Sahih
Muslim]
Allah Chooses Whatever Times and Places He Wills
Al-'Izz ibn 'Abdus-Salam (may Allah have mercy on him) said:"Times and
places may be given preferred status in two ways, either temporal or
religious/spiritual. With regard to the latter, this is because Allah
bestows His generosity on His slaves at those times or in those
places, by giving a greater reward for deeds done, such as giving a
greater reward for fasting inRamadhanthan for fasting at all other
times, and also on the day of'Ashura', the virtue of which is due to
Allah's generosity and kindness towards His slaves on that day …
"[Qawa'id al-Ahkam, 1/38]
'Ashura'in History
Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allah be upon him) came to Madinah and saw the Jews
fasting on the day of'Ashura'. He said,'What is this?'They said, 'This
is a righteous day, it is the day when Allah saved the Children of
Israel from their enemies, so Musa fasted on this day.' He said,'We
have more right to Musa than you,'so he fasted on that day and
commanded [the Muslims] to fast on that day." [Reported by al-Bukhari,
1865] "This is a righteous day" – in a report narrated by Muslim, [the
Jews said:] "This is a great day, on which Allah saved Musa and his
people, and drowned Pharaoh and his people." "Musa fasted on this day"
– a report narrated by Muslim adds: " … in thanksgiving to Allah, so
we fast on this day." According to a report narrated by al-Bukhari: "
… so we fast on this day to venerate it." A version narrated
byImamAhmad adds: "This is the day on which the Ark settled on Mount
Judi, so Nuh fasted this day in thanksgiving," and "commanded [the
Muslims] to fast on that day" – according to another report also
narrated by al-Bukhari: "He said to his Companions:'You have more
right to Musa than they do, so fast on that day.'"
The practice of fasting on'Ashura'was known even in the days
ofJahiliyyah, before the Prophet's mission. It was reported that
'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said:"The people
ofJahiliyyahused to fast on that day … "
Al-Qurtubi said:"PerhapsQurayshused to fast on that day on the basis
of some past law, such as that of Ibrahim,upon whom be peace."
It was also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him) used to fast on'Ashura'in Makkah, before he migrated to
Madinah. When he migrated to Madinah, he found the Jews celebrating
this day, so he asked them why, and they replied as described in
thehadithquoted above. He commanded the Muslims to be different from
the Jews, who took it as a festival, as was reported in thehadithof
Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:"The Jews used to
take the day of'Ashura'as a festival[according to a report narrated by
Muslim: the day of'Ashura'was venerated by the Jews, who took it as a
festival. According to another report also narrated by Muslim: the
people of Khaybar (the Jews) used to take it as a festival and their
women would wear their jewellery and symbols on that day].The Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:'So you [Muslims]
should fast on that day.'"[Reported by al-Bukhari] Apparently the
motive for commanding the Muslims to fast on this day was the desire
to be different from the Jews, so that the Muslims would fast when the
Jews did not, because people do not fast on a day of celebration.
[Summarized from the words ofal-HafidhIbn Hajar –may Allah have mercy
on him– inFath al-Bari Sharh 'ala Sahih al-Bukhari]
Fasting on'Ashura'was a gradual step in the process of introducing
fasting as a prescribed obligation in Islam. Fasting appeared in three
forms. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him) came to Madinah, he told the Muslims to fast on three days
of every month and on the day of'Ashura', then Allah made fasting
obligatory when He said (interpretation of the meaning):" … observing
the fasting is prescribed for you … "[Al-Qur'an2:183] [Ahkam
al-Qur'anby al-Jassas, part 1]
The obligation was transferred from the fast of'Ashura'to the fast
ofRamadhan, and this one of the proofs in the field ofUsul al-Fiqhthat
it is possible to abrogate a lighter duty in favour of a heavier duty.
Before the obligation of fasting'Ashura'was abrogated, fasting on this
day was obligatory, as can be seen from the clear command to observe
this fast. Then it was further confirmed later on, then reaffirmed by
making it a general command addressed to everybody, and once again by
instructing mothers not to breastfeed their infants during this fast.
