Sacred Months, - The Sacred Month of Muharram

Muharram is the month with which the Muslims begin their lunar
)Hegira( Calendar. It is one of the four sanctified months about which
the Holy Quran Says)what means(:}Indeed, the number of months with
Allah is twelve ]lunar[ months in the register of Allah ]from[ the day
Hecreated the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred…{]Quran
9: 36[
These four months, according to the authentic traditions)Prophetic
narrations(, are Thul-Qi'dah, Thul-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab. All the
commentators of the Noble Quran are unanimous on this point, because
the Noble Prophetdeclared in his sermon on theoccasion of his last
Hajj)pilgrimage to Makkah(: "One year consists of twelve months, of
which four are sanctified months,three of them are in sequence;
Thul-Qi'dah, Thul-Hijjah, Muharram, and the fourth is Rajab."
The specific mention of these four months does not mean that any other
month has no sanctity, because the month of Ramadan is admittedly the
most sanctified month in the year. But these fourmonths were
specifically termed as sanctified months for the simple reason that
even the pagans of Makkah accepted their sanctity.
The sanctity of these four monthswas established right from the day
Allaah created the universe. Since the Pagans of Makkah attributed
themselves to Ibraaheem )Abraham(who observed the sanctity of these
months, they also observed the sanctity of these four months and
despite their frequent tribal battles, they held it unlawful to fight
in these months.
In Islam, the sanctity of these months was upheld and the Holy Quran
referred to them as the"sanctified months". Muharram has certain other
characteristics special to it, which are stated below:
Fasting during the month:
The Noble Prophetsaid:'The best fasts after the fasts of Ramadan are
those of the month of Muharram."
Although the fasts of the month of Muharram are not obligatory, yet
one who fasts in these days out of his own will is entitled to agreat
reward by Allaah Almighty. The Hadeeth cited above signifies that the
fasts of the month of Muharram are most rewardable ones among the
voluntary fasts. It does not mean that the award promised for 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.
The day of 'Aashooraa':
Although 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
'Aashooraa'. According to Ibn 'Abbaasthe Prophetwhen he migrated
toMadeenah, found that the Jews ofMadeenah used to fast on the 10th
day of Muharram. They said that it was the day on which Prophet Moosa
)Moses(and his followers crossed the Red Sea miraculously and the
Pharaoh was drowned in its waters. On hearing this from the Jews, the
Prophetsaid,"We are worthier of Moosa than you," anddirected the
Muslims to fast on the day of 'Aashooraa'. ]Abu Daawood[
It is also reported in a number of authentic traditions that in the
beginning, fasting on the day of 'Aashooraa' was obligatory for the
Muslims. It was later that the fasts of Ramadan were made obligatory
and the fast on the day of 'Aashooraa' was made optional.
'Aa'ishahsaid:"When the Prophetcame to Madeenah, he fasted on the day
of 'Aashooraa' and directed the people to do likewise. But when the
fasts of Ramadan were made obligatory, the obligation of fasting was
confined to Ramadanand the obligatory nature of the fast of
'Aashooraa' was abandoned. Whoever so desires should fast on it and
any other who so likes can avoid fasting on it."]Abu Daawood[
However, the Prophetused tofast on the day of 'Aashooraa' even after
the fasting in Ramadanwas made obligatory. Abdullaah Ibn Moosareports
that the Prophetpreferred the fast of 'Aashooraa' on the fasts of
other days and preferred the fasts of Ramadan on the fast of
'Aashooraa'.]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
Misconceptions and Innovations:
However, there are some legendsand misconceptions with regard to
'Aashooraa' that have managed to find their way into the minds of the
unlearned, but have no support of authentic Islamic sources, some very
common of them are these:
·This is the day on which Aadamwas created.
·This is the day when Ibraaheemwas born.
·This is the day when Allaah accepted the repentance of Aadam.
·This is the day when Doomsday will take place. Whoever takes a bath
on the day of 'Aashooraa' will never get ill.
All these and other similar whimsand fancies are totally baseless and
the traditions referred to in this respect are not worthy of any
credit. Some people take it asSunnah )established recommended
practice( to prepare a particular type of meal on the day of
'Aashooraa'. This practice, too, has no basis in the authentic Islamic
sources.
Some other people attribute the sanctity of 'Aashooraa' to the
martyrdom of Al-Hussayn. Nodoubt, the martyrdom of Al-Hussaynis one of
the mosttragic episodes of our history. Yet, the sanctity of
'Aashooraa' cannot be ascribed to this event for the simple reason
that the sanctity of 'Aashooraa' was established during the days of
the Prophetmuch earlier than the birth of Al-Hussayn. On the contrary,
it is one of the merits of Al-Hussaynthat his martyrdom took place on
this blessed day.
Another misconception about themonth of Muharram is that it is an evil
or unlucky month, for Al-Hussayn was killed in it. It is for this
misconception that somepeople avoid holding marriage ceremonies in the
month of Muharram. This is again a baseless concept, which is contrary
to the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah)Prophetic
Tradition(. If the death of an eminent person on a particular day
renders that day unlucky for all times to come, one can hardly find a
day of the year free from this bad luck because every day is
associated with the demise of some eminent person. The Holy Quran and
the Sunnah of the Prophethave liberated us from such superstitious
beliefs.
Lamentations and mourning:
Another wrong practice related to this month is to hold the
lamentation and mourning ceremonies in the memory of martyrdom of
Al-Hussayn. Asmentioned earlier, the event of Karbalaa' is one of the
most tragic events of our history, but the Prophethas forbidden us
from holding the mourning ceremonies on the death of any person. The
people of Pre-Islamic ignorance era used to mourn over their deceased
through loudlamentations, by tearing their clothes and by beating
their cheeks and chests. The Prophetprevented the Muslims from doing
all this and directed them to observe patience by saying"Inna lillaahi
wa inna ilayhi raaji'oon" )To Allaah We belong, and to Him is our
return(. A number of authentic narrations are available on the
subject. To quote only one of them: "He is not from us who slaps his
checks,tears his clothes and cries in the manner of the people of
jahiliyyah )Pre-Islamic ignorance(".]Al-Bukhaari[
All the prominent jurists are unanimous on the point that the mourning
of this type is impermissible. Even Al-Hussaynshortly before his
demise, had advised his beloved sister Zaynabnot to mourn over
hisdeath in this manner. Hesaid,"My dear sister! I swear upon you that
in case I die you shall not tear your clothes, nor scratch your face,
nor curse anyone for me or pray for your death.")Al-Kaamil, Ibn
Katheer vol. 4 pg. 24(
It is evident from this advice, thatthis 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 Prophet.