What is the ruling for celebrating Ashura and how is the name Saifullah?

1.what is the ruling for celebrating ashura and is it correct to say the ummayyads introduced this?

2. can i name my son sayfullah?  

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

1) Fasting on the day of Ashura (10th of Muharram) is a beloved Sunnah of Rasulullah Sallallalhu Alayhi Wasallam. Rasulullah Sallallalhu Alayhi Wasallam emphasized greatly on the virtue and significance of this day. Some virtues are as mentioned hereunder:

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَصُومُ تِسْعَ ذِي الْحِجَّةِ، وَيَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ، وَثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ، أَوَّلَ اثْنَيْنِ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ وَالْخَمِيسَ

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to fast the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, Ashura’ and three days of every month, that is, the first Monday (of the month) and Thursday.^[1]

صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ، إِنِّي أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ

Fast the Day of Ashura, for indeed I anticipate that Allah will forgive (the sins of) the year before it.”^[2]

مَا رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَتَحَرَّى صِيَامَ يَوْمٍ فَضَّلَهُ عَلَى غَيْرِهِ إِلَّا هَذَا اليَوْمَ، يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ، وَهَذَا الشَّهْرَ يَعْنِي شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ

I never saw the Prophet (ﷺ) seeking to fast on a day more (preferable to him) than this day, the day of ‘Ashura’, or this month, i.e. the month of Ramadan.^[3] 

However, to believe that the Umayyads introduced this is a misconception made by the Shia. Sayyidina Husain Radhiallahu Anhu, the son of Ali Radhiallahu Anhu was martyred on this very day in the year 61 A.H at the incident of Karbala. Hence, they tend to celebrate this day as a commemoration for Sayyyidina Husain Radhiallahu Anhu.

The day of Ashura and its significance was introduced much before the death of Husain Radhiallahu Anhu. This is proven by many Ahadith and by Rasulullah Sallalllahu Alayhi Wasallam himself who passed away in 11 A.H.:

قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْمَدِينَةَ فَوَجَدَ الْيَهُودَ يَصُومُونَ يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ فَسُئِلُوا عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالُوا هَذَا الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي أَظْهَرَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ مُوسَى وَبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَلَى فِرْعَوْنَ فَنَحْنُ نَصُومُهُ تَعْظِيمًا لَهُ . فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم  ” نَحْنُ أَوْلَى بِمُوسَى مِنْكُمْ ” . فَأَمَرَ بِصَوْمِهِ

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) came to Medina, he found the Jews observing the fast on the day of Ashura. They (the Jews) were asked about it and they said: It is the day on which Allah granted victory to Musa and (his people) Bani Isra’il over the Pharaoh and we observe fast out of gratitude to Him. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: We have a closer connection with Musa than you have, and he (Allah’s Messenger ﷺ) commanded to observe fast on this day.^[4] 

كَانُوا يَصُومُونَ عَاشُورَاءَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُفْرَضَ رَمَضَانُ، وَكَانَ يَوْمًا تُسْتَرُ فِيهِ الكَعْبَةُ ، فَلَمَّا فَرَضَ اللَّهُ رَمَضَانَ، قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ شَاءَ أَنْ يَصُومَهُ فَلْيَصُمْهُ، وَمَنْ شَاءَ أَنْ يَتْرُكَهُ فَلْيَتْرُكْهُ»

The people used to fast on ‘Ashura (the tenth day of the month of Muharram) before the fasting of Ramadan was made obligatory. And on that day the Ka`ba used to be covered with a cover. When Allah made the fasting of the month of Ramadan compulsory, Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Whoever wishes to fast (on the day of ‘Ashura’) may do so; and whoever wishes to leave it can do so.”^[5] 

أَرْسَلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ غَدَاةَ عَاشُورَاءَ إِلَى قُرَى الأَنْصَارِ: «مَنْ أَصْبَحَ مُفْطِرًا، فَلْيُتِمَّ بَقِيَّةَ يَوْمِهِ وَمَنْ أَصْبَحَ صَائِمًا، فَليَصُمْ»، قَالَتْ: فَكُنَّا نَصُومُهُ بَعْدُ، وَنُصَوِّمُ صِبْيَانَنَا، وَنَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ اللُّعْبَةَ مِنَ العِهْنِ، فَإِذَا بَكَى أَحَدُهُمْ عَلَى الطَّعَامِ أَعْطَيْنَاهُ ذَاكَ حَتَّى يَكُونَ عِنْدَ الإِفْطَارِ

“The Prophet (ﷺ) sent a messenger to the village of the Ansar in the morning of the day of ‘Ashura’ (10th of Muharram) to announce: ‘Whoever has eaten something should not eat but complete the fast, and whoever is observing the fast should complete it.’ “She (the narrator Rubayyi Bint Muawwiz) further said, “Since then we used to fast on that day regularly and also make our boys fast. We used to make toys of wool for the boys and if anyone of them cried for, he was given those toys till it was the time of the breaking of the fast.”^[6] 

