Allah’s has made Muharram sacred, as it is a blessed and important month; because:

1) It is the first month of the Hijri calendar.

2) It is one of the four sacred months concerning which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, the number of months with Allaah is twelve months (in a year), so it was 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]

Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (sa) said:

“The year is twelve months of which four are sacred, the three consecutive months of:
1. Dhu’l-Qa’dah,
2. Dhu’l-Hijjah and
3. Muharram, and
4. Rajab Mudar which comes between Jumaada and Sha’baan.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 2958).

3) Muharram itself also means sacred and confirms its sanctity.

4) The 10th of Muharram is the “day of Ashura”

Al-‘Izz ibn ‘Abd al-Salaam (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Times and places may be given preferred status in two ways, either temporal or religious/spiritual. With regard to the latter, this is because Allaah bestows His generosity on His slaves at those times or in those places, by giving a greater reward for deeds done, such as giving a greater reward for fasting in Ramadaan than for fasting at all other times, and also on the day of ‘Aashooraa’, the virtue of which is due to Allaah’s generosity and kindness towards His slaves on that day…” (Qawaa’id al-Ahkaam, 1/38).

5) Sins in this month are more serious, and good deeds bring greater reward

It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: Allaah’s words (interpretation of the meaning): “so wrong not yourselves therein…” referred to all the months, then these four were singled out and made sacred, so that sin in these months is more serious and good deeds bring a greater reward.

6) Virtues of observing Nafl (voluntary fasts)

Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (sa) said: ‘The best of fasting after Ramadaan is fasting Allaah’s month of Muharram.’” (reported by Muslim, 1982).

The phrase “Allaah’s month”, connecting the name of the month to the name of Allaah in a genitive grammatical structure, signifies the importance of the month. Al-Qaari said: “The apparent meaning is all of the month of Muharram.” But it was proven that the Prophet sa) never fasted any whole month apart from Ramadan, so this hadeeth is probably meant to encourage increasing one’s fasting during Muharram, without meaning that one should fast for the entire month.”

It was reported that the Prophet (sa) used to fast more in Sha’baan. It is likely that the virtue of Muharram was not revealed to him until the end of his life, before he was able to fast during this month. (Sharh al-Nawawi ‘ala Saheeh Muslim).

Source

For More on Muharram

Praise be to Allaah.

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked:

What is the ruling on congratulating people on the occasion of the Hijri new year, and how should one reply to a person who offers congratulations?

He replied:

If someone offers you congratulations, then respond to him, but do not initiate such greetings. This is the correct view concerning this matter. So if a person says to you, for example, “Happy New Year”, then you can say, “May Allaah make it a good and blessed year for you.” But you should not initiate such a greeting, because I do not know of any report that the salaf [early generations of Islam] 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 caliphate of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him.

Shaykh ‘Abd al-Kareem al-Khudayr said concerning offering congratulations on the occasion of the hijri new year:

Praying for another Muslim in general terms, in phrases that are not meant as a kind of ritual  on special occasions such as Eid, is acceptable, especially if what is meant by this greeting is friendship and to show a friendly face to one’s fellow Muslim. Imaam Ahmad (may Allaah have mercy on him) 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.”

[Source]

Insha’Allah, the day of Ashura (10th of Muharram) falls on the Friday, 18th January 2008.

Please listen to this video, the khateeb explains how it is sunnah to fast the day before Ashura, and also how as Ashura this year falls on a Friday – we should not single out Friday to fast.  So Insha’Allah those who plan to fast should also fast either the day before (Thursday, 17th) or the day after (Saturday, 19th).

May Allah accept.

History of The Day of Ashura (The 10th of Muharram)

When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) arrived in Madinah in 622 CE, he found that the Jews there fasted on the 10th of Muharram and asked them the reason for their fasting on this day.

They said: “This is a blessed day. On this day Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy (in Egypt) and so Prophet Musa [Moses] fasted on this day giving thanks to Allah.”

The Prophet (sa) said: “We are closer to Musa than you are.” He fasted on that day and commanded Muslims to fast on this day. (Al-Bukhari)

Fasting The Day of Ashura and The Day before it (These are voluntary fasts, they are not obligatory)

When the Messenger of Allah (sa) fasted on `Ashura’ and commanded the Muslims to fast as well.

They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, it is a day that the Jews and Christians honour.’

The Messenger of Allah (sa) said: ‘If I live to see the next year, insha’Allah, we will fast on the ninth day too.’ But it so happened that the Messenger of Allah (sa) passed away before the next year came.” (Reported by Muslim, 1916).

