الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا”
مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ
“وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
“All praise is to Allah. We praise him, we seek His help, His forgiveness, and we seek refuge in Allah from the evil within ourselves and of our actions. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide him. Whomsoever Allah leads astray, none can guide him.
I testify there is no God but Allah alone, without any partners, and that Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, is His servant and messenger.”
Welcome to the Friday Khutbah! A new weekly series as part of the AlMaghrib Journal, based on sermons delivered by our esteemed instructors! We hope you find it beneficial!
On the Day of ‘Ashura, Muslims around the world fast and remember. But what exactly are we remembering? What are we celebrating? It’s not the tragic death of Husayn (RA), as is commonly misunderstood.
It is the day Allah ﷻ gave victory to His Prophet, Musa (AS), over the tyrant Pharaoh and his army.
When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ found the jews of Madinah fasting this day in celebration of this historic event, he said:
“We have more right to Musa than they do.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
So he instructed the Ummah to fast and to commemorate this day by offering worship, not through mourning or innovation, but through remembrance and gratitude.
When asked about its virtues, he ﷺ said:
“It will expiate the sins of the past year.”
[Sahih Muslim]
The Story of Musa (AS): A Central Theme of the Qur’an
There is no story repeated in the Qur’an more than the story of Musa (AS). His name appears over 130 times. His story is mentioned in Surah Al-Baqarah, Ale-Imran, Al-A’raf, Taha, Ash-Shu’ara, Al-Isra’, Hud, and many others.
Why?
Because the trials of Bani Isra’il and the trials of the Muslim Ummah are deeply similar. Ibn Abbas (RA) said:
“Whatever happened to Bani Isra’il will happen to you.”
He even wondered if members of this Ummah might one day go as far as worshipping the calf, just as Bani Isra’il once did.
The resemblance is real. That’s why we must reflect deeply on the story of Musa (AS). Not just as history, but as guidance.
When the Oppressed Rise and Evil is Defeated
The Day of ‘Ashura is a day when truth triumphed over falsehood, when a nation under brutal oppression was freed by the mercy of Allah. It is a celebration of justice, a day to thank Allah when evil is crushed and righteousness is established.
Generations knew this day. Even the Arabian Jewish tribes before Islam honored it, and the Prophet ﷺ restored it to its rightful meaning: a spiritual commemoration, not one of cultural rituals.
This teaches us that the bond of faith is more powerful than any other bond, race, language, tribe, or history.
We are united with the prophets, even across generations and ethnic lines, because of the bond of Iman.
The Promise of Allah is True
Pharaoh ruled with tyranny. He divided his people and oppressed Bani Isra’il:
“إِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ عَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهْلَهَا شِيَعًا يَسْتَضْعِفُ طَائِفَةً مِّنْهُمْ يُذَبِّحُ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيِي نِسَاءَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ”
“Indeed, Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and made its people into factions, oppressing a sector among them, slaughtering their sons and sparing their women. Indeed, he was of the corrupters.”
[Qur’an, 28:4]
And yet, Allah ﷻ said:
“وَنُرِيدُ أَن نَّمُنَّ عَلَى الَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ…”
“And We intended to favor those who were oppressed in the land and make them leaders and inheritors.”
[Qur’an 28:5]
Victory will always come to the believers. Oppression does not last forever. No matter how powerful the tyrant or how dark the night, Allah’s promise is true. He said:
“وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ”
“Indeed, Allah will support those who support Him.”
[Qur’an, 22:40]
Allah’s Plan is Greater Than All Plots
Pharaoh commanded the killing of newborn boys, thinking it would secure his throne, but it was that very decree that brought baby Musa to his palace.
“فَأَتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَمْ يَحْتَسِبُوا”
“Then Allah came upon them from where they had not expected.”
[Qur’an, 59:2]
His wife fell in love with the infant. His upbringing gave him the knowledge of the palace and the empire. And eventually, Musa became the very cause of Pharaoh’s destruction.