It was reported from Ibn Mas'ud that when fastingRamadhanwas made
obligatory, the obligation to fast'Ashura'was lifted, i.e., it was no
longer obligatory to fast on this day, but it is still desirable
(mustahabb).
The Virtues of Fasting'Ashura'
Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said:"I never saw the
Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) so keen
to fast any day and give it priority over any other than this day, the
day of'Ashura', and this month, meaningRamadhan."[Reported by
al-Bukhari, 1867]
The meaning of his being keen was that he intended to fast on that day
in the hope of earning the reward for doing so. The Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) said:"For fasting the day of 'Ashura',
I hope that Allah will accept it as expiation for the year that went
before."[Reported by Muslim, 1976] This is from the bounty of Allah
towards us: for fasting one day He gives us expiation for the sins of
a whole year.And Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty.
Which Day is'Ashura'?
An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:"'Ashura'andTasu'a'are
two elongated names [the vowels are elongated] as is stated in books
on the Arabic language. Our companions said:'Ashura'is the tenth day
ofMuharramandTasu'a'is the ninth day. This is our opinion, and that of
the majority of scholars. This is the apparent meaning of
theahadithand is what we understand from the general wording. It is
also what is usually understood by scholars of the
language."[Al-Majmu'])
'Ashura'is an Islamic name that was not known at the time
ofJahiliyyah. [Kashshaf al-Qina', part 2,Sawm Muharram]
Ibn Qudamah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:"'Ashura'is the tenth
day ofMuharram. This is the opinion of Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib and
al-Hasan. It was what was reported by Ibn 'Abbas, who said: 'The
Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
commanded us to fast'Ashura', the tenth day ofMuharram.'[Reported by
at-Tirmidhi, who said, asahih hasan hadith]It was reported that Ibn
'Abbas said: 'The ninth,' and reported that the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) used to fast the ninth. [Reported by
Muslim] 'Ata' reported that he said, 'Fast the ninth and the tenth,
and do not be like the Jews.' If this is understood, we can say on
this basis that it ismustahabb(encouraged) to fast on the ninth and
the tenth, for that reason. This is what Ahmad said, and it is the
opinion of Ishaq."
It isMustahabb(Encouraged) to FastTasu'a'with'Ashura'
'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said:"When
the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
fasted on'Ashura'and commanded the Muslims to fast as well, they said,
'O Messenger of Allah, it is a day that is venerated by the Jews and
Christians.' The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him) said,'If I live to see the next year, in sha Allah, we will
fast on the ninth day too.'But it so happened that the Messenger of
Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) passed away before
the next year came."[Reported by Muslim, 1916]
Ash-Shafi'i and his companions, Ahmad, Ishaq and others said:"It
ismustahabbto fast on both the ninth and tenth days, because the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) fasted on the
tenth, and intended to fast on the ninth."
On this basis it may be said that there are varying degrees of
fasting'Ashura', the least of which is to fast only on the tenth and
the best of which is to fast the ninth as well. The more one fasts
inMuharram, the better it is.
The Reason Why it isMustahabbto Fast onTasu'a'
An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:"The scholars – our
companions and others – mentioned several reasons why it ismustahabbto
fast onTasu'a':
"The intention behind it is to be different from the Jews, who only
venerate the tenth day. This opinion was reported from Ibn 'Abbas …
"The intention is to add another day's fast to'Ashura'. This is akin
to the prohibition on fasting a Friday by itself, as was mentioned by
al-Khattabi and others.
"To be on the safe side and make sure that one fasts on the tenth, in
case there is some error in sighting the crescent moon at the
beginning ofMuharramand the ninth is in fact the tenth."
