The Month of Muharram:
Its Importance and Significance
Dr. Mozammel Haque
The Islamic Calendar is based on the
Lunar Calendar consisting of 354-355 days annually and is 10-11 days shorter
than the Solar Calendar. The Lunar month is based on the time it takes the moon
to complete a single orbit around the earth and it is just over 29 and half
days. There are many advantages to the Lunar Calendar. For example, the various
dates in the Islamic Calendar such as Ramadan and Hajj rotate every year and
are not fixed like the Solar year. People, therefore, will perform acts of
worship in various climatic conditions and in different length of hours in
submission to the Will of Allah where human imagination plays no part.
Origin of the Hijri Calendar
The Islamic Calendar was first
introduced by the close companion of the Prophet (peace be upon him), the
second Caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) in 16 AH/637
AD. During his leadership of the Muslim community in approximately, 637 AD, he consulted
with his advisors in order to come to a decision regarding the various dating
systems used at that time. It was agreed that the appropriate reference point
for the Islamic Calendar was the Hijrah, since it was an important turning
point for the Muslim community. The event of Hijrah, the migration of the
Beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) from Makkah to
Madinah in 622 AD was chosen to begin the Islamic Calendar because it was the
first major sacrifice made by the whole Muslim Ummah for the preservation of
Islam in its formative period. After the emigration to Madinah (formerly known
as Yathrib), the Muslims were able to organise and establish the first real
Muslim community, the real Islamic state with social, political, and economic
independence.
Muharram the First Month
of the Islamic Calendar
Muharram is the first month of the
Islamic Calendar. There are twelve months in the Islamic Calendar. As the
Qur'an says: Lo! The number of the months with Allāh is twelve months by Allāh’s
Ordinance in the day that He created the heavens and the earth. Four of them
are sacred: that is the right religion. So wrong not yourselves in
them...(Al-Qur'an - 9:36) "It is He Who made the sun to be a shining
glory, and the moon to be a light of beauty, and measured out stages for it,
that you might know the number of years and the count of time. Allah did not
create this except in truth and righteousness. And He explains His signs in
detail, for those who understand" (10:5).
In his final sermon before his
death, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, among other
things, "With Allah the months are twelve; four of them are holy; three of
these are successive and one occurs singly between the months of Jumaada and
Sha'ban." The four sacred months (al-Asshhur al-Hurum) are Rajab, Dhul
Qa‘dah, Dhul Hijjah and Muharram. Out of the four sacred months, Muharram has
been blessed with certain specific virtues.
The companions were also
consulted on which month should mark the beginning of the year, Caliph Umar
al-Khattab and Uthman ibn Affaan (May Allah be pleased with them), chose
Al-Muharram due to it being a sacred month and because it follows the month of
Dhul Hijjah, which is when the Muslims perform Hajj – or the pilgrimage, which
was the last pillar of Islam that Allah enjoined upon the Muslims. Al-Muharram
also follows the month in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
pledged allegiance to the Ansar (his Madinain supporters) to emigrate to
Madinah and this pledge of Allegiance was one of the introductory acts of
emigration.
Due to all these reasons,
Al-Muharram was deemed the most suitable month to begin the Islamic Calendar.
Muharram the first month of the Islamic Calendar, were considered sacred.
Muharram is so called because it was unlawful to fight during this month; the
word is derived from the word “haram” meaning forbidden. The month of Muharram
is also of great religious significance to Muslims the world over. It is held
to be the most sacred of all the months, excluding Ramadan. The word “Muharram”
is often considered synonymous with “Ashura”, the tenth day of the month of
Muharram.
Fasting in the month of
Muharram
Fasting is advocated in the month of
Muharram. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The best fasts
after the fasts of Ramadan are those of the month of Muharram.” Although the
fasts of the month of Muharram are not obligatory, yet one who fasts in these
days out of his own will is entitled to a great reward by Allah the Almighty. The
Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The best of
fasts besides the month of Ramadhan is the fasting of Allah's month of
Muharram." (Muslim)
In another Hadeeth, Ibn Abbas reports: "that the Messenger of Allah
(Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) said: "The one that keeps a fast in the month
of Muharram will receive the reward of thirty fasts for each fast (in this
sacred month)." (Tabraani) Although the fasts of the month of Muharram are
not obligatory, the one who fasts in these days out of his own will and choice
is entitled to a great reward by Almighty Allah. The Hadith cited above
signifies that the fasts of the month of Muharram are the most rewardable among
the Nafl fasts i.e. the fasts one observes out of his own choice without being
obligatory on him.
