Muharram the first month of Islamic Calendar

Abida Rahmani

 بسم اللہ ارحمٰن الرحیم
 
 In the Name of Allah the  Most Gracious the Most Merciful.

 Muharram the first month of Islamic Calendar:

 Virtues of the Month of Muharram

  Muharram  is the first month of the Hijri calendar and is one of the four sacred months concerning which Allah says, "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)

Muharram is called so because it is a sacred (muharram) month.

It was reported that Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) 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.

The Significance of Hijrah in Islam
 
During the reign of Umar bin al-Khattabرضی اللہ عنھ the companions ( RA )agreed upon to start the Islamic calendar from the year when Messenger of Allah ﷺ made Hijra (migration) to Madinah and established the first Islamic State. As we enter the blessed month of Muharram and the year 1436, We have to realize that this event not only marks the beginning of our calendar, but more importantly it commemorates the establishment of the nucleus of the first Islamic state.
 
The Day of 'Ashurah (10th Muharram)
 
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 'Ashurah'. According to the Holy Companion Ibn 'Abbas, Radi-Allahu anhu. The Holy Prophet saws, 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 (Moses), alayhis salam, 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, saws said, "We are more closely related to Musa, alayhi salam, than you," and directed the Muslims to fast on the day of 'Ashura'. (Abu Dawood)
 
"When the Holy Prophet, saws came to Madinah, he fasted on the day of 'Ashura' and directed the people to fast. But when the fasts of Ramadan were made obligatory, the obligation of fasting was confined to Ramadan and the obligatory nature of the fast of 'Ashura' was abandoned. Whoever desires should fast on this day and any other who does not wish can avoid fasting on it."(Sunan Abu Dawud)
 
However, the Holy Prophet, saws, used to fast on the day of 'Ashura' even after the fasting in Ramadan was made obligatory. Abdullah ibn Musa, RA, reports that the Holy Prophet, saws preferred the fast of 'Ashura' on the fasts of other days and preferred the fasts of Ramadhaan on the fast of 'Ashura'. (Bukhari and Muslim)
 
In short, it is established through a number of authentic ahadith that fasting on the day of 'Ashura' is Sunnah of the Holy Prophet, saws, and makes one entitled to a great reward.

According to another Hadith, it is more advisable that the fast of 'Ashura' should either be preceded or followed by another fast. It means that one should fast two days: the 9th and 10th of Muharram or the 10th and 11th. The reason of this additional fast as mentioned by the Holy Prophet, saws, is that the Jews used to fast on the day of'Ashura alone, and the Holy Prophet, saws, wanted to distinguish the Muslim way of fasting from that of Jews. Therefore, he advised the Muslims to add another fast to that of 'Ashura'.
 
Misconceptions and Baseless Traditions

However, there are some legends and misconceptions with regard to 'Ashura' that have managed to find their way into the minds of the ignorant, but have no support of authentic Islamic sources, some very common of them are these: This is the day on which Adam, alayhi salam, was created. This is the day when Ibrahim, alayhi salam, was born. This is the day when Allah accepted the repentance of Sayyidina Adam, alayhi salam. This is the day when Qiyaamah (doomsday) will take place. Whoever takes bath on the day of 'Ashura' will never get sick.
 
All these and other similar whims and fancies are totally baseless and the traditions referred to in this respect are not worthy of any credit.
 
Some people take it as Sunnah to prepare a particular type of meal on the day of 'Ashura'. This practice, too, has no basis in the authentic Islamic sources.
 
Some other people attribute the sanctity of 'Ashura' to the martyrdom of Sayyidna Husain, RA during his battle with the Syrian army. No doubt, the martyrdom of Hussain, Radi-Allahu anhu, is one of the most tragic episodes of Islamic history. Yet, the sanctity of 'Ashura' cannot be ascribed to this event for the simple reason that the sanctity of 'Ashura' was established during the days of the Holy Prophet (saws) much earlier than the birth of Hussain RA.
 
On the contrary, it is one of the merits of Sayyidna HusainRA that his martyrdom took place on the day of 'Ashura'.
 
Another misconception about the month of Muharram is that it is an evil or unlucky month, for Hussain, RA the grandson of Holy Prophet SAWS was killed mercilessly in it. It is for this misconception that people avoid holding marriage ceremonies or other happy events in the month of Muharram. This is again a baseless concept, which is contrary to the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah. More over the Holy Quran and Sunnah of the Holy Prophet( saws) have 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 Sayyidna Hussain, RA. As mentioned earlier, the event of Karbala is one of the most tragic events of Muslim history, but the Holy Prophet (saws) has forbidden us from holding the mourning ceremonies on the death of any person. The people of jahiliyyah (ignorance) used to mourn over their deceased through loud lamentations, by tearing their clothes and by beating their cheeks and chests. The Holy Prophet (saws) stopped the Muslims from doing all this and directed them to observe patience by saying "Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji'oon ". A number of authentic Ahaadith are available on the subject. To quote only one of them:
 
"He is not from our group who slaps his checks, tears his clothes and cries in the manner of the people of jahiliyyah." (Sahih Bukhari)
 
All the authentic jurists are unanimous on the point that the mourning of this type is impermissible.

Let us greet the New Hijri year with optimism and prayers for the success, unity and prosperity of Ummah. May the peace prevails in all the warring Muslim factions and Ummah is guided with great leaders!

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