The strongest of these reasons is being different from the People of
the Book.Shaykh ul-Islamibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him)
said:"The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade
imitating the People of the Book in manyahadith, for example, his
words concerning'Ashura':'If I live until the next year, I will
certainly fast on the ninth day.'"[Al-Fatawa al-Kubra, part 6,Sadd
adh-Dhara'i' al-Mufdiyyah ila'l-Maharim]
Ibn Hajar (may Allah be pleased with him) said in his commentary on
thehadith"If I live until the next year, I will certainly fast on the
ninth day"and"What he meant by fasting on the ninth day was probably
not that he would limit himself to that day, but would add it to the
tenth, either to be on the safe side or to be different from the Jews
and Christians, which is more likely. This is also what we can
understand from some of the reports narrated by Muslim."[Fath, 4/245]
Ruling on Fasting Only on the Day of'Ashura'
Shaykh ul-Islamsaid:"Fasting on the day of'Ashura'is an expiation for
a year, and it is notmakruhto fast only that day … "[Al-Fatawa
al-Kubra, part 5] InTuhfat al-Muhtajby Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, it
says:"There is nothing wrong with fasting only on'Ashura'."[Part 3,Bab
Sawm at-Tatawwu']
Fasting on'Ashura'even if it is a Saturday or a Friday
At-Tahawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:"The Messenger of Allah
(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) allowed us to fast
on'Ashura'and urged us to do so. He did not say that if it falls on a
Saturday we should not fast. This is evidence that all days of the
week are included in this. In our view –and Allah knows best– it could
be the case that even if this is true (that it is not allowed to fast
on Saturdays), it is so that we do not venerate this day and refrain
from food, drink and intercourse, as the Jews do. As for the one who
fasts on a Saturday without intending to venerate it, and does not do
so because the Jews regard it as blessed, then this is notmakruh…
"[Mushkil al-Athar, part 2,Bab Sawm Yawm as-Sabt]
The author ofAl-Minhajsaid:"It is disliked (makruh) to fast on a
Friday alone … But it is no longermakruhif you add another day to it,
as mentioned in thesahihreport to that effect. A person may fast on a
Friday if it coincides with his habitual fast, or he is fasting in
fulfilment of a vow, or he is making up an obligatory fast that he has
missed, as was stated in asahihreport."
Ash-Sharih said inTuhfat al-Muhtaj:"If it coincides with his habitual
fast – i.e., such as if he fasts alternate days, and a day that he
fasts happens to be a Friday, if he is fasting in fulfilment of a vow,
etc."– this also applies to fasting on days prescribed inShari'ah,
such as'Ashura'or 'Arafah. [Tuhfat al-Muhtaj, part 3,Bab Sawm
al-Tatawwu']
Al-Bahuti (may Allah have mercy on him) said:"It ismakruhto
deliberately single out a Saturday for fasting, because of thehadithof
'Abdullah ibn Bishr, who reported from his sister: 'Do not fast on
Saturdays except in the case of obligatory fasts' [reported by Ahmad
with ajayyid isnadand by al-Hakim, who said: according to the
conditions of al-Bukhari], and because it is a day that is venerated
by the Jews, so singling it out for fasting means being like them …
except when a Friday or Saturday coincides with a day when Muslims
habitually fast, such as when it coincides with the day of 'Arafah or
the day of'Ashura', and a person has the habit of fasting on these
days, in which case it is notmakruh, because a person's habit carries
some weight."[Kashshaf al-Qina', part 2,Bab Sawm al-Tatawwu']
What Should be Done if there is Confusion about the Beginning of the Month?
Ahmad said:"If there is confusion about the beginning of the month,
one should fast for three days, to be sure of fasting on the ninth and
tenth days."[Al-Mughniby Ibn Qudamah, part 3 –as-Siyam–Siyam 'Ashur']
If a person does not know whenMuharrambegan, and he wants to be sure
of fasting on the tenth, he should assume thatDhul-Hijjahwas thirty
days – as is the usual rule – and should fast on the ninth and tenth.
Whoever wants to be sure of fasting the ninth as well should fast the
eight, ninth and tenth (then ifDhul-Hijjahwas twenty-nine days, he can
be sure of having fastedTasu'a'and'Ashura').
But given that fasting on'Ashura'ismustahabbrather thanwajib, people
are not commanded to look for the crescent of the new moon
ofMuharramas they are to do in the case ofRamadhanandShawwal.
Fasting'Ashura'– For What Does it Offer Expiation?
