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(May Peace, Mercy and Blessings of Allah be on all of you)
Meanings of Muharram
MUHARRAM means "Forbidden". Islamic year begins with the Month of Muharram which is the first month of Islamic calendar (Hijari Calendar).
Virtues of Muharram
Muharram has always been considered as a sacred month since the beginning of the world. Allah created Heaven and Earth and assigned 12 months a year out of which He had chosen 4 months as sacred months. And Muharram is one of the four sanctified months about which Allah in Quran (9:36)
Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them. And fight against the disbelievers collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that Allah is with the righteous [who fear Him]. (Quran 9:36).
The details about the sacred months may be found in following Hadith.
Narrated by Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) said. "(The division of time has turned to its original form which was current when Allah created the Heavens and the Earths. The year is of twelve months, out of which four months are sacred: Three are in succession Dhul-Qa' da, Dhul-Hijja and Muharram, and (the fourth is) Rajab of (the tribe of) Mudar which comes between Jumadi-ath-Thaniyah and Sha ban."(Bukhari Vol 4, Book 54 number 419)
All unlawful acts are forbidden in the sacred months, especially wars and blood shedding (though killing any innocent is forbidden in normal days to but particularly forbidden in sacred months as mentioned above). "So do not wrong yourselves during them" clearly specifies that sins and wrong doings in these months is a serious violation as compared to the other months. War is allowed only in case if war is forced on Muslims and that is to defend themselves as mentioned in above verse (Quran 9:36).The good deeds i.e. charity, fasting, praying and taking care for the rights of others holds more reward in sacred months as compared to any other month.
Allah's Month
A very special virtue of Muharram is that this is the month of Allah.
Narrated by Abu Hurayrah (Allah be pleased with him): Allah's Messenger (Peace Be Upon Him) said. "The most excellent fast after the fasts of the month of Ramadan is in the month of Allah, Muharram." [Ahmed 8542, Muslim 1163, Abu Dawud 2429, Nasai 1609, Ibn e Majah 1742, Tirmadhi 740)]
Great Status of Fasting on the day of Ashura (10th Moharram)
1. Prophet Mohammad (Peace be Upon Him)'s Fast on Ashurah
Prophet Mohammad (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) was used to be very keen to make sure he fasted on the day of 'Ashura' because of its great status.
Narrated by Ibn 'Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) "I never saw Prophet (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) so keen to make sure he fasted any day and preferring it over another except this day, the day of 'Ashura', and this month (meaning Ramadan). (Bukhari, 1867).
People of Quraish (name of an Arab tribe which belongs to Prophet Mohammad peace be upon Him) were also use to of fasting on this day in time of ignorance. Prophet Mohammad (Peace be Upon Him) fasted on this day and commanded people to fast on this day, but when the fasts of Ramadan became obligatory than the fast of Ashora became Optional i.e. people were given a choice to fast for Ashura or abandon it.
Narrate by Ayshah (May Allah be pleased with her): Quraysh used to fast on the day of Ashura in the Days of pre-Islamic days. And Allah's Messenger (Peace Be upon Him) also used to fast. When he migrated to Medina, he used to fast and he commanded the people to fast. But when the fasts of Ramadan were prescribed, they became FARDH and the Ashura was given up. So he who wished, fasted (on that day) and he who wished, did not (fast). [Ahmed 26127, Bukhari 4502, Muslim 1125 & 2499, Ibn e Majah 1733, Abu Dawud 2442 Tirmadhi Hadith 753]
2. Prophet Musa / Moses (Peace be Upon Him)'s Fast on Ashurah
Prophet Musa / Moses (Peace be Upon Him) observed fast on this out of gratitude for getting rid of Pharaoh on the day of Ashura (10 Moharram)
Narrated by Ibn'Abbas (Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) arrived in Medina and found the Jews observing fast on the day of 'Ashura. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said to them: What is the (significance) of this day that you observe fast on it? They said: It is the day of great (significance) when Allah delivered Moses and his people, and drowned the Pharaoh and his people, and Moses observed fast out of gratitude and we also observe it. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: We have more right, and we have a closer connection with Moses than you have; so Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) observed fast (on the day of 'Ashura), and gave orders that it should be observed.(Muslim Book 6, Hadeeth 2520)
It is highly encouraged to fast on Ninth besides 10th Muharram
Narrated by Abdullah b 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with him): Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon Him) had said "If I live till the next (year), I would definitely observe fast on the 9th, and the narration transmitted by Abu Bakr is:" He meant the day of Ashura." (Muslim Book 6, Hadith 2529)
Explanation: One who keeps fast at ASHURA must fast either the day before too or the day after it making it couple of fasts as an isolated fast is not appreciable in Islam at ASHURA. i.e fast for 9th & 10th Muharram or 10th & 11th Moharram)
Reward of fasting on day of Ashura
There is a special reward of fasting for Ashura that sins of past year are forgiven.
