Be Careful during the Sacred Month of Muharram
by Asma bint Shameem
Alhamdulillaah, the month of Muharram is upon us and we begin another Hijri year, bi idhnillaah.
Just as the devout Muslim eagerly awaits any chance to earn good deeds and gain Allaah’s Pleasure, and is careful not to transgress any boundaries, we too, should prepare ourselves for this month of Muharram.
This is because Muharram is one of the four months that are SACRED in the eyes of Allaah.
Allaah says:
“Verily, the number of months with Allaah is twelve (in a year): It was so ordained, by Allaah 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]
These four months, according to the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) are Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab. (al-Bukhaari)
1. Do a LOT of EXTRA GOOD DEEDS this Month
Due to its sacredness, good deeds during this month bring a greater reward than in other months. They are weightier in the sight of Allaah and bigger in ajr, out of the Mercy and Generosity of al-Rahmaan, al-Kareem.
Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “Good deeds done during the four sacred months bring a greater reward.” (Tafseer Ibn Katheer)
So pay extra attention to all good deeds you can do.
Take advantage of every opportunity you find your way and don’t let it go.
Do your best and pay extra attention to salah, reciting Qur’aan, giving charity, keeping up ties of kinship, helping someone out or simply just being nice to your family.
Included in the good deeds is also fasting.
2. FAST as much as you’re able to:
Fasting during the month of Muharram has a very special meaning and reward, known only to Allaah and thus the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) has highly encouraged it.
In fact, it’s the most beloved of fasting to Allaah after the fasting of Ramadhaan.
The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam said:
‘The best of fasting after Ramadhaan is fasting Allaah’s month of Muharram.'” (Muslim 1163)
So fast much of this special month if you are able.
Or at least do the best you can… as fasting this month is indeed special and the best after the fardh fasting of Ramadhaan.
3. Earn double reward!
If you have fasts that that you owe from Ramadhaan, you can fast in Muharram and get double reward, insha Allaah….one for making up the fardh fast of Ramadhaan and one for fasting in the month of Muharram.
Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:
“Whoever fasts on the day of ‘Arafah or ‘Ashoora’, and still owes some days from Ramadaan, his fast is valid. But if he has the intention of fasting this day to make up for a missed Ramadaan fast, he will have two rewards – one for the day of ‘Arafah or ‘Ashoora’ and another for making up the missed fast. This applies to all voluntary fasts that are not connected to Ramadaan.”
(Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 20/438).
4. Fast on the Day of ‘Aashooraa (10th of Muharram)
If you’re unable to fast much of this month, then at least do your best to fast the tenth.
It was the practice of our beloved Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam and his Sahaabah.
Ibn ‘Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhu
said:
“The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) came to Madeenah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of ‘Aashooraa’.
He said, ‘What is this?’
They said, ‘This is a righteous day, it is the day when Allaah saved the Children of Israel from their enemies, so Moosa fasted on this day.’
He (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) said, ‘We have more right to Moosa than you,’ so he fasted on that day and commanded (the Muslims) to fast on that day.” (al-Bukhaari)
5.Get your sins of last year forgiven!
If you fast on the 10th of Muharram, Allaah will forgive all the (minor) sins of the previous year.
Subhaan Allaah! What a blessing!
The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) said:
“For fasting the day of ‘Aashooraa’, I hope that Allaah will accept it as expiation for the year that went before.” (Muslim)
And Ibn ‘Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhu said:
“I never saw the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam so keen to fast any day and give it priority over any other than this day, the day of ‘Aashooraa’.” (al-Bukhaari)
6. It is Mustahabb to fast the 9th of Muharram as well
It is good to fast on both the ninth AND the tenth day, because the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam fasted on the tenth, and he intended to fast on the ninth as well, the coming year.
Ibn ‘Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhu said:
“When the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam fasted on ‘Aashooraa’ and commanded the Muslims to fast as well, they said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, it is a day that is venerated by the Jews and Christians.’
The Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam said,
‘If I live to see the next year, in sha Allaah, we will fast on the ninth day too.’
But it so happened that the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam passed away before the next year came.” (Muslim 1916).
7. What if I can’t fast on the 9th for some reason?
If for some reason, you are not able to fast on the 9th, then in that case you can fast on the 11th of Muharram, in addition to fasting on the 10th.
8. What if I can fast on the 10th ONLY…..is that ok?
If you can fast on the 10th only and for some reason, cannot add the fast of the ninth or eleventh to it, the Ulama say that it is also permissible.
Ibn Taymiyyah said:
“Fasting the day of ‘Aashooraa’ is expiation for one year, and it is not makrooh to single out this day for fasting.” (Fataawa al-Kubra)
9. Be EXTRA CAREFUL about SINS this month
Because Muharram is one of the sacred months, any bad deeds done during any of the sacred months are WORSE than in other months.
So be extra careful and watch those eyes, ears and limbs.
