Fatna lives in London and has always held the love for literature close to her heart. Hoping to give practical Islamic support through writing, Fatna is one of our blog writers here at SolaceUK.
By the grace of Allah, it was on this day that prophet Moses and the Children of Israel seized a miraculous victory, finally, following a lifetime of painful oppression and enslavement. By the permission of The Almighty, the sea was split and Moses and his people were saved. They had no weaponry or military experience against the impressive forces that relentlessly pursued them, yet, the Children of Israel defied all odds and reigned victorious, leaving the Pharaoh and his army helplessly submerged. Just as the Pharaoh had trapped Moses’ people in years of brutal oppression, it was now the Pharaoh who was completely trapped in Allah’s wrath, forced to accept his humiliating end.
‘Ashura is certainly a day to be grateful to Allah for salvaging Moses and the Children of Israel from tyranny but the value of this day goes beyond just gratitude; expanding to reflection and a chance to increase in righteousness also. The miraculous events of this day teach us all a valuable lesson about our Lord and how we must view and trust in Him.
So read on as we explore, together, the pearls of wisdom gifted to us through ‘Ashura and the impact it still holds over the ummah, thousands of years later, today.
Moses, a Shining Example of Tawakkul (Trust in Allah)
Imagine with me for just a moment: you have no means nor experience in combat yet still have to escape one of the world’s most powerful and ruthless militias. What’s more, is that you’re not alone, you’ve been entrusted with the massive task of, not only leading your own escape, but that of 100s of others too. Your immense stress at what you’ve been tasked with is compounded with the terrifying fact that if you fail, you and everyone you’re leading will be subjected to unspeakable levels of torture and slaughter.
For someone, this wasn’t something that had to be imagined, it was their stark reality. Moses, having previously lived a peaceful life in rural Eygpt as a Shepard with his family, was chosen by Allah to become His messenger and lead the salvation of his people from the despotism of the Pharaoh. As Moses received this colossal revelation, he expressed his deep fears to his Lord to which Allah responded:
“Have no fear! I am with you hearing and seeing.” Qur’an (20:46)
Moses was fully aware of the forces he had to face and was thus, well-assured that all the odds were against him. Yet despite his fears, he accepted Allah’s command and bravely voyaged to confront the Pharaoh face to face.
As Muslims, we’re in complete awe at his deep trust in his Lord— Moses had nothing with him to defeat the tyranny overtaking Eygpt except Allah’s assistance, but he knew that this was enough. Moses shone with the light of tawakkul and his unwavering reliance on his Creator to deliver the impossible remains a lesson for 100s of millions of Muslims, still, today.
A Role Model For Our Present Lives
In the ever-changing and unpredictable kaleidoscope that is life, we can never be sure of what trials and tests we’ll have to face. Similarly, if we’re already undergoing tribulations, we can never ascertain when relief will finally come. But despite our constant state of uncertainty, one thing we must remain sure of is that Allah will never abandon us, not even for a second. He remains with us at every moment, and although life can sometimes feel like random chaos, everything that happens to us is part of Allah’s plan and we must trust that there is wisdom behind it even if we can’t see it.
“Allah is the best of planners.” Qur’an (8:30)
Moses was never 100% certain as to why he was chosen above everyone else, he was never 100% certain as to why Allah was sending him to the Pharaoh without any weaponry and he was never 100% certain how long the mass evacuation of his people would take; would it be weeks, months, years? But he was 100% certain that Allah remained with him and would never let him down!
When the Children of Israel and Moses were finally leaving Eygpt they came to a complete dead end; the ocean. With the vast blue sea in front of them and the Pharaoh and his brutal forces closely behind, their panic and horror were sky-high as they were forced to accept that there was no escape and that their fate was sealed…but not Moses.
“The companions of Moses cried out, ‘We are overtaken for sure’.
Moses reassured [them], ‘Absolutely not! My Lord is certainly with me—He will guide me.’
So We inspired Moses: ‘Strike the sea with your staff,’ and the sea was split, each part was like a huge mountain.”
Qur’an (26:61-63)
Why We Fast On this Day (and One Day Before or After)
To pay this great day its due reverence, we fast on ‘Ashura as well as, either, one day before or one day after (whichever one is up to you). Fasting is hailed as one of the best deeds and displays of submission one can undertake before their Lord. So what better way to triumph this day and what took place on it than to fast?
Every deed will be multiplied between ten and seven hundredfold, but Allah says:
“Except fasting. It is for Me and I shall reward for it.” (Muslim).
Not to mention, fasting on ‘Ashura holds the grand value of expiating our sins from the past year:
“Fasting the day of ‘Ashura I hope Allah will expiate thereby for the year that came before it.” (Muslim)
So it becomes clear that this day should be hailed by us all as a valuable juncture to show Allah gratitude for His showering of grace and mercy upon Moses and his people. Not to mention that the day of ‘Ashura is also a prized time to ponder upon the importance and value of tawakkul and how, just like Moses never once doubted his Lord’s plan despite the massive trials and challenges he faced, we must never also.