Narrated by Abu Qatadah (Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (Peace be upon Him) said, "I hope from Allah that the fast of the day of Ashura will atone for (the sins of) the past year." (Muslim, 1162; Tirmadhi Hadith 752)
Is Muharram a Mourning Month????
There is misunderstanding amongst many people that Muharram is a mourning month while it holds its own unique importance since the beginning of time as described above. There is also a misunderstanding that Muharram's importance is only due to the sad incident of Karbla which took place on 10th Muharram in 61 Hijery.
The fact is that Islam doesn't allow killing any one as Allah told us in Qur'an (5:32), saving one person means saving all mankind and killing one person means killing all mankind.
Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. (Quran 5:32)
Martyrs in Qur'an
Allah informs us in Qur'an that martyrs are alive but we cannot perceive it as mentioned in Quran 2:154)
And do not say about those who are killed in the way of Allah , "They are dead." Rather, they are alive, but you perceive [it] not. (Quran 2:154)
Is Mourning allowed in Islam?????
As Hussain (May Allah be pleased with Him, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (Peace be Upon Him) and his family members were martyrs who defended the truth so according to Quran 2:154 they are alive and should not be mourned upon. We LOVE our BELOVED Prophet Mohammad Peace be Upon Him and His family and condemn the sad incident of Karbla but Isalm doesn't allow us to mourn on any one more than three days (only a wife can mourn for husband for four months and 10 days) as mentioned in following ahadith.
Narrated by Abdullah ibn Ja'far (May Allah be pleased with Him): Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) delayed coming to visit Ja'far's family 'for three days after his death, then he came to them and said, "Do not cry for my brother after today." (Abud Dawood, Vol 3, p. 1165, number 4180)
Narrated by Umm 'Ateeyah (May Allah be pleased with Her): "We were forbidden to mourn for more than three days for a dead person, except for a husband, in which case a woman should mourn for four months and ten days [during this period] we were not allowed to wear khol on our eyes, nor perfume ourselves, nor wear colored clothes, except 'asab cloth. It was permissable for us at the time of bathing at the end of menses to use a small amount of incense. (Bukhari, vol.7, pp.193-4, number 254 and Sahih Muslim, vol.2, p.778, number 3552)
Narrated by Ibn Mas'ood (May Allah be pleased with Him) Prophet Mohammad (Peace be Upon Him) said, "Whoever slaps his face, tears his clothes, or invites(others)to an un-islamic slogan is not of us." ( Bukhaari number 1294; Muslim number 103, Ibn Maajah and al-Bayhaqee)
Narrated by Muhammad bin Sirin (May Allah be pleased with Him): One of the sons of Um 'Atiyya (May Allah be pleased with Her) died, and when it was the third day she asked for a yellow perfume and put it over her body, and said, "We were forbidden to mourn for more than three days except for our husbands." (Bukhari Volume 2, Book 23, Number 369)
Narrated by AbuSa'id al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with Him): The Apostle of Allah (Peace be Upon Him) cursed the wailing woman and the woman who listens to her. (Abu Dawood Book 20, Number 3122)
Narrated by AbuHurayrah: Prophet (Peace be upon Him) said: A bier should not be followed by a loud voice (of wailing) or fire. (Abu Dawood Book 20, Number 3165)
DID YOU KNOW?
Important incidents which took place in Muharram
* 2nd Caliph of Islam UMAR (May Allah be pleased with him), Father in Law of Prophet Mohammad (Peace be Upon Him) was martyr on 1 Muharram.
Incidents of Asurhra (10 Muharram)
* This was the day when the ship of NOAH (Peace be upon Him) landed somewhere in the present-day Iraq or Turkey.
* This was the day when IBRAHIM (Peace be upon Him) was saved from the fire in which he was thrown by Nimrod.
* This was the day when EESA / Jesus) (Peace be upon Him) was raised to heaven unharmed alive (unharmed as per Quran statement); SALAM be upon all Messengers of Allah.
* HUSSAIN (May Allah be pleased with Him), the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (Peace be Upon Him) and many of his family members were martyer at Karbala on this day of Muharram 61 AH.
However, except for the matter related to MUSA (Peace be upon Him) other matters have no clear conformation anywhere in Ahadith.
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Request: Whatever is written above is in the light of Quran o hadith just to convey the right importance of Muhrram, no offense to anyone please. Thank you for understanding
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Footer:- ONE MUSLIM SECT MAY NOT AGREE WHAT STATED ABOVE AND BELIEVE THAT MUHARRAM IS MONTH OF MOURNING. EDITED AS DEMANDED BY OUR FELLOW MEMBER
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Regards
Kiran
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