In THE PRAYER’S ALMANAC ‘
’english version of mafaateeh al jinaan’’,its clearly written that on the day of Ashura [at the time of asr] one should partake SIMPLE and LITTLE FOOD,so its clear that one should avoid having delicious food or any food that is ones favorite as one tends to overeat what one likes and Ashura is the day of lamenting not filling ones stomach. Pilipili provided to enhance the taste of khichro or sambharo served with other dishes should be avoided on this day as it makes people eat more and more.
Lets see some of the hadith from our Prophet and Aimmah about this grief striken day and how it should be spent:
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) said:
Surely, there exists in the hearts of the Mu' mineen, with respect to the martyrdom of Hussain (A.S.), a heat that never subsides.
Mustadrak al-Wasail, vol. 10,pg. 318
So if we think of ourselves as momins then for us, the day of Ashura should be the most heart rending day in which FOOD should be the last thing on our minds.
Imam Ali Reza (A.S.) said:
The one for whom the day of A'shura is a day of tragedy, grief and weeping, Allah The Mighty, The Glorious, shall make the Day of Judgment, a day of joy and happiness for him.
Bihar al-Anwar, vol,: 44, pg: 284.
Imam Ali (A.S.) said:
Surely, Allah has chosen for us followers (Shi'ites), who assist us and are happy at our happiness and are sad in our sadness.
Ghurar al-Hikam, Vol: 1/ pg.: 235.
Ashura should be a day of intense sadness for all of us and one who is in intense grief doesn’t feel like eating even a morsel leave aside eating delicious food.
Now lets see what our Aimmah did on this SORROWFUL DAY:
A'bdullah Ibn Sinaan says:
I arrived in the presence of my master, Imam Sadiq (A.S.) on the day of Ashura and found him pale and grief-stricken, with tears streaming from his eyes like falling pearls.
Musadrak al-wasail,vol.6, pg. 279.
Imam Ali Reza (A.S.) said:
With the advent of the month of Muharram, my father Imam Musa Kazim (A.S.) would never be seen laughing; gloom and sadness would overcome him for (the first) ten days of the month; and when the tenth day of the month would dawn, it would be a day of tragedy, grief and weeping for him.
Amaali Saduq, pg,:111
Isnt it our duty as followers of Ahlul Bayt to leave aside our physical desires and spend the day of Ashura as our Aimmah used to do???
Let me conclude by mentioning one last hadith of great importance:
Imam Ali Reza (A.S.) said:
One who refrains from seeking his (worldly) desires on the day of Ashura, Allah shall grant him his desires of this world and the hereafter.
Wasail al-Shia'h, vol. 14,pg.504.
Following the above hadith we refrain from buying or selling [trading] on the day of Ashura,we try to refrain from involving ourselves in any worldly enjoyment or gain,so isn’t eating desirable food one of the worldly enjoyment? Shouldn’t we refrain from that too???Cant we eat anything simple on that day???
Lastly I would like to say that though some of us do not count khichro as delicious food but still it’s a favorite for many of us,so if that’s the case then it should be avoided. Here In Bujumbura, in the past we used to have Khichro on Ashura [its one of the favorite dish of majority over here],but ALHAMDULILLAH for some years now we have replaced it with daal and dry veg curry.
NOTE: It would not be out of place to mention here that as most of the people are in faako [which is very much recommended] on that day , so naturally at asr time, even if simple food is served, they tend to overeat as they have not had anything from morning, so extreme care should be taken by each individual to eat less on that day.
Serving sabeel and food to the less fortunate is one of the most important acts on this day as apart from serving humanity , it also helps in spreading awareness about this day, as naturally people tend to ask reasons for doing these acts.