Guard that tongue and protect yourself from all wrongdoing.
Qatadah said:
“Wrongdoing during the sacred months is more serious and more sinful that wrongdoing at any other time.
Wrongdoing at any time is a serious matter, but Allaah gives more weight to whichever of His commands He wants….”
(Tafseer Ibn Katheer)
*Some Misconceptions and Baseless Traditions in Muharram*
There are many wrong traditions associated with the Day of Aashooraa and Muharram, which have nothing to do with the Sharee’ah.
We have to be careful and guard ourselves from falling into these wrong traditions and bid’ah because this itself is sin.
1) Thinking that Aashooraa’ is sacred because of the death of Hussain radhi Allaahu anhu.
Some people think that the sanctity and honor of the day of Aashooraa is due to the martyrdom of Hussain, radhi Allaahu anhu.
Of course, without a doubt, the incidence of Hussain radhi Allaahu anhu and his Shahaadah is one of the most tragic episodes of our history.
However, the sanctity of ‘Aashooraa’ is not because of this event.
Actually, the sanctity of ‘Aashooraa’ was already established during the time of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam by the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam *himself*, long before Hussain radhi Allaahu anhu was even born!
2) Thinking that Muharram is “UNLUCKY”
Some people consider Muharram an evil or unlucky month, because Hussain, radhi Allaahu anhu was killed in it.
So they don’t hold weddings, and other celebrations during this month.
Thinking that one cannot do so, is again a baseless concept, which is contrary to the teachings of the Qur’aan and the Sunnah.
The month of Muharram is neither unlucky or lucky.
Believing in such things is superstition and is committing a kind of shirk since one is associating a particular event or month with having power to harm or do good and only Allaah is the One Who has power over all things.
3) Cooking ‘special’ kinds of food and distributing it on the 10th specifically.
Some people think it is Sunnah to prepare a particular type of meal on the 10th, (such as Khitchra, haleem, or other special dishes) and distribute it to the poor people.
And they hold big gatherings for this purpose, thinking there is special reward for doing so.
This, again has no basis in the Sharee’ah.
4) Mourning and lamenting
Some people mourn and lament and cry over the death of Hussain radhi Allaahu anhu and hold these special ‘mourning ceremonies’ for this very purpose.
However, the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam never held ‘mourning ceremonies’ for ANY of his dear family members or his beloved Sahaabah after they had passed away.
In fact he Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam FORBADE us from holding mourning ceremonies on the death of any person, because this was the practice of the people of jahiliyyah (ignorance).
He Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) said:
“He is not from our group who slaps his checks, tears his clothes and cries in the manner of the people of jahiliyyah.” (al-Bukhaari)
And if you really think about it, isn’t it the greatest honor and the greatest reward that Hussain radhi Allaahu anhu received, when he achieved Shahadah for the sake of Allaah?
Isn’t that the BEST way of death?
The time and manner of death is fixed for every single person and that is the decree of Allaah.
NOTHING can change that.
And if Allaah had written for Hussain radhi Allaahu anhu to achieve shahaadah at that time, then would it even have been possible in any way for a person to ‘change’ that?
Would there be any reward or good in mourning that?
Should a good Muslim not readily accept the Decree of Allaah, under all circumstances whatsoever?
5) Celebrating the tenth of Muharram
Some people go to the other extreme and they dress up and cook special dishes, etc. as a kind of a ‘happy’ celebration for this Day and that is ALSO against the Qur’aan and Sunnah.
6) Thinking there’s special reward for certain actions on the tenth of Muharram
Others hold special prayers or offer sacrifice or visit the graves, specifically on the 10th of Muharram, thinking that there is special reward or meaning for doing so, although there’s no proof of that in the Shari’ah. It’s better to stay away from such beliefs and actions.
Should we congratulate each other on the new Hijri year
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen said:
“If someone offers you congratulations, then respond to him, but do not initiate such greetings. This is the correct view concerning this matter…
I do not know of any report that our pious predecessors congratulated one another on the occasion of the new year, rather the salaf did not regard the first of Muharram as the first day of the new year until the Khilaafah of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab radhi Allaahu anhu.”
And Imaam Ahmad said:
“I do not initiate the greeting but if someone greets me I return the greeting, because responding to the greeting is obligatory. But being the first to offer congratulations is neither Sunnah nor forbidden.
In Conclusion:
Our behavior during this month should be like the behavior of the Sahaabah, not one of mourning, neither one of celebration.
Rather, we should value Muharram as one of Allaah’s sacred months in which we should strive to do good deeds and be extra careful of sinning.
We should try and fast as much as we can in this month, especially the 9th and 10th.
We should not be superstitious about it (or about anything else, for that matter) and if someone wants to get married during this month, they may do so.
We should not cook special meals on the 10th and if someone invites us to such a meal, cooked for this purpose, we should not go.
And Allaah knows best.