Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

I take refuge in Allah from satan the cursed.

Asalaam-u-Alaikum brother Burhan:

Agreed that Moharram is one of the sacred four months, then what one must do to obey/practice its sanctity. Are there any rules or provisions during the month of Moharram as there are in other sacred months such as Ramazan?

Best Regards and God Bless.

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Answer:

Importance of Moharram

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 36: The number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve (in a year), so ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are sacred; that is the straight usage. So wrong not yourselves therein, and fight the pagans all together as they fight you all together. But know that Allah is with those who restrain themselves.

There are four months which are considered ‘Haraam’ or ‘Sacred’:

Dhul-Qaada

Dhul-Hajjah

Moharram

Rajab

The months of Dhul-Qaada, Dhul-Hajjah, and Moharram were held Sacred in the sense that war was prohibited in these months, so that the pilgrims who came to Makkah to perform the Hajj may do so in peace in security. And the month of Rajab was held Sacred and war prohibited, because in the month of Rajab the pilgrims would travel for Umrah.

It has been reported in an authentic narration that somebody asked the Prophet (saws): “Which prayer is the best after the obligatory prayers?” He (saws) said: “Prayer during the middle of the night.” The person asked: “Which fast is the best after the fast of Ramadhan?” He (saws) said, “The month of Allah that you call Muharram.”

It has been reported in an authentic narration that when the Prophet came to Madinah and found the Jews fasting on the day of 'Ashurah’. He asked them: “What is this fast?” They said: “A great day. Allah saved Moses and the tribes of Israel from their enemies on this day and therefore, Moses fasted on this day.” The Prophet (saws) said: “We (muslims) have more of a right to Moses than you,” so he fasted on that day also and ordered the people to fast on that day.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) fasted on the day of 'Ashurah and ordered the people to fast on it. The people said: “O Messenger of Allah, it is a day that the Jews and Christians honor.” The Prophet (saws) said, “When the following year comes--Allah willing--we shall fast on the ninth (of Muharram also).” The death of the Prophet came before the following year."

It has also been reported, amongst many other narrations, that 10^th of Muharram was the day when Adam(a.s.) and Hawwa met on this earth on the plains of Arafat. It has also been reported that it was this day of Aashura,that the ark of Noah reached its destination and embarked on Mount Judi. It has also been reported that Prophet Ayub (a.s.) was cured of his diseases on this day of Aashura. It has also been reported that Prophet Yunus (a.s.) was forgiven by Allah and released from the stomach of the fish on this day of Aashura.

The month of Muharram and especially the day of Aashura marks a very sorry, sad, and painful day in the history of Islam. It was on this day of Aashura that the grandson of our beloved Messenger of Allah (saws), Imam Hussain ibn Ali Taalib (r.a.) and his family were ruthlessly martyred on the fields of Karbala. This was one of the darkest days in the annuls of Islamic history, and every muslim, no matter what sect of Islam he claims to belong to, should feel pain and sorrow in his heart.

Other than fasting, especially on the ninth and tenth of Moharram, the Messenger of Allah (saws) did not do or approve of anything special to be done, thus the believers are not required to do anything special in this Sacred Month.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan