Salam,
A belated commemoration of the Asyura day was held recently involving all staffs. 3 big pots of the Kelantan version of bubur asyura were prepared. The men took turn to stir the mixture continuously and arduously next to the prickly heat that emanated from the huge flames below the pots. The cooking took about 9 hours altogether, starting at 6am. It ended at 3pm when black coloured thicken porridge were distributed in small containers to be given out to all those who were present. It all looked like a huge family picnic. Food were in abundance. Singgang (pronounced singge in Kelantan dialect) Daging or stewed beef was the other main dish prepared apart fom the Asyura porridge itself.
Asyura is a special day which is always being associated with bubur Asyura (Porridge made in the day of Asyura) in the Malay Muslim culture. The porridge is usually specially made with 10 different ingredients, in which the main ingredient, among others should consist of rice, legumes, sweet potato, coconut milk and flour. However, there is no fix recipe to be followed. Anything can be included in the porridge. This leads to the various versions of the bubur Asyura which may differ in taste and texture from one state to another. In Sarawak, the bubur Asyura looked pretty much like the Bubur Lambuk. In addition, Sarawakians too prepare the bubur pedas on the Asyura day.
The event is not a compulsory ritual that has to be followed strictly in the life of a muslim. It is only encouraged. However, some muslim communities have made it to be seen as if the event is a must and is part of a compulsory Islamic religious ritual, to some extend, burdensome. The religion does not want its followers to be burdened. Islam, as I have learned, is simplistic. It is up to the muslims to find out what the true meaning is in the 10th day of the month of Muharam. Surely, it is not just cooking that special porridge that matters. Cooking the special Asyura porridge is a small and trivial event, which have been weighted so heavily in this culture. Such has put it in a capacity where abandoning it will be seen as awkward.
How did the Asyura porridge attach to the Asyura day? The day of the Asyura is the 10th day of the month of Muharam in the Islamic calendar. It was believed that the 10th day of Muharam was the day when prophet Noah and his disciples landed safely on Mount Ararat (Mount Judis) with their ark. In order to feed, whatever food available were collected to be cooked. Various grains were collected and the special porridge was created. However, this fact actually came from a weak hadith narrated by Imam Ahmad. It was not mentioned that Prophet Noah and his followers did actually cooked the porridge.
On a positive side, it is better to view it as a way to foster ties among members of the community. From my own observation of yesteryears, in some local community, the members would chip in money to the mosque of their patronage to hold the event to commemorate the day of the Asyura. The amount of donations depends on one's willingness and generosity. If one is unable to donate cash, then, other non monetory means can be used, such as providing the raw material from their own garden or orchard or even help with the setting up, cooking and even cleaning the mess later, after the event.
Lots of interaction are needed. A sense of togetherness, helping each other can be really seen in such scenario. Nobody is left out in this event. The non muslims can also join in and in some cases, invited to participate. This is very true if the event is held in offices where there are workers of various ethnics and races.
In the actual sense, the day of the Asyura should be viewed as the day to remind muslims to be closer to God. Muslims are encouraged to fast on this day. Infact, muslims are encouraged to fast on both the 9th and 10th day of Muharam to differentiate ourselves from the Jews who observed the 10th day of Muharam by fasting.
It is interesting to note that fasting on the day of the Asyura was obligatory in the beginning. It was on the second year of Hijrah that muslims were instructed by God to fast in the month of Ramadan. The fast on the day of the Asyura then became a voluntary and encouraged act of worship.
As a note, fasting on the 10th Muharam will abye the sins conducted in the previous year. The 3 methods or levels of fasting in the month of Muharam according to scholars are
- to fast on the 9th, 10th and 11th day of Muharam.
- fasting on the 9th and 10th day of Muharam, and
- Fast on the 10th day of Muharam only.
In a gist, obviously, the meaning of Asyura falls way beyond the preparation of the Asyura porridge itself which has been overly emphasized in my own understanding. Great reward awaits those who fast on these days in the month of Muharam. The Asyura porridge preparation can only be viewed as a tradition (which is good) with no strong religious ground to mandate its pursuance.
Follow, but not blindly.
Sources that enlightened me:
- www.muis.gov.sg/websites/rservices/oom_files/K1381.doc
- http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?cid=1119503545084&pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar%2FFatwaE%2FFatwaEAskTheScholar
- http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503543248
- http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2007&dt=0116&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Bicara_Agama&pg=ba_02.htm
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