Recommended Deeds on Days of Tasua and Ashura
Contemplation, visiting the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS), and abstaining from eating without the intention of fasting are among the most recommended actions on the days of Tasua and Ashura.
Some actions are Makruh (discouraged) in these two days.
Fasting is one of the recommended acts among Shia Muslims. However, fasting on the days of Tasua and Ashura is Makruh.
In the book Zad al-Ma'ad by Allama Majlisi, it is stated as follows: “The Umayyads were pleased with the large number of their soldiers and the small number of the soldiers of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him). In order to call this day blessed and consider it virtuous, they began to fabricate hadiths about the virtue of fasting on this day and also on the day of Ashura. However, many narrations and hadiths have been included from the pure Imams (peace be upon them) condemning and discouraging fasting on these two days.”
The days of Tasu'a and Ashura, which coincide with the ninth and tenth of the month of Muharram, are days of sorrow and calamity for Shias due to the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS) and his loyal companions. The day when the son of Amir al-Mu'minin Ali (AS) and Hazrat Fatima (SA) were martyred in the desert of Karbala in a strange way. Therefore, it is not appropriate for the Shias who love Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS) to engage in business and worldly affairs on these days. It is true that fasting is Makruh during these days, but the advice of religious elders to abstain from eating without the intention of fasting indicates that excessive eating and drinking and setting lavish tables on this day is not appropriate.
Mustahab (Recommended) actions on Tasua and Ashura
It is mentioned in religious sources that we should not perform ordinary and daily actions on Tasua and Ashura like on other days of the year. Of course, one should never forget that the most recommended act in Islam is contemplation, and the recommended acts mentioned are for more contemplation and reflection.
The first recommended act mentioned for the days of Tasua and Ashura is to visit the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS). Visiting Imam Hussein (AS) on the night of Ashura has a great reward. Whoever stays in the shrine of the Master of Martyrs (AS) until morning on the night of Ashura, God will gather him with the martyrs and alongside Imam Hussein (AS).
The ninth and tenth days of the month of Muharram are days of calamity and sorrow for Ah-ul-Bayt (AS) and all Shias. For this reason, it is not appropriate for Shias to engage in daily business and worldly affairs on these two days, especially the day of Ashura. On this day, lovers of Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS) should be engaged in mourning and participating in the mourning rituals.
It is recommended to perform 100 rak’ahs of prayer on the night of Ashura. This prayer is performed in the following manner: in each rak’ah, after Surah Al-Fatihah, Surah Al-Ikhlas is recited three times, and after the prayer, Subhan Allah, Al-Hamdu Lillah, La Ilaha Illa Allah, Allahu Akbar, La Hawla Wa La Quwwat Illa Billah, Al-Ali Al-Azeem, are recited 70 times each. Another narration states that, in addition to the above, Istighfar is also recited.
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It is also recommended that a four-rak’ah prayer be performed in the middle of the night of Tasua. In each rak’ah of this prayer, after Surah Al-Fatihah, Ayat Al-Kursi is recited 10 times, and Surahs Al-Ikhals, Falaq, and An-Nas are recited 10 times each. After the Salam of the prayer, recite Surah Al-Ikhals 100 times.
Staying awake on the night of Ashura has great virtue and is highly recommended. It is stated in the amount of reward that it is equal to the worship of all the angels and is equal to 70 years.
Reciting the Ziyarat of Ashura on the 10th of Muharram also has great reward.
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