Guide to Ashura

Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm

This is the second post following Guide to Muharram.

In his Sohbah, Mawlana Sheikh Nazimق said that this is one of the holiest nights in Islam. It holds a special place in the Islamic calendar and in the history of the world.

Allah Almighty granted victory to His beloved servants from His Endless Oceans of Mercy and Power on this day.

On this blessed day:

• Prophet Adam (AS) was forgiven by Allah ﷻ after his exile from Paradise
• The Ark of Prophet Nuh (AS) landed on the mountain and the flood ended
• Prophet Ibrahim (AS) was saved from the fire of Nimrod
• Prophet Musa (AS) crossed the Red Sea and was saved from Pharaoh
• Prophet Yunus (AS) was saved from the belly of the whale
• Prophet Dawud (AS) was pardoned by Allah ﷻ
• Prophet Suleiman (AS), King Solomon, was granted kingship over mankind and jinn
• Prophet Ayyub (AS) regained his health and became even wealthier than before
• Prophet Yusuf (AS) was reunited with his father, Prophet Ya’qub (as) after 40 years
• Prophet Isa (AS), Jesus Christ, was raised to the heavens
• And Sayyidina Muhammad (AS) was granted great honour, the opening of the seven heavens for himself and his nation, and he was protected from his tribe, the Quraysh

We are highly encouraged to fast and increase our worship on this day. Du’a fervently for yourself, your loved ones, the Ummah of Rasulullah ﷺ and our Shuyukh.

Eve of Ashura

Mawlana Sheikh Muhammadق was saying, it is best to fast either on the 9th and 10th, or 10th or 11th Muharram. The best would be from 9th to 11th Muharram. Sohbah can be found here.

After Asar, about an hour before Maghrib, do recite the holy names of the Martyrs of Karbala. Connecting to them for their Madad and Himmah.

We are encouraged to stay up for night vigil.

Day of Ashura

As narrated by Sheikh Abdul Qadri Jilaniق:

• Performing Ghusl (ritual bath)

If a person takes a ritual bath on the Day of Ashura, he will be protected from illness for the rest of the year, except for the illness of death.

• Stroking the head of an orphan

For every hair touched on the orphan’s head, Allah ﷻ will raise the person one degree in Paradise.

• Feeding a fasting believer

It will be just as if the entire Ummah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had broken fast as his guests, and had filled their stomachs to capacity.

• Applying kohl (ithmid, collyrium, chelak) to the eyes

He will be protected from eye inflammation for the whole year.

• Visiting a sick person

It is as if he had visited all the children of Adam (AS).

• Giving water to the thirsty

It is as if he had never disobeyed Allah ﷻ for a single instant.

• Performing Solatul Khusoma

Allah ﷻ will forgive him fifty years of past sins and fifty years of future sins. Allah ﷻ will also build for him, in the midst of the heavenly host, a thousand Palaces of Light.

• Spending generously on one’s family (within means)

Allah ﷻ will treat that person with special generosity throughout the rest of that year.

• Worshipping during the night of Ashura and fasting the day

He will not feel the agony of death. (the night of Ashura is the night before the Day of Ashura, this year, it is on Saturday after Maghrib, 5th July 2025)

• Staying up in worship on the night of Ashura

Allah ﷻ will let him live as long as he wishes.

From Sufficient Provision for Seekers of the Path of Truth (Al-Ghunya li-Talibi Tariq al-Haqq), Volume Three, by Shaykh Abdul Qadir al-Jilaniق.

As narrated by Sheikh Genoun:

• Whoever recites the following seventy (70) times on the Day of Asyura, Allah ﷻ will forgive him:

حَسْبُنَا اللهُ وَنِعْمَ الوَكِيلُ وَنِعْمَ المَوْلَى وَنِعْمَ النَّصِيرُ

“Hasbunallahu Wa Ni’mal Wakeel, Ni’mal Maula Wa Ni’man Naseer”

“Allah ﷻ is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Guardian; The Excellent Protector and The Excellent Helper.”

