Asyura’: The Day Allah Saved the Oppressed — Not the Powerful

Among the most significant days in the Islamic calendar is on the 10th of Muharram, also known as Asyura’. It is a day connected to some of the greatest moments in our history. When the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w arrived in Madinah, he found the Jews fasting on this day. When he asked them why, they replied that it was the day Allah saved Prophet Musa a.s and Bani Isra’il from Firaun, the tyrant. The Prophet s.a.w then said:

نَحْنُ أَوْلَى بِمُوسَى مِنْهُمْ فَصُومُوهُ  

“We have more right to Musa than them, so fast on this day” (Bukhari & Muslim)

He then fasted on the day of Asyura and encouraged the Muslims to fast as well based on the hadith: 

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ كَانَ يَوْمُ عَاشُورَاءَ تَصُومُهُ قُرَيْشٌ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَصُومُهُ، فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ صَامَهُ، وَأَمَرَ بِصِيَامِهِ، فَلَمَّا فُرِضَ رَمَضَانُ تَرَكَ يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ، فَمَنْ شَاءَ صَامَهُ، وَمَنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَهُ‏

Aishah r.a reported:

“The Day of Ashura was a day that Quraysh used to fast during the days of Jahiliyyah, and the Prophet s.a.w would also fast it. When he migrated to Madinah, he continued fasting it and instructed the people to fast it as well. But when Ramadan was made obligatory, he left the fasting of ‘Ashura (as non-obligatory), so whoever wished could fast it, and whoever wished could leave it.” (Bukhari)

When spoken about the day of Asyura’, some may remember the story of Prophet Musa a.s, Bani Israil and Firaun. It is remembered as the day the sea split. Yet perhaps the deeper reality of this day is something even greater: It was the day Allah s.w.t showed humanity that power does not belong to tyrants, even when the entire world fears them.

Firaun was not merely an evil king. The Quran portrays him as the embodiment of worldly dominance and oppression. He represented political control, wealth, military power, arrogance, propaganda, fear, and tyranny. Under his rule, Bani Israil lived crushed beneath a system that stripped them of dignity and hope. Their sons were slaughtered, their people oppressed, and their future controlled.

Outwardly, everything suggested Firaun would win.

This is something the Quran intentionally emphasizes. Allah paints Firaun as overwhelming and powerful because He wants believers to understand a profound reality:

Sometimes falsehood appears unbeatable before Allah destroys it completely.

The story of Musa a.s was never meant to be a simple historical event. It is a timeless lesson for every generation that witnesses oppression and begins to feel that evil has become too strong to overcome. What is often overlooked is that the sea did not split at the beginning of the struggle. It split after years of suffering, years of fear, years of persecution, years of uncertainty, years of du’a and years of patience.

Perhaps this is one of the greatest lessons of Asyura’. Many people want immediate relief from hardship, yet Allah s.w.t often nurtures the believer through prolonged struggle before opening the doors of victory.

The defining moment then came. Musa a.s and Bani Israill stood trapped between the sea before them and Firaun’s army behind them. There were no weapons, no escape routes, and no possible solution. Even Bani Israil cried out in fear:

إِنَّا لَمُدْرَكُونَ

“Indeed, we are overtaken!” (26:61)

But Musa a.s responded with words of absolute certainty:

كَلَّا ۖ إِنَّ مَعِيَ رَبِّي سَيَهْدِينِ

"No! Indeed, my Lord is with me; He will guide me.” (26:62)

This was not mere optimism or positive thinking. It was yaqin. It was complete certainty in Allah s.w.t even when every visible means suggested destruction. This is precisely why the story continues to resonate so deeply with believers today. How many people feel trapped between their own “own sea of Firaun”?

Some are overwhelmed by financial hardships. Some are trapped by sins they struggle to escape. Some feel crushed by anxiety and grief. Others look at the state of the ummah and feel hopeless. Some live under occupation and oppression, enduring the tyranny that strips them of safety and freedom. Many silently carry burdens nobody around them sees.

Asyura’ reminds us that Allah creates openings where the servant sees none.

The sea itself appeared impossible. Yet Allah s.w.t turned the very thing that seemed like destruction into the means of salvation. More remarkably, Allah s.w.t did not merely save Prophet Musa and his people, He caused Firaun to drown in the very place where he thought his power would prevail.

The sea that looked like death became the path of victory. This is among the most profound realities of the story. The tyrant who once proclaimed:

أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَىٰ

“I am your highest lord,” (79:24)

was ultimately reduced to helplessness beneath the waves. Firaun woke up believing he owned Egypt, commanded armies, and controlled lives. By the end of the day, even his body belonged to the sea.

Asyura’ shatters one of the greatest illusions people fall into; the illusion that power truly belongs to worldly systems.

Today many people unconsciously believe that ultimate power belongs to governments, armies, media, wealth, or influence. But the story of Prophet Musa a.s reminds us that all worldly power exists only by the permission of the All-Mighty, and He can collapse entire systems within moments.

No Firaun lasts forever. No tyranny escapes Allah. No oppression is forgotten by Him.

And perhaps this is why the story of Asyura’ continues to comfort believers across generations. Because whenever the forces of falsehood appear overwhelming, the believer remembers that the sea once split for Musa a.s when there seemed to be no way forward.

On Asyura’, Allah s.w.t did not merely save a prophet. He restored dignity to the oppressed, shattered the illusion of tyranny, and taught every generation of believers that no Firaun lasts forever.

الله أعلم