MUHARRAM
Muharram is not only the 1st month of Islamic Calendar which marks the New Islamic Year but also one of the four sanctified months of the year. As Allah Says in Quran:
“Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred.”
(Surah At-Taubah 9:36)
The four months mentioned in the Ayah are Dhul-Qadah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab. This is evident from the words of Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) on the occasion of his last Hajj Sermon:
“The year is of twelve months, out of which four months are sacred: Three are in succession Dhul-Qadah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, and (the fourth is) Rajab.”
(Sahih Bukhari: 3197)
These words of our Prophet (S.A.W.) confirms the sanctity of the month of Muharram.
The specific mention of these four months does not mean that other Islamic months have no sanctity; in fact, each Islamic month has its own sacredness and we all know that Ramadan is admittedly the most sanctified month in the year. But Allah Almighty has chosen a particular time for His special blessings and these four months are among those particular time in which a Muslim can get maximum of Allah’s blessings.
It is one of the four sacred months, and its special importance is indicated by its name. The word ‘Muharram’ literally means ‘forbidden’ – i.e. it is so sacred that certain actions become forbidden for example, waging war or indulging in any kind of violence during it, as they would violate its sanctity. Both the month of the Muharram and Allah’s House (Al-Masjid Al-Haram) derive their names from the same Arabic root word; both are sacred spaces in which every deed, good or bad, weighs heavier on the scales.
(Ref: Surah At-Taubah 9:5)
HISTORY OF HIJRI CALENDAR
Before the Hijri calendar came into use, Muslims used ‘Am Al-Fil’ (the year in which the Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.) was born), to demarcate date and time. But second Caliph Umar ibn Khattab (R.A.) established a new calendar and, after many suggestions from Companions (R.A.), he announced the year in which the Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.) migrated would mark the beginning of the Hijri calendar. The calendar would begin with the month of Muharram and end with the month of Dhul Hijjah. Consequently, 622 AD [the year of the Prophet’s (S.A.W.) migration] became the first year in the Hijri Calendar.
FASTING DURING MUHARRAM
Muharram holds great significance long before the Prophet Mohammad’s (S.A.W.) time. Earlier on, it was obligatory to fast on the 10th of Muharram. However later, fasting was made obligatory in Ramadan only and fasting on 10th Muharram was made optional. As narrated by Ayesha (R.A.) that Prophet (S.A.W.) said:
“Whoever wishes to fast (on the day of ‘Ashura’) may do so; and whoever wishes to leave it can do so.” (Sahih Bukhari: 1592)
But remember one thing that fasts during the month of Muharram are the most rewardable ones among the optional (Nafil) fasts in the light of following Hadith:
‘The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) said: “The best fasting after the month of Ramadan is the month of Allah, Al-Muharram.”’ (An-Nasai: 1613)
The hadith does not mean that the award of Muharram’s fasts can be achieved only by fasting the whole month. On the contrary, each fast during this month has its own merits. Therefore, one should avail this opportunity and fast as much as one can during this blessed month.
10 MUHARRAM (ASHURA)
Ashura is the 10th day of Muharram and is the most sacred day among all its days. When the Prophet (S.A.W.) came to Madinah, he fasted on the day of Ashura and directed the Muslims to keep fast on this day. But when the fasts of Ramadan were made obligatory, the fasting on this day was made optional. However, according to many authentic Hadiths, fasting on the day of Ashura is a confirmed Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.).
The Companions (R.A.) observed that Jews also consider 10th Muharram as a special day and they keep fast on this day. So Prophet (S.A.W.) announced that from next year, they will fast on the 9th of Muharram as well so as to distinguish themselves from the Jews. Unfortunately, the Prophet (S.A.W.) did not live to see the next year. Therefore, Muslims consider the 9th and 10th of Muharram as significant days in the Islamic calendar and observe fast on these days. [Sahih Muslim: 1134 (a)]
SUPERSTITION & MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT MUHARRAM
Although many Muslims are aware about the innovations in Islam, there are some superstitions and misconceptions about the month of Muharram and the day of Ashura that have managed to find their way into the minds of some Muslims. Some very common misconceptions and superstitions are:
About the month of Muharram
1- Unfortunately, many Muslims still believe Muharram is an evil or unlucky month due to the incident of Karbala. We know that it was an unfortunate event but remember one thing that according to Sahih Muslim: 1163 (a) and Tirmidhi: 438, this is Allah’s month. How Allah’s own month can be evil and unlucky for His servants. On the contrary, it is one of the merits of Husain (R.A.) that his martyrdom took place on the day of Ashura.
2- Similarly, due to the same fact, many Muslims don’t get married (Nikkah) during this month which is, again, totally wrong and misleading.