10th day of Muharram (Aashora)
Although the month of Muharram is a
sacred month as a whole, the 10th of Muharram is the most sacred among all its
days. The day is named “Ashurah”. It is one of the most important and blessed
days of Allah in the Islamic Calendar. Some ulama (Scholars) are of the opinion
that before the fasts of Ramadan, the fast of the day of Ashura was compulsory
upon the Ummah. This is stated in a Hadith reported by A'ishah that the beloved
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered the observance of the fast of
Ashura.
However, when the fast of
Ramadan became compulsory, then whosoever wished, kept this fast and whosoever
desired did not observe the fast. (Bukhari) Ibn Abbas reported, “I did not see
Rasulullah sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam anxiously await the fast of any day,
which he gave preference to over other days, but this day, the day of Ashura.”
(Bukhari) It is also said by scholars that since the beginning of this world,
Ashura day has been a very important day. On this day great signs of Allah’s
power and glory have appeared in the world. On this day many Prophets were born
and they were instituted to the office of prophecy. On this day, Prophets,
Saints and Sincere servants of Allah were blessed with miracles and spiritual
powers.
On Ashura Day the followings have taken
place:
1. Repentance of Prophet Adam (Allah’s blessing be upon him) was accepted by Allah2. The ship of Prophet Nuh (Noah) (Allah’s blessing be upon him) came to rest on a mountain called Al-Judi.3. Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) (Allah’s blessings be upon him) was born on this day. 4. He got the title Khalil-ullah (friend of Allah) on this day.5. The fire in which Prophet Ibrahim (Allah’s blessings be upon him) was thrown by the king Namrud become cool and means of safety for Prophet Ibrahim, by the order of Allah.6. Allah delivered Prophet Ayub (Job) (Allah’s blessings be upon him) from distress and he was restored to prosperity.7. By the Grace of Allah, Prophet Yunas (Jonah) (Allah’s blessings be upon him), after being swallowed by a huge fish (whale) for forty days, was casted out on the shore.8. Prophet Musa (Moses) (Allah’s blessings be upon him) got victory over Pharaoh.9. Prophet Suleman (Solomon) (Allah’s blessings be upon him) was made a king to rule over mankind, Jins, Animals and the air.10. Prophet Idris (Enoch) (Allah’s blessings be upon him) and Prophet Issa (Jesus) (Allah’s blessings be upon him) were lifted up alive.11. Imam Hussain (Allah be pleased with him), the grandson of our beloved Prophet, got martyred at Karbala in Iraq.12. The day of resurrection and judgement will take place on this day (Ashura) (Ghunia-Al-Talibeen & Tafseer-e-Sawi)
Fasting on the Day of Ashura
(10th of Muharram)
The practice of fasting on Ashura was
known even in the days of Jahiliyyah, before the Prophet's mission. It was
reported that A'ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said: “The people of
Jahiliyyah used to fast on that day.” It is also reported that the Prophet
(peace be upon him) used to fast on Ashura in Makkah, before he migrated to
Madinah. Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of
Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'The best of fasting after
Ramadan is fasting Allah's month of Muharram.'” (Reported by Muslim, 1982)
Fasting on the day of Ashura (10th
Muharram) According to the Holy companion, Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with
him), when the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam) migrated to Madinah,
he found that the Jews of Madinah used to fast on the 10th day of Muharram.
They said that it was the day on which the Holy Prophet Musa Alayhis Salaam and
his followers crossed the Red Sea miraculously, and the Pharaoh was drowned in
its water. On hearing this from the Jews, the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi
Wassallam said, “We are more closely related to Musa than you.” So the Prophet
Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam directed the Muslims to fast on the day of Ashura.
(Abu Dawood)
According to another Hadith, it
is more advisable that the fast of Ashura should be either preceded or
succeeded by an additional fast. It means that one should fast two days: the
9th and 10th of Muharram or the 10th and 11th . The reason of this additional
fast as mentioned by the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam was that the
Jews used to fast on the day of Ashura alone, and the Holy Prophet Sallallahu
Alayhi Wassallam wanted to distinguish the Islamic-way of fasting from that of
the Jews. Therefore, he advised Muslims to add another fast to the day of
Ashura. Let us observe this great day according to the way of the Prophet
(peace and blessings be upon him) and refrain from all innovations which
deprive us of the blessings from Allāh the Almighty. May Allāh guide us all
upon the Straight Path and save us from every act which brings His Displeasure.
Āmeen.
Published First in November
2013 The Muslim Weekly, London &
The Muslim World, Pakistan, in
January 2014
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