كَانَ يَوْمُ عَاشُورَاءَ تَصُومُهُ قُرَيْشٌ فِي الجَاهِلِيَّةِ، وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَصُومُهُ فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ المَدِينَةَ صَامَهُ وَأَمَرَ بِصِيَامِهِ [ص:25]، فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ رَمَضَانُ كَانَ رَمَضَانُ الفَرِيضَةَ، وَتُرِكَ عَاشُورَاءُ، فَكَانَ مَنْ شَاءَ صَامَهُ وَمَنْ شَاءَ لَمْ يَصُمْهُ»

During the Pre-lslamic Period of ignorance the Quraish used to observe fasting on the day of ‘Ashura’, and the Prophet (ﷺ) himself used to observe fasting on it too. But when he came to Medina, he fasted on that day and ordered the Muslims to fast on it. When (the order of compulsory fasting in ) Ramadan was revealed, fasting in Ramadan became an obligation, and fasting on ‘Ashura’ was given up, and who ever wished to fast (on it) did so, and whoever did not wish to fast on it, did not fast.^[7] 

It is evident that the fasting of Ashura was introduced even before Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam’s time. This was originally the obligatory fast before fasting in the month of Ramadan was introduced.

Allamah Ibn Katheer Rahimahullah also mentions the corrupt beliefs of the Shias on the day of Ashura in his Tareekh whilst discussing the death of Sayyidina Husain Radhiallahu Anhu:

وَقَدْ أَسْرَفَ الرَّافِضَةُ فِي دَوْلَةِ بَنِي بُوَيْهٍ فِي حُدُودِ الْأَرْبَعِمِائَةٍ وَمَا حَوْلَهَا فَكَانَتِ الدَّبَادِبُ تُضْرَبُ بِبَغْدَادَ وَنَحْوِهَا مِنَ الْبِلَادِ فِي يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ، وَيُذَرُّ الرَّمَادُ وَالتِّبْنُ فِي الطُّرُقَاتِ وَالْأَسْوَاقِ، وَتُعَلَّقُ الْمُسُوحُ عَلَى الدَّكَاكِينِ، وَيُظْهِرُ النَّاسُ الْحُزْنَ وَالْبُكَاءَ، وَكَثِيرٌ مِنْهُمْ لَا يَشْرَبُ الْمَاءَ ليلتئذٍ مُوَافَقَةً لَلْحُسَيْنِ لَأَنَّهُ قتل عطشاناً. ثم تخرج النساء حاسرات عن وجههن يَنُحْنَ وَيَلْطِمْنَ وُجُوهَهُنَّ وَصُدُورَهُنَّ، حَافِيَاتٍ فِي الْأَسْوَاقِ إِلَى غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الْبِدَعِ الشَّنِيعَةِ، وَالْأَهْوَاءِ الْفَظِيعَةِ، وَالْهَتَائِكِ

الْمُخْتَرَعَةِ وَإِنَّمَا يُرِيدُونَ بِهَذَا وَأَشْبَاهِهِ أَنْ يُشَنِّعُوا عَلَى دَوْلَةِ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ، لَأَنَّهُ قتل في دولتهم. وَقَدْ عَاكَسَ الرَّافِضَةَ وَالشِّيعَةَ يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ النَّوَاصِبُ من أهل الشَّام، فكانوا إلى يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ يَطْبُخُونَ الْحُبُوبَ وَيَغْتَسِلُونَ وَيَتَطَيَّبُونَ وَيَلْبَسُونَ أَفْخَرَ ثِيَابِهِمْ وَيَتَّخِذُونَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ عِيدًا يَصْنَعُونَ فِيهِ أَنْوَاعَ الْأَطْعِمَةِ، وَيُظْهِرُونَ السُّرُورَ وَالْفَرَحَ، يُرِيدُونَ بِذَلِكَ عِنَادَ الرَّوَافِضِ وَمُعَاكَسَتَهُمْ

The Rafidah (Shia) transgressed the bounds in the Buyid Dynasty around the year 400. Drums would be beaten in Baghdad etc on the day of ‘Ashura, and ashes and crushed wheat would be dispersed on the roads and markets. Haircloths would be hung in the stores, and the people would show grief and tears, and many of them would not drink water on that night in imitation of Husain as he was killed while thirsty. Then the women would come out exposing their faces, wailing, striking their faces and their chests, walking barefooted in the markets. And other such revolting innovations and repulsive fancies and innovated violations [would take place]. They only intended by this and the likes of this to disfigure the Umayyad Dynasty, because he was killed during their reign. The Nawasib from the people of the Levant did the reverse of the Rafidah and Shi’ah on the day of ‘Ashura. Thus they would leading up to the day of ‘Ashura cook crops and bathe and apply fragrance and wear their best clothing and they would treat that day as an Eid, preparing various dishes on it, and they would display happiness and delight; intending thereby to spite the Rawafid and do the opposite of them.^[8] 

• It is important to note that when fasting on the day of Ashura, one should combine a fast either on the day before it or after it in order to avoid imitation of the Jews.^[9]

2) The word “Saif” refers to a sword in the Arabic language. Combining it with the word “Allah” results to the meaning of “Sword of Allah”. This was also the nickname given to Sayyidina Khalid bin Waleed Radhiallahu Anhu. Saifullah is a great name; it will be permissible to name your son Saifullah.^[10]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

AbdulMannan Nizami

Student Darul Iftaa
Chicago, IL, USA

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

www.daruliftaa.net