Hajar Aswad The stone from Paradise

The Source Of The Black Stone

Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The Black Stone came down from Jannah (Paradise).”

                 (At-Tirmidhi, Sunan, hadith no. 877, and classified as authentic hadith by Sheikh Al-Albaani in his book Sahih At-Tirmidthi, hadith no. 695 )

Present Location of The Ka'aba Stone

Hajr Aswad (the black stone ) is located at the east Corner of Kaaba. Pilgrims stops at Hajr e Aswad and Kiss the Stone saying “Bismillah-AllahuAkbar ” and “Allahu Akbar”.The Stone looks black Polished and shining and there is rarely a time when no one is touching It and glorifying Allah.Black Stone is a Stone from Heaven and Muslim Kiss it following the Rituals of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

an ancient photo of Black Stone

The Stone was not Black

Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) also narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When the Black Stone came down from Paradise, it was whiter than milk, but the sins of the sons of Adam made it black.” 

                                                                                        (At-Tirmidhi, Sunan)

The top of the Black Stone was black but the rest of it was white. The length was about a cubit. Ibn I’llan Al-Makki, one of the scholars at that time, saw the Black Stone during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Murad. Its length was then half a cubit and its width was a third of a cubit. It was white in colour but its top was black because of the misdeeds done by mankind. If the sins affect solid stone, their effects on the heart are even greater.                

comparative changing darkness time to time

                       

The Stone of Ka'aba is not a Single Stone

The parts we touch with our hands and “Kiss” are eight small pieces, the biggest of which is the size of a date. Hajr Aswad is a stone  irregular oval, about seven inches in diameter, with an undulated surface, composed of about a dozen smaller stones of different sizes and shapes, well joined together with a small quantity of cement, and perfectly well smoothed; it looks as if the whole had been broken into as many pieces by a violent blow, and then united again.

showing locations of stones condensed with cement 

                                

The stones of are held with a Silver Frame

It is very difficult to determine accurately the quality of this stone which has been worn to its present surface by the millions of touches and kisses it has received. It appeared to be like a lava, containing several small extraneous particles of a whitish and of a yellow substance. Its color is now a deep reddish brown approaching to black. It is surrounded on all sides by a border composed of a substance which look to be a close cement of pitch and gravel of a similar, but not quite the same, brownish color. This border serves to support its detached pieces; it is two or three inches in breadth, and rises a little above the surface of the stone. Both the border and the stone itself are encircled by a silver band, broader below than above, and on the two sides, with a considerable swelling below, as if a part of the stone were hidden under it. The lower part of the border is studded with silver nails

The first who encircled the Black Stone with silver rings was Abdullah Ibn AI-Zubair (may Allah be pleased with them). Then other caliphs and wealth) people followed suit and made the frame from silver and gold. The last who donated a frame of pure silver for the Black Stone, before the Saudi Government. was Al-Sultan Muhammad Rashad Khan in 1331 H. King Abdul Aziz repaired part of it in 1366 H. In Sha ban, 1375 H., King Saud replaced it with a new frame made of sterling silver.

The frame around the Hajr e Aswad  and the black kiswah or cloth enveloping the Kaaba were for centuries maintained by the Ottoman Sultans in their role as Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The frames wore out over time due to the constant handling by pilgrims and were periodically replaced. Worn-out frames were brought back to Istanbul, where they are still kept as part of the sacred relics in the Topkapı Palace.

                              

Origin and History of Black Stone of ka'aba

Islamic tradition holds that the Black Stone fell from Jannah to show Adam and Eve where to build an altar, which became the first temple on Earth.  Muslims believe that the stone was originally pure and dazzling white, but has since turned black because of the sins of the people who touch it.According to a prophetic tradition, “Touching them both (the Black Stone and al-Rukn al-Yamani) is an expiation for sins.” Adam’s altar and the stone were said to have been lost during Noah’s Flood and forgotten. Ibrahim was said to have later found the Black Stone at the original site of Adam’s altar when the angel Jibrail revealed it to him. Ibrahim ordered his son Ismael — who is an ancestor of Muhammad — to build a new temple, the Kaaba, into which the Stone was to be embedded.

A hadith records that, when the second Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab (580–644) came to kiss the Stone, he said in front of all assembled: 

“No doubt, I know that you are a stone and can neither harm anyone nor benefit anyone. Had I not seen Allah’s Messenger [Muhammad] kissing you, I would not have kissed you.”

