Month of Muharram and we
by Mufti Muhammad Taqi Uthmaani Saheb
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 Qur'an 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 Zulqa'dah, Zulhijjah, Muharram and Rajab. All the commentators of the Holy Qur'an are unanimous on this point, because the Holy Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) 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; Zulqa'dah, 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 Ramadhan 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(A.S.) . Since the Pagans of Makkah attributed themselves to Sayyidina Ibrahim(A.S.) 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 Shari'ah of our Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) the sanctity of these months was upheld and the Holy Qur'an referred to them as the "sanctified months".
The month of Muharram has certain other characteristics peculiar to it which are specified below.
1. Fasting during the month
The Holy Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) has said:
"The best fasts after the fasts of Ramadhan 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.
2. 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(R.A.) . The Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) , 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) (A.S.) 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 alaiyhi wassallam) ' 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 Ramadhan were made obligatory and the fast on the day of ''Ashurah was made optional. Sayyidah 'A'ishah(R.A.) has said:
"When the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) came to Madinah, he fasted on the day of ''Ashurahh and directed the people to fast it. But when the fasts of Ramadhan were made obligatory, the obligation of fasting was confined to Ramadhan 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 (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) used to fast on the day of 'Ashurah even after the fasting in Ramadhan was made obligatory. Abdull�h Ian Mas'�d(R.A.) reports that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) preferred the fast of 'Ashurahto the fast of other days and preferred the fast of Ramadhan to the fast of ''Ashurahh. (Bukhar� and Muslim)
In short, it is established through a number of authentic ah�d�th that fasting on the day of 'Ashurah is Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) 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 (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) is that the Jews used to fast on the day of 'Ashurahalone, and the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) 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(A.S.) was created.
This is the day in which Ibrahim(A.S.) was born.
This is the day in which Allah accepted the repentance of Sayyidina Ibrahim(A.S.) .
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..
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 Qur'an 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 Zulqa'dah, Zulhijjah, Muharram and Rajab. All the commentators of the Holy Qur'an are unanimous on this point, because the Holy Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) 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; Zulqa'dah, 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 Ramadhan 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(A.S.) . Since the Pagans of Makkah attributed themselves to Sayyidina Ibrahim(A.S.) 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 Shari'ah of our Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) the sanctity of these months was upheld and the Holy Qur'an referred to them as the "sanctified months".
The month of Muharram has certain other characteristics peculiar to it which are specified below.
1. Fasting during the month
The Holy Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) has said:
"The best fasts after the fasts of Ramadhan 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.
2. 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(R.A.) . The Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) , 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) (A.S.) 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 alaiyhi wassallam) ' 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 Ramadhan were made obligatory and the fast on the day of ''Ashurah was made optional. Sayyidah 'A'ishah(R.A.) has said:
"When the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) came to Madinah, he fasted on the day of ''Ashurahh and directed the people to fast it. But when the fasts of Ramadhan were made obligatory, the obligation of fasting was confined to Ramadhan 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 (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) used to fast on the day of 'Ashurah even after the fasting in Ramadhan was made obligatory. Abdull�h Ian Mas'�d(R.A.) reports that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) preferred the fast of 'Ashurahto the fast of other days and preferred the fast of Ramadhan to the fast of ''Ashurahh. (Bukhar� and Muslim)
In short, it is established through a number of authentic ah�d�th that fasting on the day of 'Ashurah is Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) 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 (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) is that the Jews used to fast on the day of 'Ashurahalone, and the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) 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(A.S.) was created.
This is the day in which Ibrahim(A.S.) was born.
This is the day in which Allah accepted the repentance of Sayyidina Ibrahim(A.S.) .
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..
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