Article By
Moulaviya Nafla Naseer
Tharbiyah Team -British Muslims Society.
One of Allah’s blessings is the numerous opportunities He provides for earning His immense love, mercy and blessings. Among these opportunities are the sacred months He has designated as times of heightened spiritual significance. One such month is Muharram, which marks the start of the Islamic lunar calendar. After observing Dhu al-Hijjah, we are now blessed to witness Muharram, offering us another chance to begin the New Islamic Year with good deeds, sincere intentions, and praiseworthy resolutions.
The four sacred months—Muharram, Dhu al-Qi’dah, Dhu al-Hijjah and Rajab—hold particular significance. In Surah At-Tawbah, Allah highlights the sanctity of these months:
“Surely the reckoning of months, in the sight of Allah, is twelve months, laid down in Allah’s decree on the day when He created the heavens and the earth; and out of these months, four are sacred. That is the true ordainment. Do not, therefore, wrong yourselves with respect to these months.”
[Surah At-Tawbah 9:36]
Ibn ʿAbbās (RA) elaborates on this verse, noting that the admonition, “Do not wrong yourselves in them,” applies to all months, but the four sacred months are singled out for special honor. Hence, sins committed during these months are graver, while good deeds bring greater rewards.
Qatādah (RA) emphasizes that wrongdoing in these sacred months incurs a greater burden of sin than at other times. Although sin is always serious, Allah can make certain commands weightier as He wills (Tafsir Ibn Kathir).
He further explained:
“Allah has selected the elite from His creation: from the angels, He selected Messengers; from mankind, He selected Messengers; from speech, He selected dhikr (His remembrance); from the spaces on earth, He selected the Masājid; from the months, He selected Ramaḍān and the sacred months… So, venerate that which has been venerated by Allah, for the people of understanding and wisdom venerate that which Allah has venerated.”
Ibn Rajab (RA) observed that the sacred months mark both the end and the beginning of the Islamic year, stating:
“(Two of the) sacred months mark an end and the beginning of the Islamic Year: therefore, whoever fasts in Dhu al-Hijjah (excluding the prohibited days) and in Muharram has ended and started the year in worship. It is thus hoped that the entire year will be recorded as worship, as whoever starts any action with worship and ends it in worship will be considered to have been in a state of worship between both of these times.”
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasized the sacred nature of Muharram in a hadith narrated by Abu Bakrah:
“The year is twelve months, of which four are sacred: the three consecutive months of Dhu al-Qa’dah, Dhu al-Hijjah, and Muharram, and Rajab, which comes between Jumada and Sha’ban.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim )
The Day of Ashura
The 10th day of Muharram, known as Ashura, holds special importance. It is a day marked by fasting, commemoration, and supplication. Fasting on Ashura is recommended based on several hadiths:
“The Prophet (PBUH) said: ‘The best of fasting after Ramadan is fasting during Allah’s month of Muharram.’”
(Sahih Muslim)
Fasting on this day is believed to expiate the sins of the previous year:
“The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: ‘Fasting on the day of Ashura is an expiation for the previous year.’”
(Sahih Muslim)
Ibn Abbaas (RA) reported:
“I did not see Rasulullah (SAW) 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.”
(Bukhari)
Ashura also commemorates the deliverance of the Israelites from fir’awn, an event recognized in Islamic tradition.
When Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) migrated to Medina and found Jews fasting on this day, The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) 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 fir’awn and his people, and Moses observed fast out of gratitude and we also observe it. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: We have more right, and we have a closer connection with Moses than you have; so Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) observed fast (on the day of ‘Ashura), and gave orders that it should be observed.
(Sahih Muslim)
Ibn ‘Abbas reported that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) fasted on the day of ‘Ashura and commanded that it should he observed as a fast, they (his Companions) said to him:
Messenger of Allah, it is a day which the Jews and Christians hold in high esteem. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When the next year comes, God willing, we would observe fast on the 9th But the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) died before the advent of the next year.
Sahih Muslim 1134.
(Sahih al-Bukhari)
By integrating these teachings, Muslims can honor the sacredness of Muharram and engage in meaningful observances that reflect its spiritual significance. We ask
Allah to make us followers of the Sunnah of His Noble Prophet, to make us live in Islam, and to die in a state of faith. May He help us to do that which He loves and which pleases Him. We ask Him to help us remember Him, be thankful to Him, worship Him properly, and accept our good deeds. May He make us of those who are pious and fear Him.
Aameen.