Imaman-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:"It expiates for all
minor sins, i.e., it brings forgiveness of all sins except major
sins."Then he said (may Allah have mercy on him):"Fasting the day of
'Arafah expiates for two years, and the day of'Ashura'expiates for one
year. If when a person says 'Amin' it coincides with the 'Amin' of the
angels, he will be forgiven all his previous sins … Each one of the
things that we have mentioned will bring expiation. If there are minor
sins for which expiation is needed, expiation for them will be
accepted; if there are no minor sins or major sins, good deeds will be
added to his account and he will be raised in status … If he had
committed major sins but no minor sins, we hope that his major sins
will be reduced."[Al-Majmu' Sharh al-Muhadhdhab, part 6,Sawm Yawm
'Arafah]
Shaykh ul-IslamIbn Taymiyyah (ay Allah have mercy on himmay Allah have
mercy on him) said:"Taharah,salah, and fasting inRamadhan, on the day
of 'Arafah and on'Ashura'expiate for minor sins only."[Al-Fatawa
al-Kubra, part 5]
Not Relying Too Much on the Reward for Fasting
Some people who are deceived rely too much on things like fasting
on'Ashura'or the day of 'Arafah, to the extent that some of them say,
"Fasting on'Ashura'will expiate for the sins of the whole year, and
fasting on the day of 'Arafah will bring extra rewards." Ibn al-Qayyim
said:"This misguided person does not know that fasting inRamadhanand
praying five times a day are much more important than fasting on the
day of 'Arafah and'Ashura', and that they expiate for the sins between
oneRamadhanand the next, or between one Friday and the next, so long
as one avoids major sins. But they cannot expiate for minor sins
unless one also avoids major sins; when the two things are put
together, they have the strength to expiate for minor sins. Among
those deceived people may be one who thinks that his good deeds are
more than his sins, because he does not pay attention to his bad deeds
or check on his sins, but if he does a good deed he remembers it and
relies on it. This is like the one who seeks Allah's forgiveness with
his tongue (i.e., by words only), and glorifies Allah by
saying"Subhanallah"one hundred times a day, then he backbites about
the Muslims and slanders their honour, and speaks all day long about
things that are not pleasing to Allah. This person is always thinking
about the virtues of histasbihat(saying "Subhanallah")
andtahlilat(saying "La ilaha illallah") but he pays no attention to
what has been reported concerning those who backbite, tell lies and
slander others, or commit other sins of the tongue. They are
completely deceived."[Al-Mawsu'ah al-Fiqhiyyah, part 31,Ghurur]
Fasting'Ashura'When One Still has Days to Make Up From Ramadhan
Thefuqaha'differed concerning the ruling on observing voluntary fasts
before a person has made up days that he or she did not fast
inRamadhan. The Hanafis said that it is permissible to observe
voluntary fasts before making up days fromRamadhan, and it is
notmakruhto do so, because the missed days do not have to be made up
straight away. The Malikis and Shafi'is said that it is permissible
but ismakruh, because it means that one is delaying something
obligatory. Ad-Dusuqi said:"It ismakruhto observe a voluntary fast
when one still has to make up an obligatory fast, such as a fast in
fulfilment of a vow, or a missed obligatory fast, or a fast done as an
act of expiation (kafarah), whether the voluntary fast which is being
given priority over an obligatory fast is something confirmed
inShari'ahor not, such as'Ashura'and the ninth ofDhul-Hijjah,
according to the most correct opinion."The Hanbalis said that it
isharamto observe a voluntary fast before making up any fasts missed
inRamadhan, and that a voluntary fast in such cases does not count,
even if there is plenty of time to make up the obligatory fast. So a
person must give priority to the obligatory fasts until he has made
them up. [Al-Mawsu'ah al-Fiqhiyyah, part 28,Sawm at-Tatawwu']
Muslims must hasten to make up any missed fasts afterRamadhan, so that
they will be able to fast 'Arafah and'Ashura'without any problem. If a
person fasts 'Arafah and'Ashura'with the intention from the night
before of making up for a missed fast, this will be good enough to
make up what he has missed, for the bounty of Allah is great.