About the Day of Ashura
1. The meaning of ’Ashura:
’Ashura is derived from the word ’Asharah, which means ten in Arabic. ’Ashura is the 10th day of Muharram.
2. The sacred month of Allah in which ’Ashura appears:
Al-Muharram is one of the sacred months alluded to in the following Qur’anic verse:
‘Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them…’ (Qur’an, 9:36)
And named in the following hadith:
‘On the authority of Abu Bakrah (ra) that the Prophet (saw) said, “Time has come back to its original state which it had when Allah created the Heavens and the Earth; the year is twelve months, four of which are sacred. Three of them are in succession: Dhul-Qa‘dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Al-Muharram and Rajab of Mudar [named after the tribe of Mudar as they used to respect this month], which stands between Jumada (ath-Thani) and Sha‘ban”’. (Bukhari)
3. Giving charity on ’Ashura is equal to an entire year’s worth of charity:
’On the authority of ’Abdullah bin ’Amr bin al-’As (may Allah be pleased with both of them) that he said, “Whoever fasts ‘Ashura’ it is as if he has fasted the entire year. And whoever gives charity this day it is like the charity of an entire year”’. (Ibn Rajab’s Lata’if al-Ma‘arif)
4. The covering (Kiswah) of the Ka‘bah used to be changed on ’Ashura:
’On the authority of ’Aishah (ra) who said, “The people used to fast on ’Ashura before the fasting of Ramadan was made obligatory. And on that day the Ka‘bah used to be covered with a cover. When Allah made the fasting of the month of Ramadan compulsory, Allah’s Messenger (saw) said, ’Whoever wishes to fast (on the day of ‘Ashura’) may do so; and whoever wishes to leave it can do so”’. (Bukhari)
5. Fasting on ’Ashura wipes out the sins of the past year:
’On the authority of Abu Qatadah (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (saw), was asked about fasting on the day of ‘Ashura’, and he said, “It expiates [wipes out the minor sins of] the past year”’. (Muslim)
6. ’Ashura is an immense day of repentance:
‘The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “If you will fast after the month of Ramadan, then fast al-Muharram, for indeed it is Allah’s month in which there is a day that Allah accepted the repentance of a people, and in which He accepts the repentance of other people”’ (Tirmidhi).
7. Fast beyond the day of ’Ashura:
’On the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with both of them) who said that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “If I remain [alive] till the following year, I will most certainly fast the ninth [alongside the 10th al-Muharram]”’ (Muslim).
’On the authority of Ibn ’Abbas (may Allah be pleased with both of them) that the Prophet (saw) said, “Fast the Day of ‘Ashura’ and be different from the Jews by fasting a day before it or a day after it.” (Ahmad)
8. Be generous to your family on ’Ashura:
’The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “One who generously spends on his family on the day of ‘Ashura’, Allah will be generous on him for the entire year”’ (Baihaqi).
9. Allah (swt) saved Musa (as) and the Children of Israel on ’Ashura:
’On the authority of Ibn ’Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) who said, “The Prophet (saw) came to Madinah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of ‘Ashura’. He said, ‘What is this?’ They said, ‘This is a righteous day, it is the day when Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemies, so Musa [as] fasted on this day’. He said, ‘We have more right to Musa [as] than you’, so he fasted on that day and commanded [the Muslims] to fast on that day”’. (Bukhari)
’Then We inspired Musa [as], “Strike with your staff the sea,” and it parted, and each portion was like a great towering mountain. 64 And We advanced thereto the pursuers. 65 And We saved Musa [as] and those with him, all together. 66 Then We drowned the others. 67 Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers. 68 And indeed, your Lord – He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful’. (Qur’an, 26:63-68)
10. Nuh’s (as) ark landed on Mount Judiyy (modern day Turkey) on ’Ashura:
‘In a narration reported by Imam Ahmad (r.a), it was on this day that the Ark of Nuh (as) came to rest on Mount Judiyy’. (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)
‘And it was said, “O earth, swallow your water, and O sky, withhold [your rain]”. And the water subsided, and the matter was accomplished, and the ship [the ark of Nuh (as)] came to rest on the [mountain of] Judiyy. And it was said, “Away with the wrongdoing people”’. (Qur’an, 11:44)
CONCLUSION
Muharram is an important and holy month for every Muslim and with all of its complexity, it will always be a month of deep reflection for Muslims across the world.
Similar to the regular New Year, one should make resolutions at the start of the Islamic New Year to improve oneself as a better Muslim. You can set small goals for yourself to become a better person and moreover a better Muslim. These goals can be both spiritual and social. You can strengthen your relationship with Allah through regular Dhikr and Duas and helping others fellow Muslims. And Allah rewards every good deed.
Source: Islamicfinder and Muslimhands
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