Muharram

We bid farewell to the old year by celebrating Prophet Ibrahim’s commitment to God displayed through his willingness to sacrifice his patient son, Prophet Ismail; we welcome the new year by commemorating the migration of Prophet Muhammad to Madinah, which marked the beginning of a period of enlightenment for civilization. This is also the month where we remember the martyrdom of Prophet’s beloved grandson, Imaam Husain.


Who is Husain?

Husain is the son of Fatimah, the daughter of the Prophet. The holy Prophet (Pbuh) said of her, “she is among the leaders of the women of Paradise”.


The father of Husain is Hazrat Ali, who was a cousin and one of the most beloved and steadfast companions of the Prophet. Indeed, Ali is like the sun, Fatimah like the moon and Husain a star in the galaxy of heroes.


Together with his brother Hasan, Husain is considered among “leaders of the youth of Paradise”. We shall never forget how the Prophet descended from his pulpit to embrace and seat his grandson beside him before resuming his sermon, nor how he prolonged his prostration in order not to discomfort the other who had climbed on his back. The Prophet beseeched the Almighty; “O Allah, I love Hasan and Husain, do love them and love those who love them”.


Ashura

The tenth of Muharam marks a significant day in the Muslim calendar; it is the day on which, among other events, Allah saved Prophet Musa from the tyrannical Pharaoh.  To commemorate this event the Prophet recommended we fast on this day; a fast considered second only to the obligatory fast of Ramadan.


Another significant event occurred on that day in 61 AH, an event that serves as a milestone in the history of the faithful the martyrdom if Imaam Husain at Karbala.  A martyrdom at the hands of those who claimed to act in the name of Islam yet unremorsefully and shamelessly were prepared to obliterate its true exponent; those who (like so many of us) are prepared to kill for Islam yet are unable to live by it.  Imam Husain was martyred at the hands of those who considered themselves followers of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh), and yet cut off the precious head of that dear grandson of the holy Prophet, a head which the Prophet so often stroked and kissed with affection.


The Lesson of Karbala

Imam Husain’s martyrdom at Karbala provides evidence of the moral victory of right over wrong, of virtue over vice, of principle over compromise, of the oppressed over the oppressor, of the denied over the denier; the ultimate victory of blood over sword.  Karbala teaches humankind through the inscription of blood on the scrolls of human history how Husain explained to the world by his death, through martyrdom, the meaning of life; that living is truly of value that offers itself for a cause greater than its self, that to die with honor is better than living in subjugation to injustice. The lesson is not only that he was prepared to fight for what is right, but that he was willing to die for it; selflessness, not selfishness; humility not ego.


The great spiritual master, Khaja Muinuddin Chisti said; “Husain is king, truly the king is Husain, the manifestation of Faith is Husain and the protector of Faith is Husain.  Husain gave his head in allegiance to God but not his hand in allegiance to Yazid.”


The Legacy of Husain

The memory of Husain excites the spirit, the very name of Husain evokes the tradition of resistance against tyranny and inequity.  His colossal struggle and monumental martyrdom is so poignant that it continues to serve as a beacon of light to all the faithful who struggle for freedom and justice.


In the words of Moulana Ali Gouhar, “The killing of Husain is in fact the death knell of Yazid.  Islam is revived after every such Karbala”. For those consistently striving against injustice and oppression, EVERY DAY IS ASHURA AND EVERY PLACE IS KARBALA. (Excerpted from “O Husain, We Salute You” by Sadullah Khan)

Muharram is the month with which the Muslims begin their lunar Hijrah Calendar. It is one of the four sanctified months about which the Holy Qur’an says,


“The number of the months according to Allah is twelve months (mentioned) in the Book of Allah on the day in which He created heavens and the earth.  Among these (twelve months) there are four sanctified”.(9:36)


These four months, according to the authentic traditions are the months of Zulqa’dah, Zulhijjah, Muharram and Rajab. All the commentators of the Holy Qur’an are unanimous on this point, because the Holy Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) in his sermon on the occasion of his last Hajj, has declared:


“One year consists of twelve months, of which four are sanctified months, three of them are in sequence; Zulqa’dah, Zulhijjah, 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 Ramadhan is admittedly the most sanctified month in the year. But these four months were specifically termed as sanctified months for the simple reason that their sanctity was accepted even by the pagans of Makkah.


