his household, or ignorant people who countered corruption with corruption, lies with lies, evil with evil, and religious innovation with religious innovation. They fabricated reports about expressions of joy and happiness on the day of ‘Āshūrā’, such as applying kohl, using dyes, spending more generously on one’s family, preparing food beyond the usual fare, and similar practices associated with festivals and celebrations. Thus these people make ‘Āshūrā’ a festive occasion of celebration and rejoicing, while the others make it an occasion of mourning, sorrow, and grief. Both groups are mistaken and depart from the Sunnah, although the latter have worse intentions, greater ignorance, and more flagrant injustice. Yet Allah commands justice and kindness. The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“Whoever among you lives after me will see much disagreement. You must therefore adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs after me. Hold fast to it and bite onto it with your molar teeth. Beware of newly introduced matters, for every religious innovation is misguidance.”

Neither the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—nor his rightly guided caliphs instituted any of these practices on the day of ‘Āshūrā’: neither expressions of sorrow and grief nor expressions of happiness and joy. Rather, when he—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—arrived in Medina, he found the Jews fasting on the day of ‘Āshūrā’ and asked:

“What is this?”

They replied, “This is the day on which Allah saved Moses from drowning, so we fast on it.”

He said, “We have a greater right