Balaghal Ula Bikamalihi Kasafaddoja Bijamalihi

A.K.M. Fazlur Rahman Munshi

Evidence for Celebrating the Day of Covering the Kaaba with the Kiswah Like Eid

During the pre-Islamic period, the Quraysh of Makkah used to fast on the day of Ashura and observe the day as a festive occasion. Before the Hijrah, the Prophet Muhammad (S.) also fasted on this day. They honored and revered the day because it was believed to be the day when the Kaaba, the House of Allah, was first covered with a cloth. This was considered the primary reason for observing the day. After the Hijrah, the Prophet Muhammad (S.) also asked the Jews about the reason they fasted on Ashura.

(1) Imam al-Bukhari (194–256 AH) narrated in his Sahih that Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha (RA.) said that during the pre-Islamic period, the Quraysh used to fast on the day of Ashura, and the Messenger of Allah (S.) also used to fast on that day.

(a) Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Sawm, Bab Sawm Yawm Ashura, Vol. 2, p. 704, Hadith No. 1898.

(b) Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Manaqib, Bab Ayyam al-Jahiliyyah, Vol. 3, p. 1393, Hadith No. 3619.

(c) Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Siyam, Bab Sawm Yawm Ashura, Vol. 2, p. 792, Hadith No. 1125.

(d) Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Sawm, Bab Ma Ja’a fi al-Rukhsati fi Tark Sawm Ashura, Vol. 3, p. 127, Hadith No. 753.

It is stated that when the Kaaba was first covered with a cloth during the pre-Islamic period, the day was the 10th of Muharram, or Ashura. From that time onward, this practice continued among the people of Makkah even after the blessed birth of the Prophet Muhammad (S.), and it continues to this day. The Prophet Muhammad (S.) was also accustomed to fasting on the day when the Kaaba was covered with its cloth. In Arabic, covering the Kaaba with this cloth is known as “Kiswat al-Kaaba.”

(2) Imam al-Bukhari (194–256 AH) narrated from Aisha (RA.) that she said the Arabs used to fast on the day of Ashura before fasting during the month of Ramadan was made obligatory. The reason was that the Kaaba was covered with its cloth on that day. When Allah made fasting during Ramadan obligatory, the Messenger of Allah (S.) said that those who wished to fast on Ashura could continue to do so, while those who did not wish to fast could refrain from fasting.

[(a) Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Hajj, Bab Qawlillahi Ta‘ala: Ja‘alallahu al-Ka‘bata al-Baytal-Haram, Vol. 2, p. 574, Hadith No. 1515.

(b) Al-Mu‘jam al-Awsat by al-Tabarani, Vol. 7, p. 278, Hadith No. 7495.

(c) Al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi, Vol. 5, p. 159, Hadith No. 9513.

(d) Ibn Abd al-Barr, Al-Tamhid lima fi al-Muwatta min al-Ma‘ani wal-Asanid, Vol. 7, p. 204.]