“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the fast on the day of ‘Ashura’ of the month of Muharram. He (the Imam) said, ‘Tasu‘a’ (ninth of Muharram) was the day when they had surrounded al-Husayn (a.s.), and his friends, may Allah be pleased with them, in Karbala’. The horsemen of al-Sham had come together against him (a.s.), and had taken him under siege. Ibn Marjanah and ‘Umar ibn Sa‘d were happy because of the huge number of horsemen on their side, and they made al-Husayn (a.s.), and his friends, may Allah be pleased with them, very weak. They became certain that no one will come to help al-Husayn (a.s.), and people of Iraq will not support him. I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for the cause of my great-grandfather who had very few supporters.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘The day of ‘Ashura’ is the day on which al-Husayn (a.s.), was murdered and his friends around him were all murdered and looted. How can there be fast on that day! No, by the Lord of the sacred house there is no fasting on such a day. It is only a day of mourning and lamentation that came upon the inhabitants of the sky and earth and all believing people. It is a day of happiness and joy for ibn Marjanah and family of Ziyad and people of al-Sham, may Allah subject them to His anger as well as their offspring. This was a day when all locations of earth wept except al-Sham. Those who fast on this day or take it for blessing will be raised, by Allah, with the family of Ziyad with their hearts metamorphosed and subjected to anger. Whoever seeks any saving for their homes on this day will be made by Allah as a seed of hypocrisy in his heart up to the Day of Judgment, blessing is removed thereof, from his family, and children. Satan will share him in all of such savings.’”