However, in the hadith collection Kanz al-Ummal , it is recorded that Ali responded to Umar, saying,

 “This stone (Hajar Aswad) can indeed benefit and harm…. Allah (swt) says in Quran that he created human beings from the progeny of Adam (as) and made them witness over themselves and asked them, ‘Am I not your creator?’ Upon this, all of them confirmed it. Thus Allah wrote this confirmation. And this stone has a pair of eyes, ears and a tongue and it opened its mouth upon the order of Allah (swt), who put that confirmation in it and ordered to witness it to all those worshippers who come for Hajj."

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in one of His hadiths:

“By Allah! On the Day of Qiyaamah, Allah will present the Hajare Aswad in such a manner that it will have two eyes and a tongue to testify to the Imaan (faith) of all those who kissed it.”

                                                                                                  (Tirmidhi)

The stone was venerated at the Kaaba in pre-Islamic pagan times. According to Islamic tradition, it was set intact into the Kaaba’s wall by the Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) in the year 605 A.D., five years before his first revelation. Since then it has been broken into a number of fragments and is now cemented into a silver frame in the side of the Kaaba. Its physical appearance is that of a fragmented dark rock, polished smooth by the hands of pilgrims. Islamic tradition holds that it fell from the heaven as a guide for Adam and Eve to build an altar, although it has often been described as a meteorite, a hypothesis, which is now uncertain.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

“The Hajre Aswad and al-Maqam (Ibrahim) are the two jewels from the jewels of Paradise. Had Allah not concealed their radiance, they would illuminate everything between the East and the West.” 

                                                                                                     (Tirmidhi)

Dimension of Black Stone of ka'aba

The Black Stone consists of a number of fragments held together by a silver frame, which is fastened by silver nails to the Stone. The smaller fragments have been cemented together to form the seven or eight fragments visible today. The Stone’s exposed face measures about 20 centimetres (7.9 in) by 16 centimetres (6.3 in). Its original size is unclear and the recorded dimensions have changed considerably over time, as the stone has been remodelled on several occasions.

Stone was stolen to Redirect Hajj away from Mecca

The Stone has suffered desecrations and significant damage over the course of time. It is said to have been struck and smashed to pieces by a stone fired from a catapult during the Umayyad siege of Mecca in 683. The fragments were rejoined by Abd Allah ibn Zubayr using a silver ligament. In January 930, it was stolen by the Qarmatians (Shia), who carried the Black Stone away to their base in Hajar (modern Bahrain). According to Ottoman historian Qutb al-Din, writing in 1857, Qarmatian leader Abu Tahir al-Qarmati set the Black Stone up in his own mosque, the Masjid al-Dirar, with the intention of redirecting the hajj away from Mecca. However, this failed, and pilgrims continued to venerate the spot where the Black Stone had been.

According to historian Al-Juwayni, the Stone was returned twenty-three years later, in 952. The Qarmatians held the Black Stone for ransom, and forced the Abbasids to pay a huge sum for its return. It was wrapped in a sack and thrown into the Friday Mosque of Kufa, accompanied by a note saying “By command we took it, and by command we have brought it back.” Its abduction and removal caused further damage, breaking the stone into seven pieces. Its abductor, Abu Tahir, is said to have met a terrible fate; according to Qutb al-Din, “the filthy Abu Tahir was afflicted with a gangrenous sore, his flesh was eaten away by worms, and he died a most terrible death.”

Black Stone was Smashed and smeared

In the 11th century, a man allegedly sent by the Fatimid Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah attempted to smash the Black Stone, but was killed on the spot, having caused only slight damage In 1674, according to Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, someone smeared the Black Stone with excrement so that “every one who kissed it retired with a sullied beard”. The Shi’ite Persians were suspected of being responsible and were the target of curses from other Muslims for centuries afterwards, though explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton doubted that they were the culprits; he attributed the act to “some Jew or Greek, who risked his life to gratify a furious bigotry.”

Alhumdulillah the Black stone is still in Ka'aba Now.May Allah give all of us a Chance to Kiss the Black stone -the Hajar Aswad.

