أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم
﴿إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِندَ اللَّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ﴾
“Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah from the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred.”
It is narrated from Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab are sacred months.”
These are the sacred months whose sanctity was also maintained by the pagan Arabs. In these months, sins, fighting, oppression, and provocation are especially forbidden.
It is narrated from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “After the fasts of Ramadan, the best fasts are those of the month of Muharram.”
The 10th of Muharram, known as Ashura, holds great historical significance. Jews, Christians, and even the polytheists of Quraysh used to fast on this day.
It is narrated from Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha Siddiqah (may Allah be pleased with her) that “In the time of ignorance, the Quraysh used to fast on the day of Ashura, and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) also fasted on this day before migration. When he migrated to Medina, he continued to fast on this day and ordered others to fast as well. But when the fasts of Ramadan were made obligatory, he abandoned the emphasis on fasting on Ashura and said: ‘Whoever wishes may fast on this day, and whoever wishes may leave it.'”
Jews and Christians also regarded the day of Ashura with great respect.
Abu Musa Ash’ari (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Jews fasted on the day of Ashura as a day of thanksgiving, celebrated it as a festival with joy, and adorned their women with jewelry and ornaments.
It is narrated from Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) migrated to Medina, he saw the Jews fasting on Ashura. He asked: “What is this fast?” They replied: “This is a blessed day; on this day Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy Pharaoh. Therefore, Moses fasted on this day as a thanksgiving, and we also fast.” The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “We are closer to Moses than you.” So he fasted on Ashura and ordered others to fast on this day.
It is narrated from Salamah ibn Al-Akwa (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) announced among the people: “Today is the day of Ashura, so whoever has fasted should complete it, and whoever has not fasted should fast the remaining day.”
Rabi’ bint Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with her) said that on the day of Ashura, we used to fast ourselves and also make our children fast. When we took them to the mosque, we would bring toys for them. When they cried due to hunger, we would give them toys to distract them so that they could complete their fast until evening.
After the obligation of Ramadan fasts, the emphasis on fasting Ashura was abandoned.
Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with him) gave a sermon in Medina on the day of Ashura and said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: ‘Today is the day of Ashura, and Allah has not made its fast obligatory upon you, and I have fasted. Whoever among you wishes may fast, and whoever wishes may not fast.'”
However, its virtue was described as follows:
It is narrated from Abu Qatada Al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) about the fast of Ashura. He said: “Fasting on this day expiates the sins of the past year.”
Since the Jews also fasted on this day and the Prophet (peace be upon him) was commanded to oppose them in religious symbols, he said, as narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both): “If I live until next year, I will fast on the ninth of Muharram as well.” But the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed away before the next year’s fast.
He advised his Ummah to fast a day before or a day after Ashura.
It is narrated from Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Fast on the day of Ashura and oppose the Jews; therefore, fast a day before or a day after.”
From the Islamic perspective, the reality of Ashura is that fasting is observed as an expression of gratitude on this day. The importance of the month of Muharram is that the sighting of the crescent of the first of Muharram reminds us of the Hijrah of the Prophet; because all the future victories in Islamic history are hidden in this Hijrah. Allah reminded us of His help and the elevation of His word at the time when signs of apparent victories had begun.
﴿إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ اللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا ۖ فَأَنزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُ بِجُنُودٍ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا السُّفْلَىٰ ۗ وَكَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ﴾
“If you do not aid the Prophet, Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out, the second of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, ‘Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.’ And Allah sent down His tranquility upon him and supported him with soldiers you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah – that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.”
In the sacred month of Muharram al-Haram, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) migrated from his beloved city Makkah to Medina for the pleasure of Allah. This event is not a trivial incident in Islamic history but a supreme example of obedience to Allah.
During the caliphate of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), many countries were conquered, and with the establishment of government offices, accounting matters expanded greatly. It became necessary to officially set a year. Umar Farooq (may Allah be pleased with him) and other companions thought to start the Islamic year from the event of Hijrah. This was the effect of Islamic training that instilled the spirit of national pride in the hearts and minds of the companions. They did not give importance to the years and dates prevalent among civilized nations like Jews, Romans, and Persians but began their own national year and established the Hijri year for the Islamic government’s accounting. It is regrettable that today Muslims use the Gregorian year in their business and affairs instead of the Hijri year. This is against our Islamic honor and self-respect. We should conduct our affairs according to the Islamic Hijri year, which begins with Muharram.
Alas!
Today, we do not even know the names of the Islamic months. Yes! If we know anything, it is that the month in which fasting is observed is Ramadan, the month in which sacrifice is made is Dhul-Hijjah, the month in which people mourn is Muharram, the month in which Eid Milad-un-Nabi is celebrated is Rabi’ al-Awwal, and the month in which halwa is cooked is Shab-e-Barat. What a tragic situation that today we know only a few Islamic names? We know the English months very well but have no knowledge of the months of the Islamic year. Some months are known to us only by the innovations associated with them (Astaghfirullah).
The importance of Ashura and Muharram from the Islamic perspective is as you have seen in the above noble hadiths. Other customs practiced in this month have no relation to Islam. A brief explanation is as follows:
(1) With the beginning of Muharram, non-Islamic customs start under the pretext of the martyrdom of Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him). Lamentation and mourning are done, elegies are recited, shirts are torn, faces are scratched, self-inflicted wounds are made with knives and spears, mourning over fire is observed, processions (Taziya) are taken out, and in Muharram gatherings, wailing and crying occur. Under the guise of love for Ahl al-Bayt, clear polytheism is expressed, cries of “Ya Ali Madad” and other calls to beings other than Allah are raised, and the companions of the Prophet (may Allah be pleased with them) are verbally abused.