Innovations Common on'Ashura'
Shaykh ul-IslamIbn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked
about the things that people deople do on'Ashura', such as
wearingkohl, taking a bath (ghusl), wearinghenna, shaking hands with
one another, cooking grains (hubub), showing happiness and so on. Was
any of this reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him) in asahih hadith, or not? If nothing to that effect was
reported in asahih hadith, is doing these thingsbid'ah, or not? Is
there any basis for what the other group do, such as grieving and
mourning, going without anything to drink, eulogizing and wailing,
reciting in a crazy manner, and rending their garments?rments?
His reply was:"Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Nothing to
that effect has been reported in anysahih hadithfrom the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) or from his Companions.
None of the Imams of the Muslims encouraged or recommended such
things, neither the four Imams, nor any others. No reliable scholars
have narrated anything like this, neither from the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him), nor from theSahabah, nor from
theTabi'in; neither in anysahihreport or in ada'if(weak) report;
neither in the books ofSahih, nor inas-Sunan, nor in the Musnads.
Nohadithof this nature was known during the best centuries, but some
of the later narrators reportedahadithlike the one which says,
'Whoever putskohlin his eyes on the day of'Ashura'will not suffer from
eye disease in that year, and whoever takes a bath (doesghusl) on the
day of'Ashura'will not get sick in that year,' and so on. They also
reported a fabricatedhadiththat is falsely attributed to the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), which says, 'Whoever is
generous to his family on the day of'Ashura', Allah will be generous
to him for the rest of the year.' Reporting all of this from the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is tantamount to
lying."
Then he [Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him)] discussed in
brief the tribulations that had occurred in the early days of
thisUmmahand the killing of al-Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him),
and what the various sects had done because of this. Then he said:
"An ignorant, wrongful group – who were either heretics and
hypocrites, or misguided and misled – made a show of allegiance to him
and the members of his household, so they took the day of'Ashura'as a
day of mourning and wailing, in which they openly displayed the
rituals ofjahiliyyahsuch as slapping their cheeks and rending their
garments, grieving in the manner of thejahiliyyah...…
"The Shaytan made this attractive to those who are misled, so they
took the day of'Ashura'as an occasion of mourning, when they grieve
and wail, recite poems of grief and tell stories filled with lies.
Whatever truth there may be in these stories serves no purpose other
than the renewal of their grief and sectarian feeling, and the
stirring up of hatred and hostility among the Muslims, which they do
by cursing those who came before them …
"The evil and harm that they do to the Muslims cannot be enumerated by
any man, no matter how eloquent he is. Some others – either Nasibis
who oppose and have enmity towards al-Husayn and his family or
ignorant people who try to fight evil with evil, corruption with
corruption, lies with lies andbid'ahwithbid'ah– opposed them by
fabricating reports in favour of making the day of'Ashura'a day of
celebration, by wearingkohlandhenna, spending money on one's children,
cooking special dishes and other things that are done on'Eidand
special occasions. These people took the day of'Ashura'as a festival
like'Eid, whereas the others took it as a day of mourning. Both are
wrong, and both go against theSunnah, even though the other group
(those who take it as a day of mourning) are worse in intention and
more ignorant and more plainly wrong …
"Neither the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) nor
his successors (thekhulafa' ar-rashidun) did any of these things on
the day of'Ashura',they neither made it a day of mourning nor a day of
celebration …
"As for the other things, such as cooking special dishes with or
without grains, or wearing new clothes, or spending money on one's
family, or buying the year's supplies on that day, or doing special
acts of worship such as special prayers or deliberately slaughtering
an animal on that day, or saving some of the meat of the sacrifice to
cook with grains, or wearingkohlandhenna, or taking a bath (ghusl), or
shaking hands with one another, or visiting one another, or visiting
the mosques and shrines and so on … all of this is
reprehensiblebid'ahand is wrong. None of it has anything to do with
theSunnahof the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him) or the way of theKhulafa' ar-Rashidun. It was not approved
of by any of the Imams of the Muslims, not Malik, not ath-Thawri, not
al-Layth ibn Sa'ad, not Abu Hanifah, not al-Awza'i, not al-Shafi'i,
not Ahmad ibn Hanbal, not Ishaq ibn Rahwayh, not any of the Imams and
scholars of the Muslims."[Al-Fatawa al-Kubraby Ibn Taymiyyah]
Ibn al-Hajj (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned that one of
thebid'ahon'Ashura'was deliberately payingzakaton this day, late or
early, or slaughtering a chicken just for this occasion, or – in the
case of women – usinghenna. [Al-Madkhal, part 1,Yawm 'Ashura']
We ask Allah to make us followers of the Sunnah of His Noble Prophet,
to make us live in Islam and die in a state of faith. May He help us
to do that which He loves and which pleases Him. We ask Him to help us
to remember Him and be thankful to Him, to worship Him properly and to
accept our good deeds. May He make us of those who are pious and fear
Him. May Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad and all his family and
companions.