Keutamaan Puasa Bulan Muharram dan Hari 'Asyura

1. Disunnahkan memperbanyak puasa pada bulan Muharram;

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Dari Abu Hurairah radhiyallahu 'anhu berkata, Rasulullah shallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam bersabda,

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أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ وَأَفْضَلُ الصَّلَاةِ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ

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"Puasa yang paling utama sesudah puasa Ramadlan adalah puasa pada Syahrullah (bulan Allah) Muharram. Sedangkan shalat malam merupakan shalat yang paling utama sesudah shalat fardlu." (HR. Muslim, no. 1982)

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Menurut Imam Mulla Ali Al-Qaari dalam mensyarah hadits diatas berkata, bahwa secara zahir, maksudnya adalah seluruh hari-hari pada bulan muharram ini. Tetapi telah disebutkan dalam hadits shahih bahwa Nabi shallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam tidak pernah sama sekali berpuasa sebulan penuh kecuali di Ramadhan. Maka hadits ini dipahami, dianjurkan untuk memperbanyak puasa pada bulan Muharram bukan seluruhnya.” (Murqatul Mafatih Syarhu Misykatul Mashabih).

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Namun sebagian Ulama’ seperti Syeikh Muhammad al-Mukhtar as-Syanqithi membolehkan untuk berpuasa sebulan penuh. (sebagaimana yang di nukil oleh Syeikh Jalal bin Ali Hamdan As-Sulami dalam makalah yang berjudul Dirasat Ushuliyyah Haditsiyyah li Shaum Asyura). Wallahu A’lam.

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2. Terutama Sangat dianjurkan Untuk berpuasa Asyura pada tanggal 10 Muharram.

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Rasulullah shallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam bersabda,

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وَصِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ

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“Puasa hari ‘Asyura, sungguh aku berharap kepada Allah agar menghapuskan dosa setahun yang telah lalu.” (HR. Muslim no. 1975)

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3. Disunnahkan juga puasa Tasu’a (9 Muharram).

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Dalam hadits Shahih:

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عن ابن عباس رضي اللَّه عنهما قال: " حين صام رسول اللَّه صلى الله عليه وسلم يوم عاشوراء، وأمر بصيامه، قالوا: يا رسول اللَّه إنه يوم تعظّمه اليهود والنصارى؟ فقال رسول اللَّه صلى الله عليه وسلم : فإذا كان العام القابل - إن شاء اللَّه - صمنا اليوم التاسع، قال: فلم يأت العام المقبل، حتى توفي رسول اللَّه صلى الله عليه وسلم

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Diriwayatkan dari Ibnu Abbas Radhiyallahu 'Anhuma, beliau berkata, “Ketika Rasulullah Shallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam berpuasa pada hari ‘Asyura dan memerintahkan para sahabat untuk berpuasa padanya, mereka menyampaikan, ‘Wahai Rasulullah, sesungguhnya hari itu adalah hari yang diagungkan oleh orang Yahudi dan Nashrani.’ Lalu beliau Shallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam bersabda, ‘Kalau begitu, pada tahun depan insya Allah kita berpuasa pada hari kesembilan’. Dan belum tiba tahun yang akan datang, namun Nabi Shallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam sudah wafat.” (HR. Muslim, no. 1916)

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Hadis-Hadis Seputar Puasa ‘Asyura:

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1.      Diampuni dosa-dosanya selama 1 tahun [dosa-dosa kecil]
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1. Dari Abu Qatadah Radhiyallahu ‘Anhu, Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa ‘Ala Alihi Wa Sallam, bersabda : 

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" صيام يوم عاشوراء، أحتسب على اللَّه أن يكفر السنة التي قبله" .

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“ Aku berharap pada Allah dengan puasa ‘Asyura ini dapat menghapus dosa selama setahun sebelumnya.” (H.R. Bukhari dan Muslim)

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Imam Nawawi Rahimahullah dalam “Syarah Muslim” puasa asyura menghapus dosa-dosa kecil, kadarnya puasa tersebut adalah dapat menghapus dosa seluruhnya kecuali dosa dosa besar”

Dasar yang menunjukkan bahwasanya yang diampuni dosa-dosa kecil adalah hadits berikut:

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ما ثبت في "صحيح مسلم" عن أبي هريرة رضي اللَّه عنه أن رسول اللَّه صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: " الصلوات الخمس، والجمعة إلى الجمعة، ورمضان إلى رمضان، مكفرات لما بينهن، إذا اجتنبت الكبائر" .

