Sermon Title: Ashura and the Day of Salvation
Main Elements of the Sermon:
1. The day of Ashura is a day of salvation.
2. The story of the Children of Israel from torment to salvation.
3. Faith is the cause of salvation from distresses in this world and the Hereafter.
4. Forms of victory.
All praise be to Allah, who saves us from great afflictions with His mercy, and removes severe hardships with His kindness. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. May Allah exalt and send blessings to him, his family, and his companions.
To proceed:
O servants of Allah, fear Allah as He should be feared, and be mindful of Him in private and in public.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ
"O you who believe, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims."
Servants of Allah:
A believing nation, weakened and oppressed, ruled by a tyrannical corrupt leader who enslaves people, slaughters children, and spares women. The Mighty and Wise Allah wants to bestow favor upon the believers. Is there anyone who can command anything besides Allah? Allah decrees what He wills, preparing the means and determining the measures, not according to human expectations and methods, but according to His hidden kindness. Allah writes destruction for whom He wills and salvation for whom He wills, on one of Allah's days that He has immortalized, made a lesson for the worlds, and prescribed gratitude for the believers on it. It is the day of Ashura.
The Prophet (ﷺ) came to Medina and found the Jews fasting on Ashura. He asked them about it, and they said: "This is a great day. It is the day when Allah saved Moses and drowned the people of Pharaoh. So, Moses fasted out of gratitude to Allah." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "I have more right to Moses than they do." So he fasted on that day and ordered fasting on it. (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)
What is the story of this great day?
The story of salvation begins with a nursing infant.
Allah Almighty says:
إِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ عَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهْلَهَا شِيَعًا يَسْتَضْعِفُ طَائِفَةً مِنْهُمْ يُذَبِّحُ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيِي نِسَاءَهُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ * وَنُرِيدُ أَنْ نَمُنَّ عَلَى الَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَنَجْعَلَهُمْ أَئِمَّةً وَنَجْعَلَهُمُ الْوَارِثِينَ * وَنُمَكِّنَ لَهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَنُرِيَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا مِنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَحْذَرُونَ * وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى أُمِّ مُوسَى أَنْ أَرْضِعِيهِ فَإِذَا خِفْتِ عَلَيْهِ فَأَلْقِيهِ فِي الْيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِي وَلَا تَحْزَنِي إِنَّا رَادُّوهُ إِلَيْكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ
"Indeed, Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and made its people into factions, oppressing a sector among them, slaughtering their sons and keeping their females alive. Indeed, he was of the corrupters. And We wanted to confer favor upon those who were oppressed in the land and make them leaders and make them inheritors. And establish them in the land and show Pharaoh and Haman and their soldiers through them that which they had feared. And We inspired to the mother of Moses, "Suckle him; but when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear and do not grieve. Indeed, We will return him to you and will make him [one] of the messengers."' [Al-Qasas: 4-7]
Humanity has never known a tyrant like Pharaoh. He was deceived by his kingdom and the rivers flowing beneath his palaces, and by his soldiers who transgressed in the land and spread corruption. He saw himself as self-sufficient, so he transgressed and became arrogant. He and his soldiers oppressed the Children of Israel with humiliating torment. He claimed to be a god, even boastfully saying:
مَا عَلِمْتُ لَكُمْ مِنْ إِلَهٍ غَيْرِي
"I do not know of any god for you other than me" [Al-Qasas: 38].
Then he persisted in his tyranny, saying:
أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَى
"I am your lord, the most high" [An-Nazi'at: 24].
Have you seen tyranny like that? Enslaving people through deceit and coercion, killing children, crushing men, corrupting people, and belittling the masses. A king and his soldiers, power and influence, but Allah does what He wills.
A righteous woman from the Children of Israel carries a fetus in her womb, anticipating the moment her child will see the light of life, but she fears for him the brutality of the criminal whose heart is devoid of mercy.
Here, Allah inspired her to place her child in a basket, then cast it into the river, and commanded her not to fear or grieve, for he is under Allah's watchful eye.
The basket cleaves through the water until it reaches the house of the tyrant Pharaoh, to be cared for by him personally! By Allah's might, not by Pharaoh's cunning.
