By Aisha Loya & Sumera Akif | October 30, 2014
The Islamic month of Muharram is a very blessed and important one. Muharram literally means ‘sacred’. It symbolizes the first month of the lunar, Hijri calendar. The Hijri calendar denotes the years from the time of the Prophet’s migration with his companions from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE by the Gregorian calendar. Though it marks a significance that Muslims finally were able to establish their own identity in Madinah it is not celebrated in either the Islamic sense of a holy day nor the Western style secular celebration of ‘New Years’.
Instead, it serves as a time of reflection on the year past of a believer and is a hope that the following year will be better (Insha Allah). It is also a time to remember the hardships faced by the Prophet (pbuh) and the early Muslims before and during their migration.
Muharram is amongst the four sacred months as Allah states in the Quran:
“Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so it was ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them, four are sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein.” (At-Tawbah 9: 36)
The four months, according to authentic Ahaadith, are the months of Zhul-Qa`dah, Zhul Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab.
“The year is twelve months of which four are sacred, the three consecutive months of Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab Mudar which comes between Jumad (ath-Thani) and Sha’baan.” (Bukhari).
It is unlawful/haram to fight during these months and since Allah has increased their sanctity, they are very good times for one to reach out and begin bonding with Allah, to seek His forgiveness and His Love from Him. It was reported that Ibn `Abbas said regarding the above verse that these four months were singled out and made sacred. Sins in these months are more serious and good deeds bring a greater reward.
During this month it is great to fast and very much encouraged since the fasts of Muharram were ones Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) looked forward to.
The best of fasts besides the month of Ramadan is the fast during Allah’s month of Muharram and the best of Salaats (prayers) besides the Fardh (obligatory Salaat) is the Tahajjud Salaah (voluntary night prayers). (Sahih Muslim).
It is voluntary if a person wants to fast on the 9th and 10th or 10th and 11th of Muharram since on the 10th with regard to the blessing of this fast, Muhammad (pbuh) was asked regarding its virtue. He answered; ‘It is a compensation for the sins of the past year.’ i.e. the sins of one year that has just gone by will be forgiven. (Muslim, Vol. 1).
Note: Only minor sins are forgiven. For the forgiveness of major sins, Taubah (repentance) is a requirement.