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 Artinya: Dari Abi Hurairah Radhiyallahu Anhu berkata: Rasulullullah Shallallahu Alaihi Wasallam bersabda: “Shalat lima waktu, shalat jum’at antara jum’at tersebut ke jum’at berikutnya, puasa ramadhan antara bulan Ramadhan ke ramadhan berikutnya,dapat menghapus dosa-dosa diantara keduanya, selama menjauhi dosa-dosa besar.” (Shahih, HR Muslim)

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2.      Semangat Rasulullah dalam Mengamalkan Puasa Asyura

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Ibnu Abbas Radhiyallahu 'Anhu pernah menceritakan tentang puasa Nabi Shallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam,

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

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 “Aku tidak penah melihat Nabi shallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam bersemangat puasa pada suatu hari yang lebih beliau utamakan atas selainnya kecuali pada hari ini, yaitu hari ‘Asyura dan pada satu bulan ini, yakni bulan Ramadhan.” (HR. Al-Bukhari dan Muslim)

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3.      Puasa Asyura termasuk memperingati Nabi Musa, Karena hari tersebut adalah Hari dimana Musa bersama Bani Isra'il di selamatkan oleh Allah dari Musuh [Fir'aun dan Tentaranya]

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Dalam hadits shahih:

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عن عبد اللَّه بن عباس رضي اللَّه عنهما قال: " قدم رسول اللَّه صلى الله عليه وسلم المدينة فرأى اليهود تصوم يوم عاشوراء، فقال: ما هذا؟ قالوا: هذا يوم صالح، نجّى اللَّه فيه موسى وبني إسرائيل من عدوهم، فصامه، فقال: أنا أحق بموسى منكم فصامه وأمر بصيامه" . وفي رواية: " فصامه موسى شكراً، فنحن نصومه" . وفي رواية أخرى: " فنحن نصومه تعظيماً له
Artinya:
Ibnu Abbas Radhiyallahu ‘Anhuma berkata : Ketika Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa ‘Ala Alihi Wa Sallam tiba di Madinah, beliau melihat orang-orang Yahudi berpuasa pada hari‚ Asyura, maka Beliau bertanya : “Hari apa ini?. Mereka menjawab :“ini adalah hari istimewa, karena pada hari ini Allah menyelamatkan Bani Israil dari musuhnya, Karena itu Nabi Musa berpuasa pada hari ini sebagai Rasa  Syukur kepada Allah, maka dari itu kami (orang-orang yahudi) berpuasa hari ini. Rasulullah pun bersabda : “Aku lebih berhak atas (mengikuti) Musa daripada kalian“ Maka beliau berpuasa dan memerintahkan shahabatnya untuk berpuasa. (H.R. Bukhari dan Muslim)

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4.      Berpuasa Tasu’a Termasuk Puasa Yang di Lakukan Untuk Menyelisihi Yahudi
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Dalam hadits shahih:

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عن ابن عباس رضي اللَّه عنهما قال: " حين صام رسول اللَّه صلى الله عليه وسلم يوم عاشوراء، وأمر بصيامه، قالوا: يا رسول اللَّه إنه يوم تعظّمه اليهود والنصارى؟ فقال رسول اللَّه صلى الله عليه وسلم : فإذا كان العام القابل - إن شاء اللَّه - صمنا اليوم التاسع، قال: فلم يأت العام المقبل، حتى توفي رسول اللَّه صلى الله عليه وسلم

 " .
Ibnu Abbas Radhiyallahu ‘Anhuma berkata : Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa ‘Ala Alihi Wa Sallam berpuasa pada hari Asyura, dan memerintahkan untuk berpuasa pada hari itu, Lalu para sahabat berkata: Wahai Rasulullah, hari asyura’ adalah hari yang di agungkan orang-orang yahudi dan Nasrani, Lalu Nabi Shallallahu Alaihi Wasallam menjawab : “Jika tahun depan kita bertemu dengan bulan Muharram, kita akan berpuasa pada hari kesembilan (tanggal sembilan).“ (H.R. Bukhari dan Muslim)

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Bagaimana Berpuasa ‘Asyura ?

Ibnu Qoyyim rahimahullah dalam kitab Zaadul Ma’aad –berdasarkan riwayat-riwayat yang ada- menjelaskan :

- Urutan pertama, dan ini yang paling sempurna adalah puasa tiga hari, yaitu puasa tanggal sepuluh ditambah sehari sebelum dan sesudahnya (tgl 9, 10 & 11).

- Urutan kedua, puasa tanggal 9 dan 10. Inilah yang disebutkan dalam banyak hadits.

