Muharram - the Islamic new year

Muharram refers to the first month of the Islamic Calendar. The complete month of Muharram is sacred according to the Muslims. However, it is the tenth day which is of most significance. Factions of the Muslim community observe this day for different reasons.

While the Shia Muslims celebrate this day to mourn the death of Husayn Ibn Ali, the Sunni Muslims observe this day to celebrate the victory of Moses over Egyptian Pharaoh. With the sighting of the new moon the Islaamic new year is ushered in.

The first month Muharram is one of the four sacred months that Allah has mentioned in the Holy Qur'aan: Lo.'

The number of the months with Allah is twelve months by Allah'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. (9:36)

The specification of these four sacred months is stated in a hadeeth narrated by Abu Bakrah; Verily time has completed its cycle and returned to its original stage as it was on the day Allah created the heavens and the earth. The year consists of twelve months, four of which are sacred.

Three of them occur consecutively; Zul Qa'dah, Zul Hijjah and Muharram, (the fourth being) Rajab of Mudhar (named after the tribe of Mudhar as they used to respect this month) which occurs between Jamadiul Aakhir and Sha'baan. (Bukhari Vol.2 Page 622)

From out of the four sacred months, Muharram has been blessed with certain specific virtues.

Prophet Muhammed said "The best of fasts besides the month of Ramazan is the fasting of Allah's month of Muharram and the best of salaat besides the fardh (compulsory) salaat is the tahajjud salaat (performed after midnight before dawn).

In another Hadeeth, Ibne Abbas reports that the Messenger of Allah said: He who fasts on the day of Arafah (9th Zil Hijjah), his fast will be a compensation for the sins of two years* and the one that keeps a fast in the month of Muharram will receive the reward of thirty fasts for each fastn (in this sacred month). Tabraani, At Targheeb WatTarheeb Vol.2 Page 114.

The tenth day of this sacred month, Muharram is known as Aashoorah.

It is one of the most important and blessed days of Allah in the Islamic calendar. Some ulamaa (scholars) are of the opinion that before the fasts of Ramazan were made compulsory, the fast of the day of Aashoorah was compulsory upon the ummah.

This is stated in hadeeth reported by Aaishah (Prophet Muhammed's wife) that the Prophet Muhammed ordered the observance of the fast of Aashoorah. However, *when the fast of Ramazan became compulsory, then whosoever wished, kept this fast and whosoever desired did not observe this fast. Bukhari Vol.1 Page 268

But, nevertheless the Prophet continued to fast this day and encouraged his Companions to do the same. Ibne Abbas says: I did not see the prophet anxiously await the fast of any day, which he gave preference to over other days, but this day, the day of Aashoorah. Bukhari Vol.1 Page 268

Humayd Ibne Abdur Rahamaan narrates that he heard Mu'aawiyah Ibne Abi Sufyaan on the day of 'Aashoorah, during the year he performed hajj, saying on the pulpit: "O the people of Madinah! Where are your ulamaa (scholars)?

I heard the prophet saying "This is the day of 'Aashoorah. Allah has not enjoined its fasting on you but I am fasting it.

Whosoever wish, keep (this) fast and whosoever desires do not observe (this fast)."Bukhari Vol.1 Page 268

The Prophet has exhorted and encouraged his ummah to fast on this day.

One should also observe the fast of the 9th Muharram to safeguard his deed from resemblance with the non-muslims who fast only on the 10th Muharram.

These hadeeth indicate clearly that one should fast on the ninth and tenth of Muharram.

However, *if one does not manage to fast on the ninth, then **he should fast on the eleventh of Muharram instead*.

The Prophet said: "Observe the fast of Aashoorah and oppose the Jews. Fast a day before it or a day after." (Bayhaqi).

Hence, it is important to either fast on the ninth and tenth of Muharram or the tenth and eleventh. *To fast only on the day of Aashoorah is makruh.

One should be generous on one's family and dependents and spend more on them than what is normally spent. Abu Hurayrah reports that Rasulullah said: "One who generously spends on his family on the day of Aashoorah, Allah will increase (his provision) for the whole year*". (Bayhaqi, At Targheeb Wat Tarheeb Vol. 2 Page 116)

These are the only actions supported by haadeeth. Let us observe this great day according to the way of Rasulullah and the Sahabah and refrain from all innovations which deprive us of the blessings from Allah Ta'aala.