Muharram, another New Year

The month of Muharram is a great and blessed month. It is the first month of the Hijri year and is one of the sacred months about which Allahﷻ says:

إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ

Tawbah 9: 36  “Verily, the number of months with Allahﷻ is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allahﷻ on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred, (i.e. the 1st, the 7t , the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the right religion…” 

Abu Bakrah (R) narrated that Rasoolullahﷺ said: “… The year is twelve months, of which four are sacred: three consecutive months, Dhu al-Qa‘dah, Dhu al-Hijjah and al-Muharram, and Rajab which comes between Jumada and Sha‘ban.” (Bukhari) 

Allama Ibn Katheer (RA), regarding this Ayah, explains, “Allahﷻ has chosen elites from His creation: from among the angels He chose Messengers, from among mankind He chose Messengers, from among speech He chose remembrance of Himself (Dhikr), from among spaces on earth He chose the mosques, from among the months He chose Ramadan and the sacred months. So, venerate that which has been chosen by Allahﷻ, because people of understanding and wisdom, respect that which has been chosen by Him”. (Tafseer Ibn Katheer)

Abu Hurairah (R) said that Rasoolullahﷺ said, “The best fast after Ramadan is in the month of Muharram.” (Muslim)

Rasoolullahﷺ encouraged fasting during the month of Muharram, particularly on the 10th day, called Ashoora, as a means of seeking Allahﷻ's mercy and forgiveness. In Fiqh As-Sunnah, Sheikh Sayyed Sabiq  (RA) states: Abu Hurairah (R) reported, “I asked Rasoolullahﷺ, ‘Which Prayer is the best after the Fardh Prayers?’ He said: ‘Prayer during the middle of the night.’ I asked: ‘Which fasting is the best after that of Ramadan?’ He said, ‘The month of Allahﷻ that you call Muharram’.” (Ahmad, Muslim, and Abu Dawud)

Rasoolullahﷺ  said, “Fasting the day of Ashoora (has great merit), I hope that Allahﷻ will accept it as an expiation for (sins in) the previous year.” (Muslim)

Abdullah ibn ‘Abbaas (RA) said, “When Rasoolullahﷺ  fasted on the day of Ashoora and told the people to fast, they said, “Ya Rasoolullahﷺ  this is a day that is venerated by the Jews and Christians.” Rasoolullahﷺ  said, “Next year, if Allahﷻ wills, we will fast on the 9th day (also).” But by the time the following year came, Rasoolullahﷺ had passed away.  (Muslim). So let us fast on 9th and 10th.

Rasoolullahﷺ said, “One who generously spends on his family on the day of ‘Ashoora, Allahﷻ  will be generous on him for the entire year.” (Tabarani)

Regarding this, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (RA) narrates that Sufyan Ibn Uyayna (RA) said, “I have practiced this (spending on the family) for fifty or sixty years and have found nothing but good in it.” (Lata’if al-Ma‘arif)

The day of 'Ashoora was known to the Quraysh and to Rasoolullahﷺ in Makkah, and the Quraysh used to venerate it and fast on that day. It is believed that Nuh (AS)’s ship reached land on Mount Judi, and Musa (AS) led his people out of the slavery of Firawn on the day of Ashoora. The Quraysh venerated this day and considered it holy and used to change the cover of the Ka’aba on 10th of Muharram and would fast and pray specially on that day. Rasoolullahﷺ fasted it with them during his life in Makkah.

روى الشيخان عن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: كانت قريش تصوم عاشوراء في الجاهلية، وكان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصومه، فلما هاجر إلى المدينة صامه وأمر بصيامه

It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (RA) said: Quraysh used to fast on 'Ashoora during the Jahiliya, and Rasoolullahﷺ used to fast on (that day) too. When he migrated to Madinah, he fasted this day and ordered that this fast be observed. When the month of Ramadan was enjoined, he said: “Whoever wishes may fast on (this day) and whoever wishes may leave it.