Pretty Yana Stirs Ashura Porridge

Yesterday in the Hijri calendar is 10 Muharram, a day when Muslims commemorate significant historical events that have led to annual practices among the Malay-Muslim community in the Nusantara (Malay Archipelago).

Yana stirs Ashura porridge

Usually, women play an important role in the success of cooking and distributing Asyura porridge.

My old school friend recently shared a picture of her and her friends in the cosmopolitan town of Raub, Pahang, working together to cook the Pahang version of bubur Asyura.

Affectionately known as Yana, the "Perempuan Melayu Terakhir" (Ultimate Malay Woman) from Kampung Buntut Pulau, Temerloh, looked cheerful with her friends, despite being a little tired.

According to Wikipedia, Bubur Asyura is a porridge made with a variety of mixed ingredients on the 10th of Muharram, which is the Day of Ashura. It is also known as sugha.

Bubur Asyura must contain 10 types of ingredients; if it has more or less, then it is not Bubur Asyura. Each state, especially those in Peninsular Malaysia, has a Bubur Asyura with different tastes and ingredients. This results in various ways of making Bubur Asyura.

History of the Day of Ashura

The Day of Ashura is related to the event involving Prophet Musa (Moses). Ibn Abbas (r.a.) narrated that when the Prophet (s.a.w.) arrived in Madinah, he saw the Jews fasting on the 10th of Muharram.

The Prophet (s.a.w.) asked them what they were doing. They replied that this day (10th of Muharram) is a good day. On this day, Allah s.w.t. saved Prophet Musa (a.s.) and the Children of Israel from their enemies, so Musa fasted on this day.

The Prophet (s.a.w.) then said that he has more right to Musa than they do. The Prophet (s.a.w.) fasted on that day and commanded his companions to fast as well. (Sahih Al-Bukhari).

There is also a belief that the day of Ashura is related to the event of Prophet Noah after he was saved from the great flood, so food was made from whatever was available. The food cooked was porridge (bubur). Thus emerged a food called Ashura porridge. Whatever the case, what is certain is that the 10th of Muharram is related to the event of Prophet Moses, and there are beliefs that it is also related to Prophet Noah.

Fasting on the day of Ashura is also a Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad SAW. This is emphasized in a hadith which means: 'Verily, today is the day of Ashura, and fasting on it is not obligatory for you. Whoever wishes to fast may do so, and whoever does not wish to fast may break it.' (Narrated by Bukhari).

 Varieties of Asyura porridge in Malaysia

Northern Asyura Porridge

It is called buboq syura, its texture is thick, and sometimes it can even be cut like a kuih (cake/pastry), just like the East Coast Bubur Asyura. It is a mixture of rice, flour, sugar, nuts/beans, bananas, corn, and root vegetables such as taro and sweet potato, and it tastes very sweet. It takes a relatively long time to cook.

East Coast Asyura Porridge

More precisely, it is called suro in Kelantan and sure in Terengganu. Its texture is very thick, similar to kuih talam, and it needs to be sliced to be served. The ingredients used are quite similar to Northern bubur Asyura, but it is cooked with sautéed onions, ginger, galangal, meat, chicken, and special spices. It is also cooked for a long time.

Southern Asura Porridge

A thinner, more watery, and unsweetened texture, much like bubur lambuk, but with the addition of various types of beans and nuts.

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