Muharram
is the month with which the Muslims begin their lunar Hijrah
Calendar. It is one of the four sanctified months about
which the Holy Quran says, "The number of the months
according to Allah is twelve months (mentioned) in the
Book of Allah on the day in which He created heavens and
the earth. Among these (twelve months) there are four sanctified".
These
four months, according to the authentic traditions are
the months of Zulqadah, Zulhijjah, Muharram and Rajab.
All the commentators of the Holy Quran are unanimous on
this point, because the Holy Prophet 
in
his sermon on the occasion of his last Hajj, has declared:
"One
year consists of twelve months, of which four are sanctified
months, three of them are in sequence; Zulqadah, Zulhijjah,
Muharram, and the fourth is Rajab."
The
specific mention of these four months does not mean that
any other month has no sanctity, because the month of Ramadan
is admittedly the most sanctified month in the year. But
these four months were specifically termed as sanctified
months for the simple reason that their sanctity was accepted
even by the pagans of Makkah.
In
fact, every month, out of the twelve, is originally equal
to the other, and there is no inherent sanctity, which
may be attributed to one of them in comparison to other
months. When Allah Almighty chooses a particular time for
His special blessings, then it acquires sanctity out of
His grace.
Thus,
the sanctity of these four months was recognized right
from the days of Sayyidina Ibrahim. Since the Pagans of
Makkah attributed themselves to Sayyidina Ibrahim they
observed the sanctity of these four months and despite
their frequent tribal battles, they held it unlawful to
fight in these months.
In
the Shariah of our Holy Prophet the
sanctity of these months was upheld and the Holy Quran
referred to them as the "sanctified months".
The
month of Muharram has certain other characteristics peculiar
to it, which are specified below.
Fasting
during the month
The
Holy Prophet has
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, the one who fasts in these days out of his own will
and choice is entitled to a great reward by Allah Almighty.
The Hadith cited above signifies that the fasts of the
month of Muharram are most reward-able ones among the Nafl
fasts i.e. the fasts one observes out of his own choice
without being obligatory on him.
The
hadith does not mean that the award promised for fasts
of Muharram can be achieved only by fasting for the whole
month. On the contrary, each fast during this month has
merit. Therefore, one should avail of this opportunity
as much as he can.
The
day of Ashurah
Although
the month of Muharram is a sanctified month as a whole,
yet, the 10th day of Muharram is the most sacred among
all its days. The day is named Ashurah.
According
to the Holy companion Ibn Abbas. The Holy Prophet ,
when migrated to Madinah, 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 (Moses) 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 said, "We
are more closely related to Musa than you" and directed
the Muslims to fast on the day of Ashurah. (Abu Dawood)
It
is also reported in a number of authentic traditions that
in the beginning, fasting on the day of Ashurah was obligatory
for the Muslims.
It
was later that the fasts of Ramadan were made obligatory
and the fast on the day of ''Ashurah was made optional.
Sayyidah Aishah has said:
"When
the Holy Prophet came
to Madinah, he fasted on the day of Ashurahh and directed
the people to fast it. But when the fasts of Ramadan were
made obligatory, the obligation of fasting was confined
to Ramadan and the obligatory nature of the fast of Ashurah
was abandoned. One can fast on this day, if he so wills,
or can avoid fasting, if he so wills."
However,
the Holy Prophet used
to fast on the day of Ashurah even after the fasting in
Ramadan was made obligatory.
Abdullah
Ian Masud reports that the Holy Prophet preferred
the fast of Ashurah to the fast of other days and preferred
the fast of Ramadhan to the fast of Ashurahh. (Bukhari
and Muslim)
In
short, it is established through a number of authentic
hadith that fasting on the day of Ashurah is Sunnah of
the Holy Prophet and
makes one entitled to a great reward.
According
to another hadith, it is more advisable that the fast of Ashurah should either be prefixed or suffixed by another fast.
It means that one should fast two days: the 9th an 10th
of Muharram or the 10th and 11th of it. The
reason of this additional fast as mentioned by the Holy
Prophet is
that the Jews used to fast on the day of
Ashurah alone, and the Holy Prophet wanted
to distinguish the Islamic-way of fasting from that of
Jews. Therefore, he advised the Muslims to add another
fast to that of Ashurah.
Some
traditions signify another feature of the day of Ashurah.
According
to these traditions one should be more generous to his
family by providing more food to them on this day as compared
to other days. These traditions are not very authentic
according to the science of hadith. Yet, some Scholars
like Baihaqi and Ibn Hibban have accepted them as reliable.