- Urutan ketiga, puasa tanggal 10 saja.

Puasa sebanyak tiga hari (9, 10,dan 11) dikuatkan para para ulama dengan beberapa alasan sebagai berikut :

1. Untuk menyelisihi Ahli Kitab.

2. Sebagai kehati-hatian, yaitu kemungkinan penetapan awal bulannya tidak tepat.

3. Dimasukkan dalam puasa tiga hari setiap bulan.

ইসলামী মিডিয়াঃ অতীত, বর্তমান, ভবিষ্যত

 জাহিলিয়্যাতের দীর্ঘ রাতের অবসানের পর ইসলামের সুপ্রভাত যেদিন উদ্ভাসিত হলো, সেদিন থেকেই মানবসভ্যতা অজ্ঞতা, কুসংস্কার ও যাবতীয় অবনয়ন/ অবনতিকে পেছনে ফেলে শিক্ষা, বিজ্ঞান ও সমুদয় উন্নতির পথে যাত্রা শুরু করল। মানুষের সাফল্যের চাকা ধীরে ধীরে ঘুরতে আরম্ভ করল। 

মানবসম্প্রদায় একে একে উতরে যেতে লাগলো প্রযুক্তির একেকটি ধাপ। তথ্য-বিনিময় ব্যবস্থা পরপর পায়রা, রানার, ডাকঘর, ওয়ারলেস, টেলিফোন, মোবাইল ইত্যাদি পার হয়ে সবশেষে ইন্টারনেট-এ এসে উপনীত হয়েছে। গণযোগাযোগ মাধ্যম মিটিং, সমাবেশ, বিজ্ঞপ্তির আঙ্গিনা পেরিয়ে এখন অবতরন করেছে সংবাদপত্র, রেডিও, টেলিভিশন, স্যাটেলাইট ও ওয়েবসাইটের ছাউনিতে।

নিঃসন্দেহে মানববংশের এ সমস্ত উন্নতি ও প্রগতির সূতিকাগার ছিল ইসলামী সাম্রাজ্যসমূহ, সকল উন্নয়ন ও অগ্রগতির দিকপাল ছিলেন মুসলিম বিজ্ঞানী ও আবিষ্কারকগণ। ইতিহাস তার জীবন্ত সাক্ষী, অতীত তথ্যভাণ্ডার তার জ্বলন্ত দৃষ্টান্ত।

সভ্যতার যাত্রাপথে যোগাযোগব্যবস্থার প্রতিটি উপাদান মানবসমাজে পরিচিত ছিল ভিন্ন ভিন্ন নামে, পরে (মিডিয়া) শব্দ ও চিন্তাধারার উৎপত্তির সাথে সাথে ঐসব উপকরণগুলো সেই <মিডিয়া> নামক প্রতিষ্ঠানটির বলয়ে সংযুক্ত হতে শুরু করে।ফলে মিডিয়া পরিণত হয় একটি শক্তিশালি ও প্রভাবনীয় প্লাটফর্মে।সমাজমানসে তা লাভ করে ভিন্নতর এক পরিচিতি, দখল করে নেয় একটি অভূতপূর্বস্থান।

(মিডিয়া) নাম্নী এই অদম্য প্রাণীটির লাগাম যতদিন ইসলামের হাতে ছিল, ততদিন তা ছিল মানবতার জন্য আশীর্বাদ স্বরূপ এক অমীয় সুধা, ন্যায়ের প্রতিবিম্ব আর সত্যের ফ্রেমবন্দি কল্যাণের এক অফুরন্ত আধার। অসহায়ের ত্রাতা, নিরীহর ভ্রাতা আর মানবাধিকারের বিজয়গাঁথা।

এরপর কালের আবর্তনে এর লাগাম মুসলমানদের হাত থেকে ছিটকে পাশ্চাত্যের বিষাক্ত থাবায় বন্দি হল, আর পরিণত হল অশুভ শক্তির ভয়ঙ্করদর্শী এক নারকীয় শয়তানে; যার লেলিহান শিখায় পুড়তে লাগল মানবতা, যার বিষে দংশিত হল সত্য-ন্যায়ের নধর কাঠামো, নোংরা থাবায় লুন্ঠিত হলো কল্যাণ ও সুন্দরের অমূল্য সম্পদ।