• Whoever places some rosewater in a container on the Day of Ashura, and, while looking at it, he recites Surah al-Fatihah 7 times. Then, he wipes his head and face with it and does the same for his loved ones, it will be a protection from every ailment, illness or similar afflictions for the coming year.

From Acts of Devotion, by Sidi Idris b. Muhammad al-Iraqi.

Recommended worship and devotions on Ashura Day:

1️⃣ Fasting

2️⃣ Taking full ablution (with the intention of good health), applying Kohl to the eyes, buying provisions for the home

3️⃣ Recite Surah Al-Ikhlas – 1000 times

4️⃣ Solat Sunnat Ashura, a 4 raka’at Sunnah prayer done between Zuhur and Asar

In each raka’at, read Surah Al-Fatihah 1 time, and Surah Al-Ikhlas, 11 times.

5️⃣ Recite “Hasbunallahu Wa Ni’mal Wakeel, Ni’mal Maula Wa Ni’man Naseer” 70 times at least

6️⃣ Recite this Du’a 7 times:

SubhanAllah mil’al mizan, wa muntaha l-ilm wa mablagha r-rida,

Wa zinat al arsh, La malja’a wa la manja mina Llah illa ‘ilayh.

SubhanAllah aa’dada as-shaf’ii wal watr, Wa aa’dada kalimati

Rabbina at-tammati kuluha, As’aluka as-salamata bi rahmatika ya

Arhama ar-Rahimin, Wala hawla wala quwwata illa Billah-il

Aliyyi-l Azim, wa Huwa hasbi wa nii’ma al wakil nii’ma al mawla

wa nii’ma al nasir, Wa salla Allah’u aa’la Sayyidina Muhammadin

wa aa’la alihi wasahbihi ajmaein.

7️⃣ Sadaqah (charity), for it brings blessings, more provision, and Allah ﷻ’s protection for the year.

Mawlana Sheikh Muhammadق said in his Sohbah, if you are unable to give, then pray two raka’ats of Dhuha prayer, for it is equal to giving sadaqah on behalf of each of your 360 joints.

8️⃣ Give Salam to people and make du’a for them

9️⃣ Qurban (animal sacrifice)

Grandshaykh Abdullah ad-Dagestaniق would make Qurban of 2 sheep on this day and distribute the meat to the poor and needy.

Additional worship and devotions on Ashura Day:

Taught by Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilaniق

✅ Solatul Khusoma, a 4 raka’at prayer

Practised by Mawlana Sheikh Nazimق

In addition to the list above:

✅ Zikir to be recited after Solat Sunnat Ashura (refer to the left side) is complete:

La ila ha illallah – 1000 times

Salawat – 1000 times

Surah Al-Ikhlas – 1000 times

✅ and Du’a

Allahumma thabbitna ‘alal Haqq

Ya Ghaliban ghaira maghloob

Ya Nasiral Mu’mineen

Ya Ghiyathal Musta ghi theen

Ya Qariban ghaira ba’id

Ya Shahidan ghaira ba’id.

Hasbi Allahu wa ni’mal wakeel, ni’mal mawla wa ni’man naseer (70 times)

La haula wa la quwwata illa billahil ‘aliyyil ‘azdheem

Ghufranaka rabbana wa ilaykal maseer

Rabbana taqabbal minna, bi hurmatil habeeb, Fatiha.

Practised by Sheikh Adnanق

In addition to the list above:

✅ Recite Astaghfirullah – 100 to 1,000 times

✅ 4 raka’at Salatul Tasbih

✅ 2 raka’at Salatul Shukr

May Allah ﷻ make it easy for us to be in worship and accept all our ibadah. Ameen!

To learn more about the month of Muharram and the day of Ashura, please click here.

Google Drive to the full devotions can be found here.

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Wassalam.