['Aalim Network QR] Working on the day of 'Ashura

[workshop@dircon.co.uk (Ummulbanin)]

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|       In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful       |\
|  Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\
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Assalamu Alaykum
The following answer was kindly provided by Shaykh Mohamed Suleman Peneh

Salaams
Ummulbanin Merali -Acting Moderator -[ABDG-A]
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I don 't know whether what the brother said by working on ashura is haram.
After all, t'aziyeh is not wajib. However this does not meant that it is
good to work on a'shura. 

someone please clear this up

ANSWER:

I looked up a few texts there was no ruling indicating working on 'Ashura to
be haram. 

Having said this let me offer a more general view if I may. Islam is a
rational  religion (even though one cannot say it is based ONLY on rational
world view) . Rationality both in philosophical,scientific sense and common
sense rationality. 

In the area of Fiqh I believe Shia scholars put a strong emphasise on common
sense rationality, which they refer to by terms such as "Urf" (tradition,
everyday  cultural practices) of people and "Urf" Ughala (practices of
rational people). 

In lights of this emphasise on common sense it is easy to see that not only 
working on 'Ashura is not haram but there are some jobs which must 
beperformed in order for the society to remain functional. Some medical 
emergency personals, law enforcement personal, some energy supplier 
plants and so on. Modern societies must remain functional in some areas 
around the clock otherwise unbearable damages will be inflected on our 
lives. Islam is sensetive to all the conditions of our lives. Further 
more there is requirement(as Wajib) of us participating in the gatherings 
which are held in the memory of the sufferings of our Sayyed Shuhada Aba
Abdullah AlHusayn (A.S.), even though it is highly recommended and it is an
act of respect to Allah (SWT), our prophet (SA), Imam Ali and Hz. Zahra
(AS), and Hz. Mahdi (AS). 

Therefore if one can make arrangements then it is better to participate in
the Aza 
but if not one may go about his work but at the same time be consciouse 
of the great sorrow we as a community of believers experience. 

My own observation may also help the issue to some degree. In the city of
Qum the day of 'Ashura is a day of great sorrow and Matam, all Marraj'a
have "Majlis" and people from all world the city and country come to say
their condolences to Hz. Masuma, but at the same time many businesses
providing essential needs of people are open, Hospitals, Hotels, Law
enforcement personels, bakery shops, pharmacies, even some grocery stores,
and so but by placing black flags over their buildings and wearing black
clothes they indicates that they are part of this experience of sorrow and
their working on this day is not out of greed, rather it is to provide
services for the needy and those who are participating in Aza in case they
need any service.

I also heard from Ayt. Hassan zadeh that his mentor Ayt. Sha'rani used to teach 
all days around the year except on the day of 'Ashura in which out of 
respect he joined the people in the Aza. The important think to 
remember is that we should not do anything which might be intrepreted as 
a sign of disrespect or indifference for the great tragedy of this day 
and even though it might be a national holliday in some countries this 
does not mean that everybody must stop working.

Assalamu 'ala Husayn wa 'ala Awalad Al Husayn wa 'ala ashabe-l-Husayn.
Azema-Llah Ujorana wa Ujorakum be Mussabena be-l-Husayn(AS). 
Mohammad