Later, Pharaoh summoned his best magicians to defeat Musa publicly. But when they saw the truth, they believed immediately.
“آمَنَّا بِرَبِّ هَارُونَ وَمُوسَى”
“We believe in the Lord of Harun and Musa.”
Pharaoh threatened to crucify them. But they remained firm.
This is the way of Allah. Victory comes from where the tyrants least expect it.
Arrogance Destroys the Soul
Faith is not only in the mind, but it is in the heart. That’s why even with clear signs; the staff turning to a serpent, the sea splitting, Pharaoh still didn’t believe. Arrogance blinded him. Even when he saw Musa walking through dry land between walls of water, he followed and drowned.
“فَكَذَّبَ وَعَصَىٰ ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ يَسْعَىٰ”
“He denied and disobeyed. Then he turned away, striving [against the truth].”
[Qur’an, 79:21–22]
Arrogance blinds people from truth, even when it stands tall in front of them like a mountain of water.
Trust in Allah, No Matter What
Musa’s trust in Allah never wavered. When his people panicked at the edge of the sea, he said:
“كَلَّا إِنَّ مَعِيَ رَبِّي سَيَهْدِينِ”
“No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me.”
[Qur’an, 26:62]
And Allah did guide him. This is the kind of tawakkul (trust) we must have. Even when we don’t understand what’s happening, like Musa’s mother being told to cast her son into a river, we trust that Allah’s plan is best.
After Victory Comes the Test
Success is not the end of the test. It’s the beginning of a new one. When Allah gives you wealth, knowledge, family, leadership, He is testing how you will act.
“Today, you may not be a father, but tomorrow you will. Today you may not have money or power, but Allah will give you both, and He will see what you do with it.”
Even in global affairs, like the collapse of regimes or the rise of movements like the Taliban, we are reminded: Allah gives victory to whom He wills, and then observes what they do with it.
Loyalty to Truth Comes First
Pharaoh said to Musa:
“أَلَمْ نُرَبِّكَ فِينَا وَلِيدًا…”
“Did we not raise you among us as a child?”
[Qur’an, 26:18]
He tried to manipulate Musa with emotional ties. But Musa (AS) stayed firm. Our loyalty must be to truth, not to personalities or past favors. We must say the truth even if it’s against those closest to us.
Owning Mistakes, Moving Forward
When Pharaoh accused Musa of killing a man, Musa replied:
“قَالَ فَعَلْتُهَا إِذًا وَأَنَا مِنَ الضَّالِّينَ”
“I did it while I was among the misguided.”
[Qur’an, 26:20]
He didn’t deny his past. He admitted it and moved forward. That’s a lesson for all of us — don’t let your past imprison you. Learn from it. Grow. Be better. The door of repentance is always open.
Unity, Worship, and the Uniqueness of the Ummah
Musa (AS) asked Allah to send his brother Harun to help him. This shows us the importance of collaboration, we are stronger together.
Educators, activists, families, we complement one another’s efforts.
‘Ashura also teaches us that acts of worship must be thoughtful and meaningful. Fasting is a noble act. Celebration in Islam is about prayer, fasting, dhikr, not disobedience or partying. The Prophet ﷺ said that Muslims will fast not just one day, but two, to distinguish us from Bani Isra’il.
“لَئِنْ بَقِيتُ إِلَىٰ قَابِلٍ لَأَصُومَنَّ التَّاسِعَ”
He ﷺ said if he lived until the next year, he would fast the 9th as well as the 10th.
Final words
We ask Allah ﷻ to allow these reflections to penetrate our hearts, to change our outlook, and to increase our gratitude. We ask Him to forgive our sins, heal our sick, protect our families and communities, and grant victory to the oppressed everywhere.
‘Ashura is not just a day of fasting; it is a day of deep meaning, of justice, of hope, of remembrance. May Allah allow us to renew our faith and reshape our character on this day.
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