মুসলিমদের দুধ-কলায় লালিত সেই সুন্দর মিডিয়া আজ পাশ্চাত্যের অপচ্ছায়ায় এক বিষাক্ত কালো সাপ, স্বয়ং ইসলামী বিশ্বই আজ যার ছোবলে আক্রান্ত। যার ভয়ঙ্কর ফণার কাছে ইন্সানিয়্যাত আজ পরযদুস্ত। পাশ্চাত্য সাপুড়েদের অন্ধকার প্রকোষ্ঠে যার অবাধ বিচরন। ইউরোপিয়ান শিল্পকলায় পরিপুষ্ট সরীসৃপটি একচেটিয়া নীলবিষ ছিটিয়ে বেড়াচ্ছে গোটা মানবসমাজদেহে।

কিন্তু আর নয়!এবার সময় হয়েছে ঐ কালনাগের বিষদাঁত ভেঙ্গে দেবার, প্রয়োজন তীব্র হয়েছে এক ঝাঁক প্রকৃতিবান্ধব বেজীর যারা ঐ বিষাক্ত ফণা ছিন্নভিন্ন করে ছাড়বে, একদল  বাস্তবসম্মত দক্ষ চিকিৎসকের বড়ই দরকার যাঁরা এই বিষাক্রান্ত মানবতাকে যথার্থ পথ্য দিয়ে আবার বাঁচিয়ে তুলবেন। ঐ ভণ্ড সাপুড়েদের সমস্ত জারিজুরি ফাঁস করে দেবেন। একজন সুপটু কারিগর চাই যিনি ঐ সাপের মমি করে রাখবেন, যাতে করে ঐ বিষাক্ত শব থেকেও যেন ক্ষতিকর জীবাণু সৃষ্টি হতে না পারে, ছড়াতে না পারে পরিবেশ দূষণকারী মারাত্মক দুর্গন্ধ, যাতে করে সেই স্টাফ করা সর্পের ধ্বংসাবশেষ দেখে প্রজন্মের পর প্রজন্ম আজীবন শিক্ষা নিতে পারে, সবাই যেন আঙ্গুল উঁচিয়ে বলতে পারে -ঐ দেখ! ওরাই মানবতার চরম শত্রু, আদম সন্তানেরা তাদের কখনোই ক্ষমা করবে না-

প্রত্নতাত্ত্বিক নিদর্শন হিসেবেই তাদের শেষ ঠাঁই হবে জাদুঘরে

মিডিয়া নামের সোনার হরিণটি ফিরে আসবে তার প্রকৃত মালিকের কাছে।।

১০-৫-১২             

Muharram – Facts and Misconceptions

Facts About Muharram

• Muharram is one of the four sacred Months out of twelve. The other being ZiQad,ZilHajj and Rajab.
• These four months have been sacred since the creation of universe – as told by Allah Subhana Watala in the Quran.
• Muharram is a sacred month NOT because the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (saw) was martyred in this month. It is sacred because Allah made it sacred along with three other months and told us about it in the Quran.

PROOF:

Allah says in the Holy Quran:
“Surely the number of months with Allah is twelve months in Allah’s ordinance since the day when He created the heavens and the earth, of these four being sacred; that is the right reckoning; therefore be not unjust to yourselves regarding them.”[Surah 9 :At-Taubah, Verse 36]

Prophet Muhammad (saw) informed us about the four sacred months in the following narration:
“The year is of twelve months, out of which four months are sacred: Three are in succession Dhul-Qa’ da, Dhul-Hijja and Muharram, and (the fourth is) Rajab…” [Bukhari Vol 004, Book 054, Hadith 419

• After Ramadan, fasting in the month of Muharram is most rewardable.

PROOF:

Prophet Muhammad saw said  “The most excellent fast after Ramadan is in Allah’s month; al-Muharram, and the most excellent prayer after what is prescribed is prayer during the night.” [Muslim 6: 2661]
Prophet Muhammad (saw) called Muharram “Allah’s Month”

Facts about Ashura – The 10th of Muharram

• Fasting on the 10th Muharram i.e. Ashura was obligatory on the Muslims before the fasts of Ramadan were made obligatory.

Narrated by Mother of the Believers Aisha (ra): “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 Apostle said, “Whoever wishes to fast (on the day of ‘Ashura’) may do so; and whoever wishes to leave it can do so.”[Bukhari Vol 02, Book 026, Hadith Number 662]

Fast of Ashura expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year.

