Worshipers observe ashura fasting, offer special prayers

Hina Durrani

ISLAMABAD, Jun 26 (APP):Like other parts of the country, worshipers in the federal capital observed the fast of Ashura on the 10th of Muharram, marking one of the most significant days of the Islamic calendar with devotion, remembrance, and special prayers.

Mosques witnessed increased attendance as worshipers offered voluntary prayers, recited the Holy Quran and engaged in supplications, seeking Allah’s mercy and forgiveness.

Talking to APP, religious scholar Hafiza Ayesha said that Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and that the 10th of Muharram holds immense spiritual significance in Islam. She noted that fasting on Ashura carried a great reward, citing the saying of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), as narrated in Sahih Muslim, that fasting on this day expiates the sins of the previous year. She added that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself observed the fast of Ashura and encouraged his followers to do the same.

The scholar also recalled that Ashura marked the day when Allah saved Prophet Musa (A.S.) and his people from the tyranny of Pharaoh by parting the sea. Prophet Musa (A.S.) observed a fast in gratitude to Allah, she said.

Emphasizing the message of Ashura, Ayesha said the day taught Muslims to remain steadfast in truth, show patience in adversity and uphold sincerity in all their actions. She said the sacrifice of Imam Husayn ibn Ali (RA), remained a timeless example of courage, integrity and unwavering commitment to justice.

Ayesha urged Muslims to treat Ashura not only as a day of remembrance but also as an opportunity for self-reflection, encouraging them to evaluate whether they stood for truth, uphold justice and remained patient during life’s trials.

Sadia Saif, a religious scholar and Information Secretary of the Jamaat-e-Islami Women Wing, Islamabad, told APP that after the obligatory fasts of Ramazan, fasting on Ashura was a means of seeking Allah’s forgiveness. She further said that Muharram was one of the sacred months and described Ashura as an occasion for sincere repentance and seeking Allah’s mercy.

Calling on Muslims to increase their prayers and supplications, she prayed for relief for the Muslim Ummah and urged believers to seek Allah’s help for justice, peace and the dignity of the Muslim community.

Referring to the martyrdom of Imam Husayn ibn Ali (RA), the beloved grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Saadia Saif said his sacrifice at Karbala remained an enduring symbol of courage, faith and unwavering commitment to truth. She said Imam Husayn ibn Ali (RA), sacrificed his life and family in the cause of Allah rather than submit to falsehood or accept hereditary rule which, in her words, conflicted with Islamic principles.

She added that his struggle was not for personal power but for the protection of Islamic values, principles and the reform of the Muslim Ummah. She said the martyrdom of Imam Husayn ibn Ali (RA), continued to inspire humanity to stand against oppression and injustice, adding that nations which surrender to tyranny risk losing their freedom and dignity. She called upon Muslims to uphold the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), promote justice and fairness, and strive to implement Islamic values in society.

Across Pakistan, Ashura was also marked by charitable initiatives, including food distribution, clean drinking water projects, free healthcare camps and support for orphans. Non-governmental organizations and community groups set up sabeels (water distribution points), organized blood donation drives and sponsored medical assistance, reflecting the spirit of sacrifice, compassion and service associated with Karbala