On the day of Ashura, perform Ghusl (a
complete bath); trim your nails, put on clean clothes and enable yourself to
enter a state of Ibaadat (worship of Allah). On this day, besides the
obligatory prayers, do some recitations of the Holy Quran, then read two cycles
of voluntary prayers by reciting in each cycle after the Surah Al-Fatiha, ten
times the Surah Al-Ikhlaas (Qul Huwallaaho Ahad…); After the prayer, read one
time the Verse of the Throne (Ayatul Qursi) and nine times the Darood Ibrahim
(which we read daily in our Salaat); afterwards ask of Allah whatever you want
(which is permissible in the eyes of Allah). Invoke Him with sincerity!
Hazrat Muhammad (Peace & Blessings of Allah be
upon him) said: “On the day of Ashura, the one who reads four voluntary cycles
of prayer, and in each cycle, after the Surah Al-Fatiha reads eleven times
Surah Al-Ikhlaas, Allah forgives him all his sins and will build for him an
illuminated minbar.” This form of prayer purifies a believer from all his
sins, and elevates him in his faith, and attracts on him the blessings of
Allah. It is recommended to observe two fasts, that is, the 9th and
the 10th day of Muharram. Hazrat Muhammad (Peace &
Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “After the obligatory fasting of
Ramadhan, comes the greatness of the Ashura fast, and the latter wash away the
sins of the preceding year.” It is also highly recommended on this day to perform
other forms of worship to seek the pleasure of Allah, for example: to help the
needy people in any way, to feed the poor, give away Sadqua (charity), etc.
The 10th of Muharram will always
remain engraved in the mind of each and every Muslim so that they may always
remember the drastic days which befell upon Hazrat Imam Hussein.