Month of Muharram and Its Significance

Month of Muharram and Its Significance

Dr. Ahmad H. Sakr

The literal meaning of Muharram is sacred and prohibited. The month is considered among the four sacred months in the Book of Allah. The Holy Qur’an states in Surah al-Tawbah (Repentance) about the four sacred months:

“The number of months in the sight of God is twelve (in a year). So ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are sacred, that is the straight usage. So wrong not yourselves therein...” (9:36)

The four months referred in this Ayah were explained by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) to be: Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab.

Allah emphasized the sacredness of these months. He demanded from the people before Islam to observe sacredness of these months. He also demanded from Muslims to do the same. He condemned those who change these four months for some other months. In this respect, the Holy Qur’an states in Surah Al-Tawbah (Repentance):

“Verily the transposing (of a prohibited month) is an addition to unbelief: The Unbelievers are led to wrong thereby: for they make it lawful one year, and forbidden another year, in order to adjust the number of months forbidden by God and make such forbidden ones lawful. The evil of their course seems pleasing to them. But God guides not those who reject faith.” (9:37)

During these sacred months Muslims are to observe their sacredness. The Holy Qur’an demanded that Muslims are not to start the fight, not to kill animals, not to hunt birds and not to get involved in trivial things. One has to observe their importance and sacredness. Here we wish to remind ourselves and yourselves of the following items about the Islamic year.

1. New Year:

The month of Muharram is the first month of a lunar year. A year is over from our personal lives and we are one year closer to our graves we are closer to live in the graves and stay there till the Day of Judgement. Muslims are to prepare themselves for the hereafter.

2. Sacred Month:

This month of Muharram is sacred and we have no right to change it or adulterate it. We have no right to substitute it with some another month of the year. We have no right to make Haram to be Halal. Allah says in the Qur’an:

“O you who believe! Violate not sanctity of Allah’s monuments nor the Sacred Month nor the animals brought for sacrifice not the garlands, not the resorting to the Sacred House seeking the grace and pleasure of Allah. But when you have left the sacred territory, then you may go hunting (if you will)” (5: 2)

3. Fasting:

The best fasting after Ramadhan is during the month of Muharram. Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), in a Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah, was asked:

“...which fasting is best after the month of Ramadhan?”

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“The month of Allah that you call it the  sacred one.” (Ahmad, Muslim and Abu Dawood)

A person came to the Prophet after one year of continuous fasting. The Prophet (ﷺ) advised him to change his habit. He advised him to fast some days in Muharram.

4. Ashoura:

There are several types of Ashoura in the history. They are the following:

a)     During the time of Prophet Musa (AS):

The Children of Israel were saved from the torture and persecution of Pharaoh. Prophet Musa fasted that day and the Jews fasted that day also.

It is narrated by lbn Abbas that when Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) came to Madina, he found that the Jews were fasting the Day of Ashoura. He asked about it. He was informed that it was a good day, when Allah saved Musa and the Children of Israel from their enemy. Hence, Musa fasted that day. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: we have more right unto Musa than you. He then fasted that day, and he ordered them to fast it. (Agreed)

b)     During the Jahiliyah period: Arabs used to respect that day and to fast it.

Narrated by Aiyshah (RDA) saying: “During the Day of Ashoura, the tribe of Quraish used to fast it during the Jahiliyah period. The Messenger of Allah used to fast it. When he came to Madinah, he fasted it. When the month of Ramadhan was prescribed as a fasting month, he said: “whoever wishes, let him fast it, (Ashoura) and whoever wishes let him not.”

c)     Day of respect to Christians and Jews:

Jews and Christians used to respect that day, and the Jews used to consider it a feast. Out Prophet (ﷺ) decided to fast the day of Ashoura.

It is narrated by Abu Musa Al Ash’ari (RDA) that the Day of Ashoura was respected by Jews, and they made it a day of festivity. The Messenger of Allah said: “You (Muslims) should fast it.”

The other Hadith related to respect of Christians and Jews for the Day of Ashoura.

Narrated by lbn Abbas (RDA) that when the Messenger of Allah fasted the Day of Ashoura, and commanded Muslims to fast it, Muslims said: “O Messenger of Allah! It is a day which Jews and Christians respect. He said: “Next year (with the will of Allah) we will fast the 9th day..."

d)     Death of imam Al-Hussain (RDA):-

His death is a lesson to all of us to put our trust in Allah, to be steadfast on the straight path of Islam, and to make Jihad for the pleasure of Allah.

5. Types of Fasting during Ashoura:

There are three types of fasting for Ashoura:

-Three days, 9-10-11 Muharram,

-Two days, 9-10 Muharram,

-One day, 10 Muharram,

Narrated by Abu Qatadah (RDA) that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

“The fasting Day of Arafah gives forgiveness of two years. One year past and one year to come, and the fasting Day of Ashoura gives forgiveness of one past year."

6. Generosity:

Whoever is generous during Ashoura, Allah will be generous to him throughout the year.

7. Hijrah from Makkah to Madinah:

a)     Persecution of Muslims by pagans of Makkah.

b)     Migration of Muslims to Ethiopia.

c)     Migration to Madinah,

d)     Story of Ali (RDA) sleeping in the bed of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) on the night of migration.

e)     Hiding in Cave Thawr. Allah reminds us this incident in the Holy Qur’an:

“Unless you go forth, He will punish you with a grievous penalty, and put others in your place; but Him you would not harm in the least. For God has power over all things. if you help not (your leader), (it is no matter) for God did indeed help him, when the Unbelievers drove him out, he had no more than one companion: They two were in the cave, and he said to his companion, have no fear, for God sent down His peace upon him, and strengthened him with forces, which you saw not, and humbled to the depths the word of the unbelievers. But the word of God is Exalted to the heights: For God is Exalted in Might, Wise" (9:39-40)

f)       Story of Asma, the daughter of Abu Bakr (RDA), who used to take milk and dates to the Prophet and to her father Abu Bakr while they were in the cave.

g)     Story of Abdullah, the son of Abu Bakr, who used to go after sunset with the cattle to the cave to give the information about the people of Makkah and their plots against the Prophet (ﷺ).

While we are passing through a new year, we pray to Allah to bring peace, happiness and success to the Muslim Ummah, as well as to the rest of the people everywhere in the world.

(Courtesy: MWL Journal)