Then, as soon as the crescent of Muharram appears, radio, television, and newspapers become mere spokespersons for the Shia and are dedicated to spreading their polytheistic and kufr beliefs. It seems as if the first month of Islamic history, Muharram al-Haram, is only the month of the Shia, and they are allowed to carry out arbitrary actions in this month. Thus, the month of Muharram has been restricted only to narrating the story of Karbala. This creates the impression that the sanctity of Muharram is perhaps only because of the tragedy of Karbala; whereas Umar Farooq (may Allah be pleased with him) was also martyred in Muharram.
What is done on the martyrdom of Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him) has no evidence in the Book and Sunnah, nor did the companions (may Allah be pleased with them) do such things on anyone’s martyrdom.
During the life of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), in the Battle of Uhud, his uncle and the uncle of Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him), Sayyid al-Shuhada Hamzah ibn Abdul-Muttalib (may Allah be pleased with him), was martyred. The behavior exhibited by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the companions (may Allah be pleased with them) on his martyrdom is the best example for us.
﴿ لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ﴾
“Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow for whoever hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much.”
Usama ibn Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had his grandson in his lap when his soul was about to depart, and seeing his state, tears flowed from the eyes of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).
Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) came to his son Ibrahim when he was near death, and tears flowed from his eyes. He said: “Indeed, the eyes shed tears and the heart is grieved, but we will say only what pleases our Lord. O Ibrahim! We are indeed saddened by your separation.”
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “He is not one of us who slaps his cheeks, tears his clothes, and cries out with the words of ignorance.”
Abu Musa Ash’ari (may Allah be pleased with him) said that indeed the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is averse to a woman who laments, shaves her head, and tears her clothes.
Umm al-Mu’minin Umm Habibah (may Allah be pleased with her) said that three days after the death of her father Abu Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with him), she ended mourning and heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say from the pulpit that it is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to mourn for more than three days for anyone except her husband, whose mourning is four months and ten days.
Tell me! Can the long-established ten days of Muharram, which have become dedicated to mourning, be considered religion in any way? Certainly not. Then, with the beginning of Muharram, water fountains in the name of Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him) are set up, and raw clay pots are filled with tea, rice, halwa, kheer, and vermicelli, and distributed as Khilafat Sharif. People are repeatedly asked for money in the name of Niaz Hussain. Is this offering in the name of anyone other than Allah not forbidden? Listen to the command of Allah:
﴿حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةُ وَالدَّمُ وَلَحْمُ الْخِنزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ بِهِ﴾
“Prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah.”
Then, those who set up water fountains and cook pots of rice in the name of Niaz Hussain intend that Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him) will be pleased by this, and if he is pleased, then if I am childless, I will have children; if I am ill, I will be cured; if I am entangled in lawsuits, I will be freed. This belief is major shirk that nullifies a person’s Islam. Allah commands His Prophet, the Seal of the Prophets Muhammad (peace be upon him):
﴿ قُل لَّا أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِي ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ﴾
“Say, I do not possess for myself any harm or benefit except what Allah should will.”
﴿قُلْ إِنِّي لَا أَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا رَشَدًا﴾
“Say, I do not have power over any benefit or harm to myself except as Allah wills.”
Then how can Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him) be a reliever of difficulties?
(2) In mourning for Sayyiduna Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him), marriages are not conducted in the month of Muharram; however, this is a wrong custom that has become prevalent among Muslims.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) died in Rabi’ al-Awwal, Sayyiduna Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) and many companions were martyred. Why then are marriages conducted in the months in which they were martyred?
(3) On the 10th of Muharram, i.e., Ashura, candles are lit on graves, and graves are repaired, especially by women. On the 10th of Muharram, there is a gathering of men and women in the cemetery. Women go with great preparation to place soil on graves and to tap it. There is no evidence for this in Shariah.
(4) On this day, generosity is shown in spending on family so that Allah may expand sustenance throughout the year. This is not proven by any authentic hadith.
(5) Some people attend gatherings held in mourning for Hussain (may Allah be pleased with him) where slanders against the companions (may Allah be pleased with them) are heard, and fabricated stories in the name of Hussain’s martyrdom are narrated. This weakens faith; therefore, attending such gatherings is forbidden.
Allah says:
﴿ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ﴾
“And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.”
In these gatherings, the companions of the Messenger are insulted, whereas Abu Sa’id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
“Do not abuse my companions. By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, if you were to spend gold equal to Uhud mountain, you would not reach the worth of a handful of one of them.”
Therefore, attending such gatherings where the companions (may Allah be pleased with them) are insulted is forbidden.
Allah says:
﴿وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ الَّذِينَ يَخُوضُونَ فِي آيَاتِنَا فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ ۚ وَإِمَّا يُنسِيَنَّكَ الشَّيْطَانُ فَلَا تَقْعُدْ بَعْدَ الذِّكْرَىٰ مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ﴾
“And when you see those who engage in [offensive] discourse concerning Our verses, then turn away from them until they enter into another conversation. And if Satan should cause you to forget, then do not remain after the reminder with the wrongdoing people.”
So think, how can participation in gatherings of shirk and innovation be permissible?
We pray that Allah grants us only to follow the Messenger of Allah and the ability to avoid customs that contradict Islam or are innovations copied from other nations besides Muslims. Ameen.
