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Muharram
is the first month of the Islamic, Hijrah calendar. It is one of
the four sanctified months about which Allah says, “The number
of months in the sight of Allah are twelve (in a year). So
ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; Of
them four are sacred: That is the right religion. So wrong not
yourselves therein.” (At-Tawbah: 36)
The
four months, according to authentic Hadith, are the months of
Dul-Qa`dah, Dhu-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab. The sanctity of these
four months was observed in the Shari’ah of all the Prophets.
Muslim
scholars have stated that the actions performed in these months
have an effect on what a person does in the remaining months of
the year.
The
Month of Muharram
The
Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is reported to have
said, “The best of fasts besides the month of Ramadan is the
fast during Allah’s month of Muharram and the best of prayer
besides the obligatory prayers is the Tahajjud prayer.”
The
10th
Day of Muharram
known as the day of `Ashura’, is a very significant day in the
Islamic calendar. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him,
has exhorted the Ummah to fast on this day. He is reported to have
said, “Fasting the day of `Ashura’, I hope that Allah will
accept it as expiation for the previous year.” (Reported by
Muslim)
The
Fast of `Ashura’
It
is reported in the Sahih of Imam Bukhari and other
authentic collections of Hadith that the Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) and his Companions used to fast on the 10th
day of Muharram while they were in Makkah (before the Hijrah).
Ibn
`Abbas says, ‘I did not see the Prophet anxiously awaiting the
fast of any day, which he gave preference to over other days, but
this day (of `Ashura’) and the month of Ramadan.’
It
was a day on which people of Makkah used to change the covering (Kiswah)
of the Ka`bah. Quraysh also used to fast on this day. (Reported by
Al-Bukhari)
After
the Hijrah when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came
to Madinah, he found that the Jews of Madinah also used to observe
this day with fasting. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon
him) asked them the reason of their fasting on this day. They
said, “This is a blessed day. On this day Allah saved the
Children of Israel from their enemy (in Egypt) and so Prophet Musa
fasted on this day giving thanks to Allah.” The Prophet (peace
and blessings be upon him) said, “We are closer to Musa than you
are.” He fasted on that day and commanded Muslims to fast on
this day. (Reported by Al-Bukhari)
In
another report it is mentioned that Jews of Madinah used to hold
feast on this day. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
told his Companions to fast instead. (Reported by Al-Bukhari)
`Ashura'
fasting was obligatory (Fard) in the beginning. In the
second year of Hijrah (624 CE) when Allah’s command came that
Muslims should fast the whole month of Ramadan, the Prophet (peace
and blessings be upon him) then sent someone to announce to people
that fasting of `Ashura' had become voluntary (Nafl). This
indicates that whosoever wishes to fast, may fast and whosoever
does not want to fast, there will be no blame on him/her.
Imam
At-Tirmidhi mentions that Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with
them both) used to say that we should fast on two days: the 9th
and 10th of Muharram to distinguish ourselves from the Jewish
community. (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)
Ibn
`Abbas also quotes the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
as saying, “If I live next year, I shall also fast on the 9th
day.” (Reported by Ahmad)
There
is a great reward in fasting the `Ashura'. There are many Hadiths
that mention its blessings and virtues. It is good to fast on this
day, although it is not obligatory.
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