Dear Brothers and Sisters!

In the history of mankind, many important events occurred on the Day of Ashura, which comes on the tenth of the month of Muharram. The blessed grandchild of our Muhammad (saw), Hussain (r.a), was killed on the Day of Ashura together with seventy-two other people beside Him. Again, it is narrated that the ship of Prophet Noah (a.s.) had escaped from the flood and that Prophet Moses (a.s.) had passed the Red Sea with his people on the Day of Ashura that comes on the tenth of Muharram.

Dear Jama’ah!

The tragedy of Karbala, which took place on Ashura, will have passed 1400 years, though a bleeding wound continues in the heart of the Ummah. Hussein (r.a), who was sacrificed to the political ambitions of the cruel, the pain of our Hussein (r.a)’s murder, along with his companions, remains fresh in our consciences. We should learn from the atrocities that took place in Karbala, and why should you not use this incident for the discord of the Ummah.

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

We are witnessing that similar to such painful occurrence in our history, today is happening in especially Islamic regions and all other oppressed geographies. We regret to say that almost every day has become Ashura and everywhere has become Karbala.

We witness when people with power oppress the weak, the weak aggrieve all around the world. Unfortunately, the oppressors who perform such cruelty are aiming to market themselves to the people around the world as preventors of chaos. Pulling attention to this situation Allah (swt) says the following in the Quran: “And when it is said to them, “Do not cause corruption on the earth,” they say, “We are but reformers.”¹ However it should not be forgotten that the afterlife of those who prosper with oppression will be terrible. The glorious Qur’an states this very clearly as well: “And never think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only delays them for a Day when eyes will stare [in horror].”² The duty of us mu’mins is to help all the oppressed and to bother with their nuisance. To sustain our sensitivity against the oppressor and oppression and to duly resist. May Allah help all those who are oppressed and put those cruel on the right path.

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

As we realise today, we also granted the chance to perform the sunnah of our Prophet ﷺ. When the Prophet came to Medina, He saw that the Jews were fasting on the Day of Ashura. “What is this?” He asked. “This is a blessed day. This is a day which Allah had saved the son of Israel and therefore Moses (a.s.) had fast.” they replied. Then, Prophet ﷺ said; “I am closer to Moses then you are.” and He fast Himself on this day and encouraged others to do so.³ Accounting the other hadiths as well, fasting on the Day of Ashura together with a day before or after would grant us a great deed.

May our Lord grant us the opportunity to perform the Day of Ashura according to His will and to be eligible with the will according to the meaning of this day.

Khutba-Understanding the Day of Ashura