Muharram or Muharram –ul Haram, is one of the holiest of months in Islam. This month is the commencing point of the New Islamic Lunar Calendar, also known as the Hijri Calendar. It is one of the four ‘sacred’ months, along with Rajab, Dhul-Qadah, and Dhul-Ḥijjah. The Islamic Calendar consists of twelve months and the sighting of the moon denotes the change in them causing the year to vary from 354 to 355 days, which is approximately 11 days less than the Gregorian Solar Calendar.
This year is the 1443rd (AH) year in the Islamic world, beginning on the 10th of August, 2021, marking it as the first of Muharram–ul Haram. Muslims around the world do not celebrate this time of the year with grand rituals or events, instead, in most Muslim countries it is honored as a public holiday, particularly in United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia.
The Anno Hegirae (AH) in this calendar stands for the Hijra – the migration of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassalam) from Mecca to Medinah in 622AD, which means One Thousand Four Hundred and Forty-Three years have passed since they migrated.
The word Muharram translates to ‘forbidden’ or ‘sacred’, which is in similarity to Masjid al-Haram, relating both to having a special sanctity in Islam. It has been prescribed in the Holy Book of Allah, the Quran, in the verse
“Indeed, the number of months ordained by Allah is twelve—in Allah’s Record, since the day He created the heavens and the earth—of which four are sacred. That is the Right Way. So do not wrong one another during these months.” (9:36)
The importance of this month has been emphasized upon by the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassalam) as well, by characterizing this month for having greater rewards, attributed to good deeds during these sacred months, the existence of the Day of Ashura, and to be second in benefits after Ramadan in fasting as it was narrated
“The best fasting after Ramadan is the Sacred Month of Allah (Muharram)…” (Hadith Muslim)
Some good deeds that can earn a Muslim a much higher reward in this month can be through practicing the greeting of salaam frequently, smiling, giving sadaqah, and regularly seeking forgiveness from Allah Almighty.
The Day of Ashura which also takes place during this month, on the 10th of Muharram has many reasons for its significance. It was the day Prophet Nuh (AS) landed on Mount Judi (current-day Turkey) after the great flood and civilization were made possible again. It is recorded in the Quran as
‘And it was said, “O earth, swallow your water, and O sky, withhold [your rain]”. And the water subsided, and the matter was accomplished, and the ship [the ark of Nuh (as)] came to rest on the [mountain of] Judiyy. And it was said, “Away with the wrongdoing people”’. (Qur’an, 11:44)
On this day Prophet Musa (AS) was relieved of the oppression from the Pharaoh in Egypt, and according to Jews, he fasted due to the reverence of this day, and thus they fasted, and the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassalam) commanded Muslims to fast on this day as well. Specifically, this is an encouraging prophetic practice to fast for two days, either before on the 9th or after on the 11th, along with the fast of the 10th to differentiate the Muslims from the Jews.
The rewards of this day are such that it was narrated by Abdullah bin ’Amr bin al-’As (may Allah be pleased with both of them), “Whoever fasts ‘Ashura’ it is as if he has fasted the entire year. And whoever gives charity this day it is like the charity of an entire year”
And according to Abu Qatadah (RA) when Holy Prophet was questioned about fasting on Ashura, he said “It expiates [wipes out the minor sins of] the past year” (Muslim)
The first ten days of Muharram are solemnly observed among the Muslim community in respect to the martyrdom of the grandson of the Holy Prophet (SAW), Hazrat Husayn (RA), and his family, in the battle of Karbala on 10th Muharram, 680 AD.
Many Sunni Muslims mark this day by keeping fasts and generously giving in the way of charity, while Shia Muslims mourn this day through several practices ranging from visiting the shrine of Husayn (RA) in Iraq, public processions and conducting rituals to mourn the cruelty of a battle against the Prophet’s (S.A.W) family in the month when violence is forbidden.
Muharram, is thus, a time of deliberation for Muslims of all communities and sects, around the world, as they turn to spend longer hours at the mosque, give charities, fast and perform additional prayers for the highest rewards and in remembrance to sacrifice and the tests borne by their ancestors.
