Month of
Muharram


Duties of
the Month of Muharram:

1. It is the best of months for general voluntary
fasts, after Ramadan.
2. It is especially recommended to fast the
10th of Muharram (known as the Day of `Ashura’), with a day before it
or after it. [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, quoting Kasani’s
al-Bada’i`
]
3. It is also virtuous to give in charity on this day. The
more you give the more “charitable” Allah will be on you for the rest of the
year.

Extracts from Ibn Rajab’s Lata’if al-Ma`arif, regarding
the month of Muharram:

The Virtues of Fasting in the Month of
Muharram and Its First Ten Days

Muslim reported from Abu Hurayra (Allah
be pleased with him), that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace)
said, “The best of fasts after the month of Ramadan
are in the Month of Allah, which you call Muharram. And the best of prayer after
the obligatory prayer is the night prayer.”
[Muslim,
1163]

This refers to
general voluntary fasts according to Imam Ibn Rajab (Allah have mercy on him):
These are best in the month of Muharram, just as the best general voluntary
prayer is night prayer.

The Fasts of Aashura

There are various ways to worship Allah and each one brings us closer to the Mercy of Allah Ta’ala and becomes a means of our sins being forgiven. Fasting on the day of Aashura is also one such kind of worship.

Remember one fast of muharram is equal to 1 month of fast

RasoolAllah Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam has said: Every fast of Muharram is equivalent to a whole month of fasts. (Tabarani-fil-Saghir, V2, P87, Hadith 1580)

The Sunnat of the Prophets

To fast on the day of Aashura is not only the Sunnat of our beloved Rasool Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam, but also of the previous Prophets. It is reported in a narration that RasoolAllah Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam said:
‘Fast on the day of Aashura as this is the day when previous Prophets also fasted.’ [Jame Sageer]

Sins Forgiven

RasoolAllah Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam has said:
‘Fast on the day of Aashura as I am certain that Allah forgives the sins of the previous year.’ [Mishkat]

Hazrat Abu Qatadah RadiyAllahu Anhu narrates:
RasoolAllah Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam was asked about the fast of Aashura, he replied that this is compensation for the sins of the previous year.’ [Muslim Sharif]

The Best….

Hazrat Abu Hurairah RadiyAllahu Anhu narrates that RasoolAllah Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam has said:
‘The best fasts after the Fasts of Ramadhan are the fasts of Aashura and the best Salaah after the Fardh Salaah is that of Tahajjud.’ [Muslim Sharif]

Four Qualities

Hazrat Hafsa RadiyAllahu Anha narrates:
RasoolAllah Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam never missed four acts; the Fast of Aashura, the fasts of the first nine days of ZilHajj, fasts on the 13th, 14th and 15th of each Islamic month and the two rak’ats before Fajr.’ [Mishkat Sharif]

Fasts of the 9th of Muharram

Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas RadiyAllahu Anhuma narrates:
‘When RasoolAllah Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam himself fasted on the day of Aashura and also instructed his Companions to do the same, the companions enquired, ‘Ya RasoolAllah Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam, this is the day when the Jews and Christian fast.’ RasoolAllah Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam replied, ‘If I am alive next year then I will surely fast on the 9th of Muharram as well. (To distinguish between us and the non believers)

Hazrat Abu Hurairah RadiyAllahu Anhu narrates that RasoolAllah Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam has said:

‘The fast of 10th Muharram was made obligatory on the Bani Israel, so you too fast on this day, and if you generously spend on your family on this day then Allah will be generous to you all year. Whoever Fasts on this day, it will compensate for the sins of forty years, and whoever engages in worship on the night of Aashura and Fasts during the day will not face torment at the time of death. [Ghunyatut Taalibeen]

The Virtues of Fasting in the Month of Muharram and Its First Ten Days

Muslim reported from Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said , “The best of fasts after the month of Ramadan are in the Month of Allah, which you call Muharram. And the best of prayer after the obligatory prayer is the night prayer.” [Muslim, 1163]


Night
Prayer

As for voluntary night prayer (qiyam al-layl), it is superior to
voluntary prayer during the day because it is closer to secrecy, and nearer to
sincerity (ikhlas).
Allah Most High said, “Lo! the
vigil of the night is (a time) when impression is more keen and speech more
certain.”
[Qur’an, 73.9]


This is because
the time of the night vigil (tahajjud) is the best of times for voluntary
prayer, and the closest a servant gets to his Lord. It is a time when the doors
of the skies are opened, supplications answered, and needs
fulfilled.


Allah Most High
has praised those who wake up at night in His remembrance, supplication, seeking
forgiveness, and intimate entreating (munajat), saying, “Who forsake their beds to cry unto their Lord in fear and
hope, and spend of that We have bestowed on them. No soul knows what is kept hid
for them of joy, as a reward for what they used to do.”
[Qur’an,
32.16-17]


Events during Muharram:

Prior To Islam

1. Prophet Adam (pbuh) was born and entered the
Paradise on 10th of Muharram.
2. Prophet Ayyub (pbuh) was cured from his
illness.
3. A way was made in the sea for Bani Israel.
4. Prophet
Suleman (pbuh) was ordained King.
5. The oceans and heavens were
created. (Tanbihul-Gaafileen)

During Islam:

1.
Hadhrat Hussain (R.A.) was martyred in this month.

2. Shaykhain
Tirmizi & Haakim has narrated from Anas (R.A) that the following
verse:

“Allah may forgive thee of thy sins that which is past and
that which is to come . .
.”
(Qur’an Al-Fath 48:2)
was revealed on the 10th of Muharram.
3. The
Prophet Muhammed went to defeat Bani Muhaarin and Bani Tha’laba (Tribes of Bani
Gatfan) in the year 4 A.H. (Asahhus-siyar)

4. Qiyaamah will take
place on the 10th of Muharram.