5 things you have to know about the sacred month of Muharram.
1) Muharram is one of the 4 sacred months in Islam
إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ
Surah At-Taubah verse 36.
The number of the months, with Allah, is twelve in the Book of Allah, the day when He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the right religion.
Sacred months in Islam : 1)ZulQae’dah, 2)Zulhijjah, 3)Muharram & 4)Rajab
2) Muharram is known as the month of Allah
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “The best month for observing Saum (fasting) after Ramadan is the month of Allah Al-Muharram, and the best Salat after the prescribed Salat is Salat at night.” Sahih Muslim 1163
Allah forbade fighting during this month (qital), to avoid harming others (i’tida’) and to be careful (zulm) on harming yourselves with personal sins.
The righteous predecessors used to glorify Allah during this month in increasing any kind of good deeds especially when it comes to voluntary fasting.
3) Islamic Hijri calender was established during the caliphate of umar R.A
Hijri Calendar was established during the Khilafah of Umar Ibn Khattab R.A
During the time of his leadership, it was agreed from his council that the month of Muharram being the first month of the Islamic calender.
This is due to few reasons, one of it is because the muslims had just finnished perfoming the peak act of worship which is Haj during month of Dhulhijjah. (Which is considered to be the final month of Islamic calendar) Reference: Ibn Hajar in Fathul Bari, 7:268 .
4) Fasting on The day of Ashura (10th of Muharram)
Abu Qatadah narrated that the Prophet said: “Fast the Day of Ashura, for indeed I anticipate that Allah will forgive (the sins of) the year before it.” Jami` at-Tirmidhi 752
Here are few ways that you can perform the sunnah fasting of Ashurah:
- Fasting on the day of Ashura together with a day before and after (9th, 10th & 11th of Muharram)
- Fasting on the day of Ashura together with a day before (9th & 10th of Muharram)
- Fasting only on the day of Ashura (10th of Muharram) Reference : Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali in Lataif-Al-Ma’arif.
There is no better way to start the islamic year than to be forgiven for the sins of the previous year by the Almighty.. right?
5) Increasing charity by providing food for iftar
Getting the benefit of feeding other muslims breaking their fast. Narrated by Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani: The Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever provides the food for a fasting person to break his fast with, then for him is the same reward as his (the fasting person’s), without anything being diminished from the reward of the fasting person.” Grade: Sahih Reference: Jami’ At-Tirmidhi 807
There are many muslims around the globe facing with trials and calamities. We are appealing to you to take this opportunity to contribute in aiding the afflicted families with flood and to feed the needy muslims in breaking their fast during the days of Ashura and earn the rewards of it by HIS will.