Al-Shaafa’i and his companions, Ahmad, Ishaaq and others said: It is mustahabb [recommended] to fast both the ninth and the tenth, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) fasted the tenth and intended to fast the ninth.

The intention behind this (fasting on the 9th of Muharram), is to be different from the Jews who limit their fasting to the 10th day. This was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas.

If ‘Ashoora’ coincides with a Friday, he may fast, because his intention is to fast ‘Ashoora’ and not to fast on a Friday. And Allaah is the Source of strength. (This is the opinion of Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid, some other Sheikhs have adviced that if ‘Ashoora’ falls on a Friday one should either fast the day before it or after it, in order of avoiding singling out the Friday, as the Prophet (s) instructed us not to single out Fridays for fasting…wAllahu ‘Alam)

NB: You should not observe voluntary fasts when you still owe one or more days from Ramadaan, rather you should start with the fasts that you owe from Ramadaan, and then observe voluntary fasts.

The Reward for Fasting The Day of Ashura

The Prophet (sa) said: “For fasting the day of ‘Ashura, I hope that Allah will accept it as expiation for (the sins committed in) the year that went before.” [Reported by Muslim, 1976]

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Fasting the day of ‘Arafaah expiates for all minor sins, in other words this brings forgiveness for all sins except for major sins. (As they need separate repentance)

The Prophet (sa) used to be very keen to make sure he fasted on the day of ‘Ashoora’ because of its great status. It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I never saw the Prophet (sa) so keen to make sure he fasted any day and preferring it over another except this day, the day of ‘Ashoora’, and this month – meaning Ramadaan. (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1867.)

Stick to the Sunnah – and avoid all Innovations (Bid’aa)

You may of heard of some customs associated with `Ashura’ such as: cooking and eating certain foods, making specific dhikr, du’a or to read certain surahs a certain number of times, or to make nafl salaah, etc

^ NB: Specifying specific ibadah (worship) on specific days must be backed up with Evidence from one of two sources: The Book Of Allah (The Qur’aan) or the Hadiths (Sunnah of Our Prophet Muhammad – sa); otherwise this action becomes a Bid’aa and its reward becomes fruitless. If one simply wants to make dhikr or wants to read abit extra nafl salaats, there is nothing wrong with this, as this should be done all year round, but to specify it to this day – is innovation.

And you may of also heard of others who consider this day as a day of mourning, wailing, hitting themselves in honour of the Prophet Muhammads (sa) grandson Al-Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) who was killed.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Because of the killing of al-Husayn, the Shaytaan started to spread two kinds of bidah (innovation) amongst the people: the bidah of grieving and wailing on the Day of Aashooraa, striking the cheeks, screaming, weeping and reciting eulogies ; and the bidah of expressing happiness and joy. So some express grief and others express joy, so they started to like the idea of wearing kohl, taking a bath, spending on their families and preparing special kinds of food on the day of Aashooraa and every bidah is a going astray; none of the four imams of the Muslims or others approved of either of these things (either expressing grief or expressing joy)”

^ This is all Bid’aa, and we need to stay well away from it — and remember the deen of Islaam is complete and is in no need of any addition or alterations.

As Allaah Subhanahu-wa-Ta’alaa says: “This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” [al-Maa’idah 5:3].

It is reported from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (sa) said: “Whoever innovates something in this matter of ours [Islam] that is not part of it, will have it rejected.” [Agreed upon]

Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (sa) used to say in his Friday khutbahs: “The best of speech is the Book of Allah and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (sa). The most evil of things are those which are newly-invented, and every innovation (bid’ah) is a going-astray.” [Reported Muslim]

NB: For any action to be accepted by Allah it must meet the following 2 conditions:

1. Sincerity of Intentions – it must be done soley for the sake of Allah, and for no other reason
2. The action must be done the way Allah legislated, and the way His Prophet Muhammad (sa) legislated (clear evidence from the Qur’aan and Sunnah)

Who would refuse to Enter Paradise?

Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be please with him) reported that the Prophet (sa) said: “All of my Ummah will enter Paradise except those that refuse.” Those who were with him (the Sahaabah/companions) said, “And who will refuse?” He (sa) said: “Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise and whoever disobeys me will have refused.” (Sahih Al- Bukhari)

May Allah accept from us all; allow us to gain the rewards of the day of Ashura and may He (SWT) gather us all together with our Prophet Muhammad (s) in Jannah. Ameen

Source: Adapted from Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

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