Days pass, and Moses, son of Imran, grows up. Allah gives him the message and commands him to call Pharaoh and his chiefs to Allah.
As soon as the tyrant heard "There is no god but Allah," he became enraged, sensing that his kingdom was vanishing and his claimed divinity was dissipating. He and his soldiers refused and became arrogant without right.
He tried to overcome the power of faith with argument, but Allah returned him disgraced and weary. How can falsehood withstand the projectiles of truth? He gathered the magicians to intimidate Moses and all the people, but the magic backfired on the magician, and the magicians believed in the Lord of the worlds.
At that point, he filled the world with torture and punishment, burning, killing, and crucifying. He killed the magicians, cut off their hands and feet, and crucified them on palm trunks.
He killed his believing wife, Asiya, may Allah be pleased with her.
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates: "Pharaoh drove four stakes into his wife's breasts and legs. When they left her, the angels shaded her. She said: ‘My Lord, build for me near You a house in Paradise and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds and save me from the wrongdoing people.’ Then her house in Paradise was unveiled to her." Narrated by Abu Ya'la and authenticated by Al-Albani in As-Silsilah As-Sahihah."
Then his torment intensified against the believers among the Children of Israel, but Moses, peace be upon him, commanded them to be patient, saying:
اسْتَعِينُوا بِاللَّهِ وَاصْبِرُوا إِنَّ الْأَرْضَ لِلَّهِ يُورِثُهَا مَنْ يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
"Seek help through Allah and be patient. Indeed, the earth belongs to Allah. He causes to inherit it whom He wills of His servants. And the [best] outcome is for the righteous." [Al-A'raf: 128]
He gave them glad tidings of salvation and empowerment, saying:
عَسَى رَبُّكُمْ أَنْ يُهْلِكَ عَدُوَّكُمْ وَيَسْتَخْلِفَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنْظُرَ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُونَ
"Perhaps your Lord will destroy your enemy and grant you succession in the land and see how you will do." [Al-A'raf: 129]
He commanded them to rely on Allah alone, so they said:
عَلَى اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةً لِلْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ * وَنَجِّنَا بِرَحْمَتِكَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ
"Upon Allah do we rely. Our Lord, make us not [objects of] trial for the wrongdoing people. And save us by Your mercy from the disbelieving people." [Yunus: 85-86]
The tyrant decided to exterminate the oppressed, so he sent [emissaries] into the cities to gather forces and equipment.
Here, Moses and those with him from the Children of Israel leave, seeking salvation. The tyrant Pharaoh proceeds in his arrogance and pride towards his destruction and demise. When he caught up with the Children of Israel, and thought he had trapped them, and they thought they were doomed, and all worldly means were cut off, Moses, peace be upon him, cried out to them, trusting in his Lord and relying on his Protector and Helper: 'No!' - meaning, it is not as you and they think - 'Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me.'
Moses, peace be upon him, did not know how this would happen, nor did any worldly calculations indicate it, but this was faith and certainty.
Here, his Magnificent Lord inspired him: 'Strike with your staff the sea,' and it parted, and each portion was like a great mountain. Allah paved a dry path for the Children of Israel, and they crossed safely.
The tyrant Pharaoh and his soldiers saw this great sign, but 'Of what benefit are signs and warners to a people who do not believe?' They followed the path behind the believers. When they had all entered between the mountains of water, the Almighty closed it upon them, drowning the tyrant in it, seizing him with the seizure of One Exalted in Might and Perfect in Ability.
Allah bestowed this great favor upon the Children of Israel, saying:
وَإِذْ نَجَّيْنَاكُمْ مِنْ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوءَ الْعَذَابِ يُذَبِّحُونَ أَبْنَاءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَاءَكُمْ وَفِي ذَلِكُمْ بَلَاءٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ * وَإِذْ فَرَقْنَا بِكُمُ الْبَحْرَ فَأَنْجَيْنَاكُمْ وَأَغْرَقْنَا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَأَنْتُمْ تَنْظُرُونَ
"And [recall] when We saved you from the people of Pharaoh, who were afflicting you with the worst torment - killing your sons and keeping your women alive. And in that was a great trial from your Lord. And [recall] when We parted the sea for you and saved you and drowned the people of Pharaoh while you were looking on." [Al-Baqarah: 49-50]
Servants of Allah:
How numerous are the distresses and perils of this world, but salvation from every distress is in the hands of Allah alone.
The path to salvation is through believing in Allah as the One God with no partner, by attaching to Him and relying on Him alone, by calling upon Him like a drowning person who has no refuge except in Allah, by remaining steadfast on Allah's command and following His law without alteration or change."
When you read the stories of the prophets in the Quran with their peoples, you find them as one biography, and an unchanging tradition: a people who strayed from Allah, and their leaders who were arrogant took charge of disbelief and leading astray from Allah's religion. Others were oppressed, subjected to torment and various forms of harm, and they were resented only because they believed in Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy. Then Allah gives respite to the criminals, perhaps they might repent, but their tyranny deceives them, and they continue in their error and harming the believers. Then the punishment comes from the Lord of the worlds. So who is saved?
Allah says:
وَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا هُودًا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِنَّا
"And when Our command came, We saved Hud and those who believed with him, by mercy from Us." [Hud: 58]
Allah says:
فَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا صَالِحًا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِنَّا
"So, when Our command came, We saved Salih and those who believed with him, by mercy from Us." [Hud: 66]
Allah says:
وَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا شُعَيْبًا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِنَّا
"And when Our command came, We saved Shu'ayb and those who believed with him, by mercy from Us." [Hud: 94]
Allah says:
وَأَنْجَيْنَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَكَانُوا يَتَّقُون
"And We saved those who believed and used to fear Allah." [An-Naml: 53]
The common factor among those saved is faith.
Where are the idols of the people of Noah, 'Ad, Thamud, and the people of Madyan? Where are Pharaoh and Haman? Where are Abu Jahl and Abu Lahab? Did these avail their followers anything when your Lord's command came?
No, by Allah,
بَلْ ضَلُّوا عَنْهُمْ وَذَلِكَ إِفْكُهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا يَفْتَرُونَ
"Rather, they had strayed from them. And that was their falsehood and what they were inventing." [Al-Ahqaf: 28]
May Allah bless me and you in the Great Quran, and benefit me and you with its verses and wise remembrance. I seek Allah's forgiveness for me and you, so seek His forgiveness. Indeed, He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful."
The Second Sermon
All praise be to Allah, and may Allah exalt and send peace to the Messenger of Allah, his family, companions, and those who follow him.
Brothers in Islam:
Indeed, the victory of the believers is a right that Allah has made incumbent upon Himself. Allah says:
وَكَانَ حَقًّا عَلَيْنَا نَصْرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
"And it was incumbent upon Us to aid the believers." [Ar-Rum: 47]
Allah's victory has many forms. The destruction of their enemies is a victory, as Allah said about Noah, peace be upon him:
وَنَصَرْنَاهُ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمَ سَوْءٍ فَأَغْرَقْنَاهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
"And We supported him against the people who denied Our signs. Indeed, they were evil people, so We drowned them all." [Al-Anbiya: 77]
Granting them dominance in their battle against their enemies is a victory. Allah says:
وَلَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ بِبَدْرٍ وَأَنْتُمْ أَذِلَّةٌ
"And Allah had certainly assisted you at Badr while you were weak." [Ali 'Imran: 123]
Abandoning their enemies so they cannot achieve their goals is a victory, as Allah supported His Prophet in the cave by preventing his enemies from reaching him. Allah says:
إِلَّا تَنْصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ اللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ
"If you do not aid the Prophet - Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave." [At-Tawbah: 40]
Allah's strengthening of the believers in their faith until they meet Him upon it, and are martyred in His cause and attain Paradise, is a victory. As Allah said about the people of the trench who were killed in His cause:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْكَبِيرُ
"Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds will have gardens beneath which rivers flow. That is the great attainment." [Al-Buruj: 11]
O Allah, save us in this world from the criminal people, and save us by Your mercy from the painful torment.
O Allah, deal with the enemies of Islam from among the Jews, Crusaders, and hypocrites.
O Allah, foil their plots and protect us from their evil.
O Allah, guide our leader to what You love and are pleased with, and take him by the forelock to righteousness and piety.
Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire."