What
is mentioned above is all that is supported through authentic
sources about Ashurah.
However,
there are some legends and misconceptions with regard to
Ashurah that have managed to find their way into the minds
of the ignorant, but have no support of authentic Islamic
sources, some very common of them are these:
This
is the day in which Adam was created.
This
is the day in which Ibrahim was born.
This
is the day in which Allah accepted the repentance of Sayyidina
Ibrahim.
This
is the day on which the Qiyamah (dooms-day) will take place.
Whoever
takes bath in the day of Ashurah will never get ill.
All
these and other similar whims and fancies are totally baseless
and the traditions
referred to in this respect are not worthy of any credit.
Some
people take it as Sunnah to prepare a particular type of
meal in the day of Ashurah. This practice, too, has no
basis in the authentic Islamic sources.
Some
other people attribute the sanctity of Ashurah to the martyrdom
of Sayyidina Husain during his battle with the Syrian army.
No doubt, the martyrdom of Sayyidina Husain is one of the
most tragic episodes of our history. Yet, the sanctity
of Ashurah cannot be ascribed to this event for the simple
reason that the sanctity of 'Ashurah was established during
the days of the Holy Prophet much
earlier than the birth of Sayyidna Husain.
On
the contrary, it is one of the merits of Sayyidna Husain
that his martyrdom took place on the day of Ashurah.
Another
misconception about the month of Muharram is that it is
an evil or unlucky month, for Sayyidna Husain was killed
in it. It is for this misconception that people avoid holding
marriage ceremonies in the month of Muharram. This is again
a baseless concept which is contrary to the express teachings
of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah. Such superstitions have
been totally negated by the Holy Prophet .
If the death of an eminent person in a particular day renders
that day unlucky for all times to come, one can hardly
find a day, free from this bad luck, out of 365 days of
the whole year, because each and every day has a history
of the demise of some eminent person. The Holy Quran and
the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet have
made us free from such superstitious beliefs, and they
should deserve no attention.
Another
wrong practice related to this month is to hold the lamentation
and mourning ceremonies in the memory of martyrdom of Sayyidna
Husain.
As
mentioned earlier, the event of Karbala is one of the most
tragic events of our history, but the Holy Prophet has
forbidden us from holding the mourning ceremonies on the
death of any person. The people of Jahiliyyah (Ignorance)
used to mourn over their deceased relatives or friends
through loud lamentations, by tearing their clothes and
by beating their cheeks and chests. The Holy Prophet stopped
the Muslims from doing all this and directed them to observe
patience by saying "Inna lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi
raaji oon". A number of authentic hadith are available
on the subject.
To
quote only one of them:
"He
is not from our group who slaps his cheeks, tears his clothes
and cries in the manner of the people of jahiliyyah."
All
the authentic jurists are unanimous on the point that the
mourning of this type is absolutely impermissible. Even
Sayyidna Husain shortly before his demise, had advised
his beloved sister Sayyidah Zainab not to mourn over his
death in this manner. He said:
"My
dear sister, I swear upon you that you, in case I die,
shall not tear your clothes, nor scratch your face, nor
curse anyone for me or pray for your death".
It
is evident from this advice of Sayyidna Husain that this
type of mourning is condemned even by the blessed person
for the memory of whom these mourning ceremonies are held.
Every Muslim should avoid this practice and abide by the
teachings of the Holy Prophet and
his beloved grand child Sayyidina Husain.
Blessings
of Muharram
It
is the first month of the Islamic Calendar.
The
meaning of the word:- The word "Muharram" means "Forbidden." Even
before Islam, this month was always known as a scared month
in which all unlawful acts were forbidden, prominently
the shedding of blood.
A
blessing of Muharram:- There are many bounties of this
month, especially the tenth of Muharram.
Two
of the many virtues of the 10th of Muharram:-
On
this day he who spends more lavishly for the sake of his
family members, Allah Taala will bestow blessing upon the
sustenance of the following year.
Abu
Qataada has related that the Prophet has
reported to have said, It is my thought that by fasting on
the 10th of Muharram Allah Taala will pardon the sins of
the past year. (Tirmizi)
Events
of Muharram
Hadhrat
Hussain was martyred in this month.
Shaykhain
Tirmizi & Haakim has narrated from Anas that the following
verse:
"Allah
may forgive thee of thy sins that which is past and that
which is to
come." (Al-Fath) was revealed on the 10th
of Muharram.
The
Prophet Muhammed went
to defeat Bani Muhaarin and Bani Tha'laba (Tribes of Bani
Gatfan) in the year 4 A.H. (Asahhus-siyar)
