CELEBRATING THE DAY OF ASHURA WITH OUR YOUTHS

 

Yesterday was the 10th day of Muharram in the year 1440 after the Hijra. This day is known as Ashura Day and is one of the most important days in the Muslim calendar.

 Ashura Day is a blessed day that Allah has chosen throughout history for events of great relevance to humanity to take place there.

 The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), upon arriving in Medina established the fast of the day of Ashura as obligatory, but when Allah made obligatory the fast of the month of Ramadan, the Prophet clarified that the fast of Ashura became recommendable but of free choice.

 The fast on this day has a great benefit, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), answering one of his Companions said: “If you want to fast after the month of Ramadan, fast in the month of Muharram, which is the month of Allah, in it there is a day in which Allah accepted the forgiveness of a people and in it there is also forgiveness for other peoples.” (transmitted by Tirmidih).

 Commemorating a day like Ashura and the events that took place there helps us to strengthen our Din and our identity as Muslims. Therefore it is a highly recommended day to celebrate it and share it with family and children.

We took advantage of this day to organize an afternoon of activities with the children, having the intention that they perceive this day as a day of celebration, blessings and joy in their lives, being happy and proud to be Muslims.

 First of all we played some outdoor games in the pine grove next to the Cerro del Aceituno hill, overlooking Granada. After this we walked down through the historical Albaicín quarter to the Mosque of Granada. There we talked about the importance of this day and we briefly narrated some of the events in which Allah freed some of his Messengers: the Prophet Yunus was freed from the belly of the whale, the Prophet Ibrahim was freed from the fire into which he was thrown, the Prophet Yusuf was freed from the prison, the Prophet Nuh and the people of his ark came ashore after a long crossing of the seas. And it was on the day of Ashura when Allah returned to the Prophet Ayub his wealth, his family and health and when Allah saved the Prophet Musa and his people from the tyranny of Pharaoh.

 After listening to these moving and inspiring stories, we concluded the program with a snack that served as the final touch to commemorate this day.