The month of Muharram, the
first month of the Muslim
lunar calendar has already entered
upon us. May this year prove
to be a blessed year for all of
us.
Muharram is one of the four
sanctified months in Islam.
We must make the most of
this important month in the
light of this hadith.
Abu
Huraira (RA) narrates that
Rasul
Allah (saw)
said: "After Ramadan,
the most excellent days for
fasting are during Muharram
which is the month of
Allah." (
Muslim)
This does not mean that one
has to fast the entire month
but that each fast in
Muharram holds a reward with
Allah more than voluntary
fasts in any other month.
Specially, the day of Ashura
(10th Muharram)
is a day of great
importance.
Abdullah bin Abbas (RA)
relates that
Rasul
Allah (saw)
observed fast on 10th
Muharram and commanded
others to do likewise.
People stated: "O Allah's
Messenger! 10th
Muharram is a very
auspicious day among the
Jews and the Christians. He
(saw) stated: "If Allah
wishes next year we shall
observe fast on 9th
Muharram (along with 10th)."
But by next year,
Rasul
Allah (saw)
passed away.
( Muslim)
Hence, one should combine
another day with the Ashura
and fast on either the 9th
and 10th of Muharram or the
10th and 11th in
order to distinguish the
Muslim way of fasting from
that of the Jews.
When Rasul
Allah (saw)
had migrated to Madina, he
had found the Jews observing
fast on the 10th
of Muharram as according to
them on this day Musa (as)
and his followers had
crossed the sea and Pharaoh
had drowned.
Rasul
Allah (saw)
on hearing this said, "We
are more closely related to
Musa (as) than you," and
directed the Muslims to fast
on the day of Ashura.
(Abu Dawood)
We also know from a number
of authentic traditions that
in the beginning, fasting on
the day of Ashura was
obligatory for the Muslims.
It was later when the fasts
of Ramadan were made
obligatory that the fast on
the day of Ashura was made
optional. However,
Rasul
Allah (saw)
used to fast on the day of
Ashura even after fasting in
Ramadan was made obligatory.
We must be careful to
refrain from other
fabricated or superstitious
beliefs about this month and
from any actions that Allah
(swt) and his
Rasul
(saw)
have condemned.
May this month and this new
year take us closer to Allah
ta'ala's pleasure and away
from His displeasure, closer
to Jannah and away from An-Naar.
Ameen.
Wassalam,
Farhat