“Abu Qatada al-Ansari (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was asked about his fasting… He was asked about fasting on the day of ‘Ashura (10th of Muharram), whereupon be said: It expiates the sins of the preceding year…”[Muslim: Book 06: Hadith 2603]

Misconceptions about Ashura

• This is the day Prophet Adam (as) was created
• This is the day when Allah accepted the repentance of Adam (as)
• This is the day when Ibrahim (as) was born.
• This is the day the Qayamat (doomsday) will occur. (From hadiths we know Qayamat will occur on a friday, but does not specify which month)
• Whoever baths on Ashura will never get ill.

All of the above are misconceptions based on unauthentic traditions.

• Muharram is an evil or unlucky month.( due to the battle of Karbala)
• Marriages should not be held in Muharram.

This misconception can be easily removed by the fact that on the exact same day Husain (ra) was martyred, years ago Prophet Musa as and his followers were saved from Pharaoh, which is why Prophet Muhammad saw observed the fast on Ashura and ordered the Muslims to do the same. The day can not be lucky and unlucky at the same time.

Historical Facts about Muharram

• Musa (as) and the Bani Israel were saved from the Pharaoh by the parting of the sea on 10th Muharram.
• Prophet Musa (as) as a sign of gratitute to Allah used to fast on the day of Ashura and Jews did the same.
• Prophet Muhammad (saw) on hearing the fast of Musa (as) also ordered the Muslims to fast on this day and himself did the same.
• Prophet Muhammad (saw) decided to fast on 9th Muharram as well to differentiate from the Jews but he passed away before he could do so.

PROOF:

Ibn e Abbas  ra narrated: “When the Prophet came to Medina, he found (the Jews) fasting on the day of ‘Ashura’ (i.e. 10th of Muharram). They used to say: “This is a great day on which Allah saved Moses and drowned the folk of Pharaoh. Moses observed the fast on this day, as a sign of gratitude to Allah.” The Prophet said, “I am closer to Moses than they.” So, he observed the fast (on that day) and ordered the Muslims to fast on it. [ Bukhari: Vol 4, Book 055, Hadith Number 609]

Ibn ‘Abbas ra reported:  ”When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) fasted on the day of ‘Ashura and commanded that it should be observed as a fast, they (his Companions) said to him: Messenger of Allah, it is a day which the Jews and Christians hold in high esteem. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When the next year comes, God willing, we would observe fast on the 9th But the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) died before the advent of the next year.” [ Musim : Book 006, Hadith Number 2528]

Abdullah ibn Abbas (ra) also reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) had said:
“If I live till the next (year), I would definitely observe fast on the 9th.[ Muslim: Book 006, Hadith Number 2529]

• Companion Umar Farooq (ra) succumbed to his injuries and attained Martyrdom on the 1st of Muharram, 23 AH (After Hijri)
• Grandson of Prophet Muhammad (saw) Hussain ibn Ali (ra) along with most of his family members was martyred in the desert of Kerbala in Iraq on the 10th of Muharram.

Authentic Ibadaat (Worship) of Muharram

• Fasting in Muharram (any day)
• Fasting on 10th Muharram and combining it with the fast of 9th Muharram to distinguish from the Jews.

Innovations and things to avoid in Muharram

• Preparing special dishes meals in Muharram and Ashoora
• Muslims should not eat any meals, dishes made specifically by the Shias for Ashoora as it involves eating food on which a name other than the name of Allah has been taken or is prepared as a token to any other other than Allah. If you do end up receiving such food, distribute it amongst your non Muslim servants. Read further details here
• Holding Matam ~lamentation and mourning ceremonies in the memory of martyrdom of Sayyidna Husain (ra)
• Muslims should not take part in Matam as Matam is totally against the basic teaching of Islam. Read : Matam on Ashura is not a part of Islam
• Cursing the companions.
• Wearing black clothes and starving and refusing to drink in memory of Husain (ra)

All these are deviant practices which go against the basic teachings of Quran andProphet Muhammad (saw) He said “He is not from our group who slaps his checks, tears his clothes and cries in the manner of the people of jahiliyyah.”(Sahih Bukhari)

Sayyidna Husain ra before his demise advised his beloved sister Sayyidah Zainab, ra, not to mourn over his death in this manner. He said, “My dear sister! I swear upon you that in case I die you shall not tear your clothes, nor scratch your face, nor curse anyone for me or pray for your death.” (Al-Kamil, ibn Kathir vol. 4 pg. 24)