Perform Ghusl [ritual bath] on the night of Ashura

When the night of ‘Ashura (i.e. the10th of Muharram) arrives, then perform Ghusl as the water of Zamzam is mixed in all waters on this night, and by performing Ghusl on this night, one remains protected from illnesses for the entire year.

The deeds of the Day of Ashura

Sayyiduna Imam ‘Abd-ur-Rahman Bin ‘Ali Jawzi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰهِ عَلَيْه states, “The 10th of Muharram is an extremely sacred day; hence, it is appropriate that one performs as many good deeds as possible. Regard this time of goodness as a blessing and refrain from heedlessness.” (Al Tabasrah li Ibn-e-Jawzi, vol. 2, p. 8) Hence, perform the following righteous actions:

• Keep the fast of the day of ‘Ashura and also join with it the fast of the 9th or 11th of Muharram-ul-Haraam. (Musnad Imam Ahmad, vol. 1, p. 518, Hadees 2154)

• It is stated by Sayyiduna ‘Ali-ul-Murtada رَضِىَ الـلّٰهُ عَنْهُ, ‘Whosoever recites Surat-ul-Ikhlaas 1000 times on the day of ‘Ashura, then Allah Almighty will look at him (with mercy), and the one whom Allah Almighty looks at (mercifully), He will never punish him.’ (Al-Noor fi Fazaail-il-Ayaam wal-Shuhoor, p. 124)

• The repentance of Sayyiduna Aadam عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام was accepted on the day of ‘Ashura; hence, repent and seek forgiveness on this day and make Du’a in the Majestic Court of the Lord Almighty to remain firm on repentance. (Lawami’-ul-Anwaar, p. 259)

• 
  Especially apply Ismid Kohl on the day of ‘Ashura; with the blessing of this, the eyes will not hurt. It is a saying of the Noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, “The one who applies Ismid Kohl in the eyes on the day of ‘Ashura, his eyes will never hurt.” (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 3, p. 367, Hadees 3797)

• Visit graves.
  

• Shed tears out of the fear of Allah (if possible). (Muraqqa’ Kaleemi, p. 190, summarized)

Forgiveness of all past and future sins

Once, after offering Jumu’ah Salah on the 10th of Muharram-ul-Haraam, the Noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم sat near a pillar in Masjid Nabawi. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ الـلّٰهُ عَنْهُ was also sat by him. The Mu’azzin of the Noble Messenger, Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ الـلّٰهُ عَنْهُ began to call out the Azaan, and when he said ‘أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَّسُوْلُ الله’, then Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ الـلّٰهُ عَنْهُ placed the nails of both thumbs on both of his eyes and said, ‘قُرَّةُ عَيْنِيْ بِكَ يَا رَسُوْلَ الله’! When Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ الـلّٰهُ عَنْهُ finished giving the Azaan, the Noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated,

‘O Abu Bakr! The one who does what you did, Allah Almighty will forgive all of his past and future sins.’ (Tafseer Ruh-ul-Bayan, vol. 7, p. 229, summarized) Acting upon this practice of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ الـلّٰهُ عَنْهُ, not only on the day of ‘Ashura, but whenever you hear the blessed name of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, make it a habit to kiss your thumbs.

A great formula for blessing in sustenance

It is stated by the Noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, ‘The one who spends prosperously on his children on the10th of Muharram, Allah Almighty will grant him prosperity all year round. Sayyiduna Sufyan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰهُ عَلَيْه states, ‘We practiced this Hadees and found it to be exactly as it states.’

Hakeem-ul-Ummah, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Na’eemi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰهُ عَلَيْه states with regards to this blessed Hadees, ‘If you prepare various kinds of food on the tenth of Muharram for
your children, servants, workers, the poor and needy, then اِنْ شَآءَ اللّٰه there will be blessings in those foods for the whole year. Muslims cook Haleem (Khichra) on the day of ‘Aashura. The origin of this is this Hadees because in Haleem (Khichra), there is every kind of food; wheat, meat, lentils, rice, etc. So اِنْ شَآءَ اللّٰه, there will be blessings in all of these foods in the home of the one who cooks Haleem.’ He further states, ‘Remember, you should keep a fast yourself on the day of ‘Ashura, and feed children and the poor well; hence, this Hadees does not contradict the fast of ‘Ashura.’ (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 3, p. 115)