When it comes to the day of Ashura, people fall into three distinct categories, each demonstrating either excess, negligence, or the balanced path prescribed by authentic Islam.
1. The Extremists
The first group are the extremists — those who exaggerate and are rigid in the religion, innovating what the Sharia did not command or adding unnecessary burdens even to things originally prescribed. In our time, this often appears in hasty takfir (declaring others disbelievers) and baseless accusations of deviance.
2. The Negligent
The second group are the negligent — those who abandon obligatory duties, commit prohibitions, or neglect parts of what Allah has commanded. Both of these extremes are blameworthy, as Allah Almighty says:
“And do not make your hand [as] chained to your neck nor extend it completely and [thereby] become blamed and insolvent.” (Al-Isra: 29)
This verse, though addressed to the Prophet ﷺ, is a directive to the entire Ummah. It forbids both extremism and negligence. Allah also praised those who avoid both extremes:
“And [they are] those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or sparingly but are ever, between that, [justly] moderate.” (Al-Furqan: 67)
3. The Balanced
This leaves the third group — the moderate ones, who stay between excess and neglect, following the truth as revealed by Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. True moderation is to worship Allah according to what He legislated, without addition or omission.
Imam Al-Tabari رحمه الله commented on the verse: “And thus We have made you a just community (Ummah Wasat)” (Al-Baqarah: 143):
“I believe that Allah described them as a just community because of their balance in religion. They are neither extreme like the Christians who exaggerated in monasticism and made statements about ‘Isa they should not have, nor are they negligent like the Jews who altered the Book of Allah, killed His Prophets, lied against their Lord and disbelieved in Him. Rather, they are people of balance and moderation, and this is the state most beloved to Allah.”
Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jama‘ah are people of the middle path in all matters of creed. They are the middle of this Ummah, just as the Ummah is the middle among all nations. They are balanced concerning Allah’s attributes, standing between the Jahmiyyah who deny them and the Mushabbihah who make false comparisons. They are balanced regarding Allah’s actions, between the Qadariyyah and the Jabriyyah. They are balanced regarding Allah’s warnings and promises, between the Murji’ah and the Wa‘idiyyah. They are balanced regarding faith and religion, between the Khawarij and Mu‘tazilah on one side, and the Murji’ah and Jahmiyyah on the other. And they are balanced in their view of the Sahabah between the Rafidah and the Khawarij.
In all these matters — including Ashura — Ahl al-Sunnah hold fast to moderation, adhering to the Book and the Sunnah.
Ashura and the Diverging Paths
The Prophet ﷺ encouraged fasting on the day of Ashura. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported:
“The Prophet ﷺ came to Madinah and saw the Jews fasting on Ashura. He said, ‘What is this?’ They said, ‘This is a righteous day; on this day Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy, so Musa fasted on this day.’ He said, ‘I am more entitled to Musa than you.’ So he fasted and commanded the Muslims to fast.” (Bukhari, Muslim)
The noble companions followed him in this. Al-Rubayyi‘ bint Mu‘awwidh said:
“We used to fast it after him, and we would make our children fast, and make toys of wool for them. If one of them cried for food, we would give him the toy until it was time to break the fast.”
This remained the case until the tragedy of Al-Husayn’s martyrdom in 61 AH during the rule of Yazid ibn Mu‘awiyah. The Ummah received this calamity with horror, denouncing it and disavowing those who killed Al-Husayn — may Allah be pleased with him. However, this tragedy became an excuse for some groups to innovate numerous practices in Ashura. Meanwhile, Ahl al-Sunnah remained upon the Prophet’s guidance — upholding moderation and balance.
Two Deviant Groups
1. The First Group: Those Who Turn Ashura into Mourning and Processions
The Shi‘a turned Ashura from a day of gratitude and fasting into one of wailing, mourning, processions, and self-flagellation. They fabricated many false narrations about cosmic signs that never occurred. Ibn Kathir رحمه الله said:
“The Shi‘a went to extremes on the day of Ashura, fabricating countless lies: that the sun rose red, that the sky became like blood clots, that stars collided, that it rained red blood, and that redness never appeared in the sky before that day — and other similar falsehoods.”
Thus, they shifted Ashura from its status as a day of fasting to one of lamentation, striking cheeks, tearing garments, cutting themselves, and blocking roads — all baseless in the Sharia. Many use this to divide Muslims and spread chaos.
2. The Second Group: Those Who Turn Ashura into a Religious Festival
In opposition, some turned Ashura into a festival of joy, taking it as a religious holiday, even though Islam has only two Eids: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. These were the Nawasib of Al-Sham, who celebrated with feasts, new clothes, and festivities to spite the Shi‘a. Ibn Kathir said:
“The Nawasib of Al-Sham opposed the Rafidah on Ashura by cooking grains, bathing, wearing perfumes, donning their best clothes, and preparing special foods — taking it as a day of celebration to defy the Rafidah.”
The Position of Ahl al-Sunnah
Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jama‘ah remain between these two extremes. They fast Ashura in gratitude to Allah, as the Prophet ﷺ guided. They avoid all innovations and reject mourning rituals, self-harm, and theatrics. If they remember Al-Husayn’s martyrdom, they do so in line with authentic Sunnah — with dignity, patience, and by saying as Allah commands: “Indeed, to Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return.”
Every Muslim must shun all practices not grounded in the Sharia and to adhere to the authentic Sunnah, thereby fulfilling the true moderation that defines the people of truth.
May Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his noble companions.
