بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
“In the name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.”
The Virtue Of The Month Of Muharram
There are four sacred months in the year, Dhul Qa’dah, Dhul Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab. Because of their significance, the rewards of any act of virtue in these blessed months are increased & the gravity of the sins too. Our respected Scholars have mentioned that the speciality of these months is that whoever engages in Ibaadah (worship) will be inspired to engage in Ibaadah during the remaining months of the year as well. Similarly, the person who makes an effort to abstain from sin during these months will find it easy to abstain from sin during the other months of the year.
The month of Muharram is the best of months for nafl (voluntary) fasts, after Ramadhan. The best of fasts after the month of Ramadhan are in the Month of Allah, which you call Muharram. And the best of prayer after the obligatory prayer is the night prayer.” [Muslim]
Note: If one has qadha (missed fasts of Ramadhan), they should keep their qadha fasts before nafl fasts.
The Fast Of ‘Aashura
Although the month of Muharram is a sanctified month as a whole, yet, the 10th day of Muharram is the most sacred among all it’s days. The day is named ‘Aashura.
The Prophet ﷺ, when migrated to Madinah, found that the Jews of Madinah used to fast on the 10th day of Muharram. They said that it was the day on which the Holy Prophet Musa (as) and his followers crossed the Red Sea miraculously and the Pharaoh was drowned in its waters. On hearing this from the Jews, the Holy Prophet ﷺ said: “We are closer to Musa (a.s) than you” and directed the Muslims to fast on the day of Aashura. [Abu Dawood]
The Prophet ﷺ has said: “I have strong hope that Allah will forgive the previous year’s sins for fasting on the day of Aashura.” [Tirmidhi]
The 10th of Muharram is a significant day in Islamic history. Rasulullaah ﷺ used to fast on this day and commanded the Sahabah also to fast. It is also reported in a number of authentic traditions that in the beginning, fasting on the day of ‘Aashura was obligatory for the Muslims. It was later that the fasts of Ramadhan were made obligatory and the fast on the day of ‘Aashura was made optional. According to another Hadith, it is more advisable that the fast of ‘Aashura should either be prefixed or suffixed by another fast. It means that one should fast two days: the 9th and 10th of Muharram or the 10th and 11th of it. However if one can only fast on the 10th, then that too is permissible. “Fast the day of ‘Aashura and be different from the Jews by fasting a day before it or a day after it.” [Ahmed]
Spending On One’s Family On The Day Of‘Aashura
One who generoualy spends on his dependants and his family on the day of ‘Aashura, Allah will grant him abundant (sustenance) for the rest of that year. [Al-Bayhaqi]
The Prophet ﷺ has also mentioned: “Whoever expands his expenditure on his family on the day of ‘Aashura, Allah will expand his sustenance for the rest of that year. [Shu’bul Imaan: 3513]
There has been a difference of opinion regarding the authenticity of the Hadiths in this matter. However some great scholars have not only accepted it as reliable but have also acted upon this hadith all their life & have seen nothing but goodness & blessings from it.
Spending could be in the form of food, treating you family with a dessert at the end of the day, clothes, kids uniforms, household necessities or anything one may need.
Scholars, however have also emphasised that whilst spending on the day of ‘Aashura, one should ensure they do not commit acts of bid’ah (innovation). The Arabic term used in the hadith is ‘ayaalihee’ which translates as dependants. These days people have turned ‘Aashura into a festival with lavish dawats & parties & the exchanging of gifts similar to the festivals of the non -Muslims.
EXPANDING YOUR SPENDING DOES NOT NECESSITATE EXCHANGING GIFTS.
This is bid’ah (innovation) which should be avoided. As it has been mentioned in a hadith that: ‘One who imitates a nation is from amongst [Abu Dawud]
Incorrect Beliefs, Customs, & Misconceptions
Without a doubt, the martyrdom of Hadhrat Husain (r.a) was an extremely painful and tragic incident. However Islam is not a religion of mourning. The practice of holding mourning ceremonies whereby clothes are torn & chests are beaten etc is forbidden. Every page of Islamic history is filled with the blood of martyrs. If Muslims were required to mourn the death of every martyr, their every day of the year would be occupied with mourning. Neither did Allah ﷻ, nor His messenger ﷺ command us, nor can it be found in his sunnah or from the practices of the sahaabah (r.a) to mourn on the days of the tribulations of the Prophets, or their deaths, let alone anyone else. The Prophet ﷺ stopped the Muslims from doing all this and directed them to observe patience by saying “Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji’oon”.
“He is not from our group who slaps his checks, tears his clothes and cries in the manner of the people of jahiliyyah (ignorance)”. (Sahih Bukhari)
In opposite to mourning, some people have made the 10th of Muharram a day of celebration. This is a bid’ah & has not been reported from Rasullullah ﷺ . The month of Muharram is not an evil / unlucky month. It is not unlucky to marry in this month, rather Muharram is one of the most blessed months in the Islamic calendar.
DU’AA FOR NEW YEAR / MONTH
اللَّهُمَّ أَدْخِلْهُ عَلَيْنَا بِالْأَمْنِ، وَالْإِيْمَانِ، وَالسَّلَامَةِ، وَالْإِسْلَامِ، وَرِضْوَانٍ مِنَ الرَّحْمٰنِ، وَجِوَارٍ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ
Allahumma adkhilhu ‘alayna bil amni wal iman, was salamati wal islam, wa ridwanim minar Rahman, wa jiwarim minash shaytan
O Allah! Bring it (ie. this month) upon us with security, imaan & safety, Islam, the pleasure of the Most-Merciful and protection from Shaytan.
[At-Tabarani]
Tayyibah Tree 