Ashura: A Day of Gratitude

𝑶𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝑨𝒔𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒂, 𝑨𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒉(𝒔𝒘𝒕) 𝒔𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒆𝒅 𝑺𝒆𝒂 𝒔𝒐 𝑴𝒖𝒔𝒂(𝒂𝒔) 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑰𝒔𝒓𝒂𝒆𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒆 𝑷𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒐𝒉 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏.

It was on this day too that the Ark of Nuh(as) came to rest on Mount Judiyy; after a time of building, then surviving ravaging storms that did them no harm but caused the wrongdoers to perish.

Of Musa(as), his story is one of gratitude and unequivocal faith in Allah (swt) that never wavered during his mission, standing resolute with his people, even in the face of the terrifying stampede of an approaching army to one side while cut off by the Red Sea on the other. 

So Musa(as) would fast on Ashura to commemorate this righteous day and show gratitude to Allah(swt). For it was His mercy that finally saved Musa(as) and his people and drowned Pharaoh and his lot. The Prophet Muhammedﷺ and the Muslims followed in his footsteps by fasting on Ashura.

It is also an opportunity to reflect and a reminder of how in our own lives we should always be patient and grateful to Allah(swt) for all the blessings He gives; be it our health, wealth, family, security, things that we may take for granted, big or small. We live in times where expectation is for more or things to happen at a moment’s notice; only some are prepared to be patient and wait, or work hard or endure temporary hardship to see the results they want.

Yet all too often a blessing that comes quick is easily forgotten, much less appreciated, compared to something you worked, struggled hard for or waited for over a longer period of time, because then perhaps it’s easier to be grateful and appreciate it. So Allah(swt) tests us so. When we ask of Him the response can come quick, be delayed or refused but there is good and benefit regardless, that we should be grateful for. Allah(swt) knows us best and his guidance is in harmony with our nature.  

Gratitude protects us from greed, sadness, frees us from the need to compare or compete with others and allows us to find contentment with our own lot in life, firmly placing us on the path to loving Allah(swt) while still hoping for a better tomorrow.

“If you are grateful, I would certainly give you more…” [TMQ 14:7]🌙

𝑴𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 of 𝗦.𝗡.𝗝𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗹𝗶 ✍🏼 (𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 of 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗯𝗻 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, Islamic chapter books for kids📚)