In fact, every month, out of the twelve, is originally equal to the other, and there is no inherent sanctity which may be attributed to one of them in comparison to other months. When Allah Almighty chooses a particular time for His special blessings, then it acquires sanctity out of His grace.


Thus, the sanctity of these four months was recognized right from the days of Sayyidina Ibrahim (AS). Since the Pagans of Makkah attributed themselves to Sayyidina Ibrahim (AS) they observed the sanctity of these four months and despite their frequent tribal battles, they held it unlawful to fight in these months.


In the Shari’ah of our Holy Prophet (Pbuh) the sanctity of these months was upheld and the Holy Qur’an referred to them as the “sanctified months”.


The month of Muharram has certain other characteristics peculiar to it which are specified below.

1. Fasting during the month
The Holy Prophet (Pbuh) has said:

“The best fasts after the fasts of Ramadhan are those of the month of Muharram.”

Although the fasts of the month of Muharram are not obligatory, yet, the one who fasts in these days out of his own will and choice is entitled to a great reward by Allah Almighty.


2. The day of ‘’Ashurah’

Although the month of 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 (RA). The Holy Prophet (Pbuh), 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) (AS) and his followers crossed the Red Sea miraculously and the Pharaoh was drowned in its water. On hearing this from the Jews, the Holy Prophet said, “We are more closely related to Musa than you” and directed the Muslims to fast on the day of ‘’Ashurah. (Abu Dawood)


It is established through a number of authentic ahadith that fasting on the day of ‘Ashurah is Sunnah of the Holy Prophet and makes one entitled to a great reward.


According to another hadith, it is more advisable that the fast of ‘Ashurah should either be prefixed or suffixed by another fast. It means that one should fast two days: the 9th an 10th of Muharram or the 10th and 11th of it. The reason of this additional fast as mentioned by the Holy Prophet (Pbuh) is that the Jews used to fast on the day of Ashurah alone, and the Holy Prophet wanted to distinguish the Islamic-way of fasting from that of Jews. Therefore, he advised the Muslims to add another fast to that of Ashurah.

Creation of an accurate Lunar Calendar based on Qur’an and Sunnah is a necessity


No doubt a unified calendar is necessary for the common use of human beings. Lunar calendar is the most appropriate as instructed by the creator in Qu’ran. Through regular observation of the phases of the moon for a certain period, we can arrive at exact calculations required for finalizing a perpetual calendar.


Observing different dates in different towns is not allowed in Islamic Sharia. Basically, a date stands in place of a day so the date that denotes a particular date cannot be different anywhere in the world. The day and date must be the same all over the world.


The Qur’an says that the number of months in the year should be twelve… (9:36). The prophet (Pbuh) had taught us that the months are with 29 or 30 days in accordance with the movement of the moon. Astronomically, a lunar month is of 29.53059 days makes an year of 12 months giving 354.3671 days. In order to achieve the calculation of exact limits of the month, we must be in a position to determine the exact days in the months of 29 or 30. Otherwise, we may end up mixing up days of one month with other. As a result we may be fasting on a day when the fasting is fore bidden violation of haram and halal which is not allowed as per Sharia.


During Hajjathul Vidaa, the Prophet (Pbuh) explained that the names of the months indicating Dul-Qaad, Dul Haj, Muharram, and Rajab are the sacred months with reference to Qur’an 9:36-37. The month of fasting is Ramadhan, the date fixed for celebrating Eidul fitre is the first of Shawwal and Eidul adha on 10th of Dul Hajj. The date of Ashura is the 10th of Muharram. It is haram to fast on Eid days. But the difference in the day corresponding to a particular date would create a problem and Muslim ummah is left with some fasting on the day on which the others celebrate Eid. It is not allowed in Sharia.