Commemoration and Celebration of the 10th Sacred Syuro Full of Spiritual Nuances
The Ashura fast is a sunnah fast that is carried out from generation to generation on every 10th of Muharram in the Hijri year which falls on Saturday, July 5, 2025 AD and the year 1447 Hijri. The meaning of Hijri itself refers to the event of the migration of the Great Prophet Muhammad SAW from Mecca to Medina. The meaning of Hijri itself refers to an important event in Islamic history, namely the migration of the Great Prophet Muhammad SAW and marking the beginning of the Hijri period and the starting point for Muslims to start counting the years. And the implementation of the Ashura sunnah fast itself is believed to be able to erase minor sins for the past year – with the start of the new year count – from the Islamic calendar, because it is believed to provide safety from various calamities and disasters that can occur at any time in the future for human life and life on earth.
The migration carried out by the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina occurred in 622 AD which marked a major change from the oppression and persecution carried out by the Quraysh. Then the formation of a strong and solid Muslim community began the spread of Islam as a teaching and guidance for humanity who are on the straight path – siratol mustakim – to obtain rahmatan lil alamin. Siratol mustakim – as the straight and right path for humans – will guide humans towards happiness and safety in the world and in the hereafter. This path that is approved by Allah will bring humans to His pleasure.
Siratol mustakim itself as a guide and guidance from Allah is given to humans to live their lives in the world so that they can reach the hereafter safely and happily. The meaning and essence of rahmatan lil alamin is a concept in Islam that emphasizes that Grace is for the entire universe and its contents, that Allah’s Grace is not only limited to Muslims alone, but includes all creatures in the universe with all its other contents, without exception.
That is the meaning for all creatures in the scope of rahmatan lil alamin which is universal that Allah’s mercy is not limited to one particular group or religion, but encompasses the entire universe and its contents along with the creatures in it.
However, rahmatan lil alamin is the responsibility of Muslims to also be a mercy for nature and its contents to spread compassion and goodness to all existing creatures. That is the concept of rahmatan lil alamin for devout and obedient Muslims to always spread love and compassion, justice and goodness to all creatures in this universe.
So the commemoration on every 10th of Muharram which is also the most important part of Javanese tradition and culture with the term “Syuro” is often carried out in a series of forms of asceticism, fasting, meditation, contemplation, listening to instructions in certain places that can provide silence, calm and concentration to hear whispers from the sky, often done in Alas Ketonggo, the Great Mosque of Demak, the Banten Sultanate Mosque, the Tombs of the Saints, Mount Lawu, Patang Tritis Beach or Parang Kusumo Beach and a number of places that are considered to be able to build an enjoyable atmosphere when breaking the Ashura fast, when doing contemplation or reciting prayers that are considered necessary and important to be whispered to the sky so that the angels can hear them and then convey them to God. Although the prayers and praises themselves have been said directly to God. Understandably, those who carry out religious rituals that are dense with spiritual content are very many and crowded with practitioners in the archipelago which is worthy and appropriate to be the spiritual center of the world.**
Serang, July 5, 2025
—
