The Month of Muharram:
(posted by Syed Ahmed)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:
"inna iddatash shoor indallahe ithnaa ashar shahran fi kitabillah yauma Khalaqas samawate wal ardh minha arba'tun hurum"
“The number of the months according to Allah is twelve (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.” [Translated in English]
These four months, according to the authentic traditions are the months of ZulQa’dah, ZulHijjah, Muharram and Rajab. All the commentators of the Holy Quran are unanimous on this point, because the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) in his sermon on the occasion of his last Hajj, has declared:
"assanatu ithna ashara shahran arba'tun hurum, thalathu mutawaliyat: zul qa'dah, wa zul hijjah, wal muharram wa rajab"
“One year consists of twelve months, of which four are sanctified months, three of them are in sequence; ZulQu’dah, ZulHijjah, Muharram and the fourth is Rajab.” [Translated in English]
The specific mention of these four months does not mean that any other month has no sanctity, because the month of Ramazan 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 Sayyidna Ibrahim (Alaihis-Salaam), since the pagans of Makkah attributed themselves to Sayyidna Ibrahim (Alaihis-Salaam) 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 Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) the sanctity of these months was upheld and the Holy Quran referred to them as the “Sanctified Months.”
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The month of Muharram has certain other characteristics peculiar to it which are specified:
FASTING DURING THE MONTH OF MUHARRAM:
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has said:
"afzalus siyame ba'da shahre ramadhan shahru allahi alharam"
“The best fasts after the fasts of Ramazan are those of the month of Muharram.” [Translated in English]
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 Nafil fasts i.e., the fast one observes out of his own choice without being obligatory on him.
The Hadith does not mean that the award promised for the 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.
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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 (Radhiallah Taala Anhu), the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam), when migrated to Madinah, found that the Jews of Madinah used to fastont he 10th day of Muharram. They said that it was the day on which the Holy Prophet Musa (AS) 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 Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) said, “We are more closely related to Musa than you and directed the Muslims to fast on the day of ‘Ashurah’.
(Related by 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 Ramazan were made obligatory and the fast on the day of ‘Ashurah’ was made optional.
Sayyidah ‘A’ishah (Radhiallah Taala Anha) has said:
"falamma qadima rasulullahe sallallhu alaihe wa sallam almadinah samahu wa amar bisiyamihi. falamma faraza ramadhan kana hua alfaridhah wa taraka aashura'. man sha' samahu wa man sha' tarakahu."
“When the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) came to Madinah, he fasted on the day of ‘Ashurah’ and directed the people to fast it. But when the fasts of Ramazan were made obligatory, the obligation of fasting was confined to Ramazan and the obligatory nature of the ‘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 Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) used to fast on the day of ‘Ashurah’ even after the fasting in Ramazan was made obligatory. Abdullah Ibn Masud (Radhiallah Taala Anhu) reports that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) preferred the fast of ‘Ashurah’ to the fast of other days and preferred the fast of Ramazan to the fast of ‘Ashura’.
(Related by Bukhari and Muslim)
In short, it is established through a number of authentic Ahadith that fasting on
the day of ‘Ashurah’ is Sunnath of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (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 day: the 9th and 10th of Muharram OR the 10th and 11th of Muharram. The reason of this additional fast as mentioned by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) is that the Jews used to fast on the day of ‘Ashurah’ alone, and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) wanted to distinguish the Islamic-way of fasting from that of Jews. Therefore, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) advised the Muslims to add another fast to that of ‘Ashurah’.
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MISCONCEPTION ABOUT THE MONTH OF MUHARRAM:
Some other people attribute the sanctity of ‘Ashurah’ to the Martyrdom of Sayyidna Husain (Radhiallah Taala Anhu) during his battle with the Syrian army. No doubt, the Martyrdom of Sayyidna Husain (Radhiallah Taala Anhu) is one of the most tragic episodes of our history. The sanctity of ‘Ashurah’ was established during the days of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) much earlier than the birth of Sayyidna Husain (Radhiallah Taala Anhu).
Misconception about the month of Muharram is that it is an evil or unlucky month, for Sayyidna Husain (Radhiallah Taala Anhu) was Shaheed in it. It is for this misconception that people avoid holding marriage ceremonies in the month of Muharram.
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 Sunnath of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) 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 (Radhiallah Taala Anhu). As mentioned earlier, the event of ‘Karbala’ is one of the most tragic events of our history, but the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) 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 Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) stopped the Muslims from doing all this and directed them to observe patience by saying (Inalilahi Waina Ilahi Rajioon). A number of authentic ahadith 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 (Radhiallah Taala Anhu) shortly before his demise, had advised his beloved sister Sayyidah Zainab (Radhiallah Taala Anha) 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, not scratch your face, nor curse anyone for me or pray for your death.”
It is evident from this advice of Syyidna Husain (Radhiallah Taala Anhu) 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 Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) and his beloved grand child Sayyidna Husain (Radhiallah Taala Anhu).
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Jazakallah Ahamad bhai
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