Muharram
By Mufti Taqi Usmani
- Fasting During the Month
- The Day of 'Ashurah'
- Misconceptions and Baseless Traditions
- Lamentations and Mourning
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 Quran says, "The number of the months according
to Allah is twelve (mentioned) in the Book of Allah on the day
He created heavens and the earth. Among these (twelve months)
there are four sanctified."
These four months, according to the authentic traditions, are
Dhul-Qa'dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab. All the
commentators of the Holy Quran are unanimous on this point,
because the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, in his
sermon on the occasion of his last Hajj, declared: "One year
consists of twelve months, of which four are sanctified months,
three of them are in sequence; Dhul-Qa'dah, Dhul-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 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 that may be
attributed to one of them in comparison to the other months.
When Allah Almighty chooses a particular time for His special
blessings, the same acquires sanctity out of His grace.
Thus, the sanctity of these four months was recognized right
from the days of Sayyidina Ibrahim, alayhi salam. Since the
Pagans of Makkah attributed themselves to Sayyidina Ibrahim,
alayhi salam, 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 Shariah of our Noble Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa
sallam, 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 specified below.
Fasting During the Month
The Noble Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, has said: '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 a great reward by Allah Almighty. The Hadith cited above
signifies that the fasts of the month of Muharram are most
rewardable ones among the Nafl or voluntary fasts.
The Hadith 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.
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The Day of 'Ashurah'
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, Sall-Allahu
alayhi wa sallam, 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, Sall-Allahu alayhi
wa sallam, said, "We are more closely rotated to Musa, alayhi
salam, than you," and directed the Muslims to fast on the day
of 'Ashura'. (Abu Dawood)
It is also reported in a number of authentic traditions that in
the beginning, fasting on the day of 'Ashura' was obligatory for
the Muslims. It was later that the fasts of Ramadan were made
obligatory and the fast on the day of 'Ashura' was made
optional. Sayyidina 'Aisha, Radi-Allahu anha, has said:
"When the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, 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 so desires should fast on it and any other who so likes
can avoid fasting on it." (Sunan Abu Dawud)
However, the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, used to
fast on the day of 'Ashura' even after the fasting in Ramadan
was made obligatory. Abdullah ibn Musa, Radi-Allahu anhu,
reports that the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam,
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, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, 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, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa
sallam, is that the Jews used to fast on the day of'Ashura
alone, and the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam,
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'.
Some traditions signify another feature of the day of 'Ashura.
According to these traditions, one should be more generous to
his family by providing more food to them on this day as
compared to other days. These traditions are not very authentic
according to the science of Hadith. Yet, some Scholars like
Baihaqi and Ibn Hibban have accepted them as reliable.
What is mentioned above is all that is supported through
authentic sources about Ashura.
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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 ill.
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, Radi-Allahu anhu, during his
battle with the Syrian army. No doubt, the martyrdom of
Sayyidina Husain, Radi-Allahu anhu, is one of the most tragic
episodes of our 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,
Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, much earlier than the birth of
Sayyidna Husain, Radi-Allahu anhu.
On the contrary, it is one of the merits of Sayyidna Husain,
Radi-Allahu anhu, 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 Sayyidna Husain, Radi-Allahu anhu,
was killed in it. It is for this misconception that people avoid
holding marriage ceremonies in the month of Muharram. This is
again a baseless concept, which is contrary to the express
teachings of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah. 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 Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, have liberated
us from such superstitious beliefs.
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Lamentations and Mourning
Another wrong practice related to this month is to hold the
lamentation and mouming ceremonies in the memory of martyrdom of
Sayyidna Husain, Radi-Allahu anhu. As mentioned earlier, the
event of Karbala is one of the most tragic events of our
history, but the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, 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, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, 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. Even Sayyidna Husain,
Radi-Allahu anhu, shortly before his demise, had advised his
beloved sister Sayyidah Zainab, Radi-Allahu anha, at not to
mourn over his death in this 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 Kathir vol. 4 pg. 24)
It is evident from this advice of Sayyidna Husain, Radi-Allahu
anhu, that this 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 Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam,
and his beloved grand child Sayyidna Husain, Radi-Allahu anhu.
We ask Allah to make us firm in our belief and seal our lives
with it and to protect us from variant ideas, scattering
opinions evil schools of thought, and others like them who go
against the Sunnah, Jama'ah and have allied themselves with
error. We renounce any connection with them and in our opinion
they are in error and on the path of destruction.We ask Allah to
protect us from all falsehood and we ask His Grace and Favour to
do all good.
