Muharram: Month of bounties, spiritual renewal

Muharram is the first month of the Islamic Hijra Calendar. It is a month that is full of blessings, lessons and assurances on the bounties of Allah, SWT, for the ummah. It is among the “Ashurul Hurum” (Sacred Months), in the course of which the Prophet, SAW, has called on Muslims to redouble efforts in […]

Muharram is the first month of the Islamic Hijra Calendar. It is a month that is full of blessings, lessons and assurances on the bounties of Allah, SWT, for the ummah. It is among the “Ashurul Hurum” (Sacred Months), in the course of which the Prophet, SAW, has called on Muslims to redouble efforts in the performance of deeds that are good as the rewards for all deeds are multiplied.
The four months, are Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab, as enumerated by the Prophet (SAW) in his sermon during his last Hajj: “One year consists of 12 months, of which four are sanctified months, three of them are in sequence; Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram, and the fourth is Rajab.”
All of the Ambiya (AS) observed the sanctity of these four months: they all preached to their followers that any act of obedience and virtue in the months will earn for them increased reward while any transgression or disobedience carried out in them is more severe and the sin is multiplied. In the Shari’ah, even wars and fighting (for just causes) too were forbidden.  [Ma Ariful Qur’an, vol 4, pg 370].
It is a period, therefore, that should elicit stocktaking and resolutions, especially vis-à-vis the challenges confronting the Muslim ummah worldwide.
Also among its blessings, Muharram contains a special day – the 10th day – known as the Day of Ashura. On this day, which is the most sacred among all its days, it is recommended that Muslims fast. The Prophet, SAW, is reported to have said about the fast: “It is compensation for the sins of the past year.” Sahih Muslim. Though, of course, one must avoid the major sins in order to benefit from any expiation for the minor sins.
The Prophet, SAW, also said: “The best of fasts besides the month of Ramadan is the fasting of Allah’s month of Muharram and the best of Salats besides the Fard (obligatory Salat) is the Tahajjud Salah (performed after midnight)”. Sahih Muslim.
Ibn Abbas (RA) said: “I did not see the messenger of Allah Ta’ala anxiously await the fast of any day, which he gave preference to over other days, but this day (i.e. the Day of Ashura) and this month (i.e. the month of Ramadan)” [Sahih Bukhari, vol 2, pg 268].
Abdullah ibn Musa, RA, reports that the Holy Prophet, SAW, preferred the fast of ‘Ashura’ on the fasts of other days and preferred the fasts of Ramadan on the fast of ‘Ashura’. (Bukhari and Muslim).
The fast of Ashura is linked to the salvation of Musa (AS) by Allah from the cantankerous , power drunk Pharaoh. Thus Musa (AS) is reported to have fasted on this day as a token of gratitude to Allah for rescuing him and his people.
The fast is not necessarily through the whole month, but each day’s fast is full of benefit from bounties of Ar-Rahmani-r-Rahim. We should, therefore seize this great opportunity and fast as much as we can in order to derive great blessings.
Scholars recommend that the fast of ‘Ashura’ be either preceded or followed by another fast; that is, one should fast two days: the 9th and 10th of Muharram or the 10th and 11th. The reason of this additional fast is that the Jews used to fast on the day of Ashura alone, and to distinguish the Muslim’s fast from that of Jews, the Holy Prophet, SAW, advised Muslims to add another fast to that the 10th.
Some traditions also highlight another feature of the day of Ashura, which is that one should be more generous to his family by providing more food to them on this day as compared to other days. Though this tradition is not very authentic according to some scholars based on the science of Hadith. Yet some, like Baihaqi and Ibn Hibban, have accepted them as reliable enough.
In a daawa piece, Sheikh Haisam Farache, a scholar and blogger, has the following to tell Muslims:
“In a time and place where those who submitted to the Divine will of Allah were methodically persecuted because of their beliefs; by being enslaved, having their children systematically killed and their women systematically assaulted, the relevance of the story of Bani Israel in Egypt bears particular significance for those who submit in contemporary times and are subject to current trends of a similar nature.
“The above scenario (that of Musa AS and persecution by the Pharoah) is identical for the people of our time; if we yearn to have our grievances alleviated and to establish justice and peace, we must repent to Allah and become righteous. Without this vital step, our condition will not change and our sorrows will deepen. Other practical solutions need to be implemented but without internal change in our perceptions and external change in our actions, Allah’s divine assistance will not grace our lives or the lives of humanity. This realisation and application is the fundamental step!
“Furthermore, leading up to New Year’s Eve (1 January), people, generally, begin to think about their life and some even make resolutions about how they will approach the new year and their work, health and relationships.  Could I suggest that believers also use the beginning of the Islamic New Year to also make New Year’s resolutions?  Instead of resolutions about material progression, the resolutions of a believer would and should be about one’s progression on the path of enlightenment and nearness to the Creator.
“My suggestion would be that each person makes specific intentions for the year regarding; the amount of money one donates to charity, the amount of time one spends volunteering, the amount of time one wastes on idle pursuits (such as the internet, chatting, DVD’s and the like), memorising verses of the Qur’an or Prophetic traditions, making quality time to spend with family, assisting one’s mother and/or father, speaking well with one’s siblings, furthering Islamic knowledge, serving those less fortunate and thanking Allah for all the blessing and bounties for which He has bestowed upon us.”
We should really ponder on the above and resolve, without delay, to be better Muslims. This is best for us.
And, still on Ashura, it should be noted that  there are some legends and misconceptions ascribed to the day that have no authentic Islamic basis. Among these are that:
• it is the day on which Adam, AS, was created.
• it is the day Ibrahim, AS, was born.
• it is the day Allah accepted the repentance of Adam.
• it is the day that Qiyamah (Doomsday) will take place.
• that whoever takes a bath on the day will never get ill.
There are those, too, who prepare special meals on the day of Ashura, do special greetings or beautification. These also have no mention in the authentic Islamic sources, the scholars say.
Also, some attribute the sanctity of Ashura to the martyrdom of Sayyidina Husain, RA, despite the fact that the sanctity of Ashura was established since the days of the Holy Prophet, SAW.
Another practice lacking credit but which some relate to the month of Muharram is organising lamentation and mourning ceremonies in the memory of the martyrdom of Sayyidina Husain, RA, despite the fact that the Holy Prophet, SAW, has forbidden us from such ceremonies on the death of any person, but to remain steadfast in patience saying “Inna lillahi wa ina ilaihi raji’un”.
“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)
Sayyidina Husain, RA, is reported to have, himself, shortly before his death, advised his sister, Sayyidah Zainab, RA, not to mourn over his death in the jahiliyyah manner. He said: “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-Kamil, ibn al-Athir vol. 4 pg. 24).
May Allah grant us all the blessings of this month, Muharram, and the New Hijra Year 1436 in its entirety. Amin.