Significance of the month of Muharram
Muharram ul Haram the first month in the Islamic lunar calendar holds much spiritual and emotional significance. Muslims across all sectarian lines maintain Muharram to be the month of great solemnity.
The reason being the revival and perseverance of Islamic principles and human morality by Imam Husain, grandson of Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh).
Corresponding to 10th October 680 AD, Imam Husain with 72 family members and disciples were martyred in the scorching desert of central Iraq on Friday 10th Moharram, 61Hijri. This day is known as Yaume Aashura (Day of Aashura).
Nevertheless this Shahadat (martyrdom) is principally perceived to be affliction upon mankind at large. Allah significantly enunciates in the Holy Quran that if one slew a person intending to murder or create adversity on earth, it is as though slaying humanity in whole.
Both Western and Muslim intellectuals and scholars proclaim the tragedy to be the epitome of self-sacrifice for the cause of betterment of humanity through awareness of socio-religious dynamics. It is believed to be a superlative exposition of tolerance and patience - the loftiest virtues of conventional norms of intellectual discipline, spiritual enlightenment and social justice.
Historians rightfully state Imam Husain and his companions to have braved severe hunger and thirst for three consecutive days before facing inhuman atrocities by armies of Yazid bin Muaviya, emperor of the Islamic State at the time (680-683 AD). Thus the prevailing fact is, when conscience, consciousness and conviction preponderate over material being, physical discomfiture and needs, cease to affect human kind.
Imam Husain with an enlightened heart, sincerely repudiated Yazid and his abettors’ conspicuous licentious and sinful activities. Later, amidst thousands of adversaries, he expostulated by initiating and appealing for re-adopting conventional ethical and religious norms people had deviated from.
Eventually, Hur bin Yazid - one responsible for strategically halting Imam Husain and his companions from where accessibility to the waters of river Euphrates would be unattainable - spurred his horse towards Imam Husain’s camp and earnestly sought pardon. Hur’s inner awakening ultimately motivated him to sacrifice himself for the cause of truthfulness as he subsequently got martyred.
Apparently, it is such victory of spiritual righteousness over material falsehood that Imam Husain procured in Kerbala, which has largely been an inspiration for mankind.
These aspects hence, signify the importance of Imam Husain’s martyrdom and it’s influence in enlightenment and enrichment of mind and heart, material being and spiritual form.
The cognate message drawn from the tragic historical event urges one to uncompromisingly endeavour for selfless sacrifice through disciplined adoption of discerning human codes of conduct, even though in an environ of abject materialism and egocentrism.
Fasting on the Day of 'Ashura' Expiates the Sins of the Preceding Year
When the Day of Judgement comes, we will without doubt all desire to steer clear from our sins and wish that we had done more good deeds that would be a cause for removal of our bad deeds. Of much interest to us Muslims these days should be the fasting on the 9th and the 10th of Muharram. The Prophet (Pbuh), said about the voluntary fasting on the Day of ‘Ashura:
“It expiates the sins of the preceding year.” [Saheeh Muslim]
Ibn ‘Abbas, (RA), reported: “The Prophet, came to al-Madinah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. He asked them about that”. They replied, “This is a good day, the day on which Allah rescued Bani Israel from their enemy. So Moosa observed fast on this day.” The Prophet said, “We have more claim over Moosa than you.” So the Prophet, observed fast on that day and ordered (the Muslims) to observe fast (on that day).” [Saheeh al-Bukhari, Muslim]
Ibn ‘Abbas also reported, “The Messenger of Allah fasted on the day of Ashura and ordered the people to fast on it. The people said, “O Messenger of Allah, it is a day that the Jews and Christians honour.” The Prophet, said, “When the following year comes - Allah willing - we shall fast on the ninth.” The death of the Prophet, came before the following year.” [Saheeh Muslim, Abu Dawood]
So it is recommended to fast on the 10th of Muharram and the 9th along with it as well.
Qadi ibn Rushd says, “in that the scholars disagreed whether the fast is to be done on the 9th or the 10th of Muharram based on the above traditions [Bidayat ul Mujtahid]. And I have found a recommendation to fast on both days in various books, such as “Mukhtasar al-Ahkaam al-Fiqhiyyah”, Jameel Zenos’ “The Pillars of Islam and Iman”, and Dr. Jaafar Sheikh Idris’ “The Fast.”
As for the wisdom behind this fast, the following is stated in the condensed version of Ibn ul Qayyims “Zaad ul-Ma`aad:” “The day of `Ashura was the day when Moosa and his men got freedom from the hands of the Pharaoh and it was in the sacred memory of this great event that the Muslims observed voluntary fasting. The idea underlying this is to stress the affinity amongst the messengers of Allah and to show that religious devotion is a constant flow from one generation to another. The Prophet came not to abrogate all the earlier religious practices but to codify and preserve them for all times to come in ideal forms.”
Allah’s sacred month of Muharram is a blessed and important month.It is the first month of the Hijri calendar and is one of the four sacred months concerning which Allah says: “Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so it was ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth;of them, four are sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein...” [al-Tawbah 9:36]
Muharram is so called because it is a sacred (muharram) month and to confirm its sanctity. Allah’s words: “so wrong not yourselves therein...” mean do not wrong yourselves in these sacred months, because sin in these months is worse than in other months.
It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbas said that this phrase (so wrong not yourselves therein) referred to all the months, then these four were singled out and made sacred, so that sin in these months is more serious and good deeds bring a greater reward.
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