Muharram/Islamic New Year

The Islamic year lasts for about 354 days and consists of 12 months.
Muharram is the first month and some Muslims mark the start of the
Islamic year on the first day of Muharram. Many Muslims fast during
daylight hours on the ninth and 10th or 10th and 11th days of the
month to mark the Day of Ashura (Yaumu-l 'Ashurah). This is the
anniversary of the death of Husayn ibn Ali, a grandson of the Prophet
Muhammed.
There may be some congestion around mosques on some days, particularly
in the evenings, during Muharram.
©i Stockphoto.com/PhilSig in
What do people do?
On the first day of Muharram, some groups of Muslims mark the first
day of the Islamic year and others begin observing the Commemoration
of Muharram. This marks the 10 days between the anniversaries of the
battle of Karbala (currently in Iraq) and the death of Husayn ibn Ali
in the year 680 CE.
The events of Muharram are commemorated in many ways in different
Islamic denominations and cultures. However, it is common for Muslims
to fast during the hours of daylight on the 10th day of the month,
known as the day of Ashura, and also on the ninth or 11th day. Mosques
may provide free meals (nazar) on these dates. In some countries,
other events also take place and Muslim communities in Australia,
Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States may
incorporate some aspect of these traditions when observing the
Commemoration of Muharram.
In Iraq, Shi'a Muslims, may make a pilgrimage to the Imam Husayn
Shrine, on the site of the grave of Husayn ibn Ali. In
Iran,taziya(ta'zieh) or Condolence Theater are performed. During
Muharram, these take the form of re-enactments of the battle of
Karbala. In south Asia, similar events are known as such
asmarsiya,nohaandsoaz,tabuikortabut. In Jamaica and Trinidad and
Tobago, they are known as Hosay or Hussay and are attended by people
from a variety of religions and cultures.
Shi'a Muslims, particularly those in Afghanistan, Bahrain, India,
Iraq, Lebanon and Pakistan, may take part in remembrance parades
ormatam(matham). Duringmatam, males gather in large groups on the
streets to take part in ritual chest beating. In some areas, some
participants also beat themselves withzanjir(metal chains fixed into
handles), but this practice is controversial and has been banned by
some civic and Islamic authorities.
Public life
The Islamic New Year is a public holiday in places such as (but not
exclusive to) India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, and the United Arab
Emirates. It is not a nationwide public holiday in countries such as
Australia, Canada, the United Kingdomor the United States. However,
Islamic businesses and organizations may have altered opening hours
and there may be some congestion around mosques, particularly in the
evening and at night.
Background
Muharram is the first month in the Islamic year and a time of mourning
and peace. It is forbidden for Muslims to fight during this month. A
number of important events in Islamic history have occurred during
this month. These include: the Battle of Karbala (currently in Iraq)
in the year 680 CE, which enabled Husayn ibn Ali, a grandson of the
Prophet Muhammed, and his army to enter the city on the first day of
the month; the restriction of Husayn ibn Ali's access to water on the
seventh day; and the death of Husayn ibn Ali and his clan (Ahl
al-Bayt) on the 10th day of the month. The Shi'a and Sunni
denominations of Islam attach different weights to these events and
mark them in different ways.

Muharram began in the evening ofSunday,November 3, 2013, and ends in the evening ofTuesday,December 3, 2013. Dates may vary.

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