The Islamic Status of Muharram in the Light of Authentic Ahadith
Based on the book “Islām Mein Māh-e-Muḥarram ki Sharʿī Ḥaythiyat” authored by Dr. Syed Shafiq ur Rehman
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿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 months in the register of Allah from the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred.” [al-Tawbah: 36]
Abū Bakrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Dhul-Qaʿdah, Dhul-Ḥijjah, Muḥarram, and Rajab are the sacred months.” [Bukhārī 4662, Muslim 1679]
Even the polytheists of Arabia respected the sanctity of these months. During these months, sin, fighting, oppression, and provocation are especially prohibited.
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“After the fasts of Ramadan, the best fasts are those of Allah’s month of Muḥarram.” [Muslim 1163]
The 10th of Muḥarram (ʿĀshūrāʾ) is of great historical significance. The Jews, Christians, and even the polytheists of Quraysh would fast on this day.
ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها narrated:
In the pre-Islamic era, Quraysh used to fast on the day of ʿĀshūrāʾ, and the Prophet ﷺ also fasted on it. When he migrated to Madinah, he continued fasting on this day and ordered others to do so. But when the fasts of Ramadan were made obligatory, he gave the choice—whoever wanted could fast on ʿĀshūrāʾ, and whoever wished could leave it. [Bukhārī 2002, Muslim 1125]
When the Prophet ﷺ came to Madinah, he found the Jews fasting on ʿĀshūrāʾ. Upon inquiry, they explained it was the day Allah saved the Israelites from Pharaoh, so Mūsā عليه السلام fasted in gratitude. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“We are closer to Mūsā than you.”
He then fasted and ordered fasting on this day. [Bukhārī 2004, Muslim 1130]
Salamah ibn al-Akwaʿ رضي الله عنه reported: The Prophet ﷺ instructed, “Whoever has already fasted should complete it, and whoever has not, should fast for the remainder of the day.” [Bukhārī 2007, Muslim 1135]
Al-Rubayyiʿ bint Muʿawwidh رضي الله عنها said:
We fasted on ʿĀshūrāʾ and made our children fast. We would take them to the masjid and give them toys to distract them until ifṭār. [Bukhārī 1960, Muslim 1136]
Muʿāwiyah ibn Abī Sufyān رضي الله عنه said in a khutbah:
“I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: ‘This is the day of ʿĀshūrāʾ. Allah has not made fasting it obligatory upon you, but I am fasting. Whoever wishes may fast, and whoever wishes may leave it.’” [Bukhārī 2003, Muslim 1129]
Abū Qatādah al-Anṣārī رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Fasting on ʿĀshūrāʾ expiates the sins of the past year.” [Musnad Aḥmad 22904]
Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“If I live till next year, I will fast on the ninth as well.” But he passed away before the next year. [Muslim 1134]
He ﷺ instructed: “Fast on the day of ʿĀshūrāʾ, but oppose the Jews by also fasting a day before or a day after.” [Musnad Aḥmad 2154]
The first of Muḥarram reminds us of the Hijrah of the Prophet ﷺ, which marked the beginning of Islamic victories. During ʿUmar’s رضي الله عنه caliphate, the Islamic calendar was officially initiated from the Hijrah, starting with Muḥarram.
Sadly, today Muharram is associated in many minds only with mourning rituals and Karbala, neglecting its authentic Islamic significance.
Some common innovations include:
① Mourning rituals—wailing, self-harm, chest beating, and calling upon other than Allah—all of which are prohibited.
② Cooking food or setting up water stalls in the name of al-Ḥusayn رضي الله عنه, believing in their intercession—this is shirk.
③ Avoiding marriages in Muharram—there is no Islamic basis for this.
④ Visiting and decorating graves on 10th Muharram—no evidence in Shariah.
⑤ Believing in special blessings for lavish spending on family on ʿĀshūrāʾ—no authentic hadith supports this.
⑥ Attending gatherings where the Companions رضي الله عنهم are insulted—this is haram.
The Prophet ﷺ himself lost loved ones but never allowed wailing or self-harm. He showed patience and submitted to Allah’s decree, saying:
“The eyes shed tears, the heart is saddened, but we say only what pleases our Lord.” [Bukhārī 1303, Muslim 2315]
The true Islamic way of honoring Muharram is to respect its sanctity, fast on ʿĀshūrāʾ (along with a day before or after), and avoid all innovations. All other practices not proven from the Qurʾān and Sunnah are to be rejected.
Based on the book “Islām Mein Māh-e-Muḥarram ki Sharʿī Ḥaythiyat” authored by Dr. Syed Shafiq ur Rehman
◈ The Sacred Months in Islam
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿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 months in the register of Allah from the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred.” [al-Tawbah: 36]
Abū Bakrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Dhul-Qaʿdah, Dhul-Ḥijjah, Muḥarram, and Rajab are the sacred months.” [Bukhārī 4662, Muslim 1679]
Even the polytheists of Arabia respected the sanctity of these months. During these months, sin, fighting, oppression, and provocation are especially prohibited.
◈ The Virtue of Fasting in Muharram
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“After the fasts of Ramadan, the best fasts are those of Allah’s month of Muḥarram.” [Muslim 1163]
The 10th of Muḥarram (ʿĀshūrāʾ) is of great historical significance. The Jews, Christians, and even the polytheists of Quraysh would fast on this day.
◈ ʿĀshūrāʾ in the Life of the Prophet ﷺ
ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها narrated:
In the pre-Islamic era, Quraysh used to fast on the day of ʿĀshūrāʾ, and the Prophet ﷺ also fasted on it. When he migrated to Madinah, he continued fasting on this day and ordered others to do so. But when the fasts of Ramadan were made obligatory, he gave the choice—whoever wanted could fast on ʿĀshūrāʾ, and whoever wished could leave it. [Bukhārī 2002, Muslim 1125]
◈ Why the Jews Fasted on ʿĀshūrāʾ
When the Prophet ﷺ came to Madinah, he found the Jews fasting on ʿĀshūrāʾ. Upon inquiry, they explained it was the day Allah saved the Israelites from Pharaoh, so Mūsā عليه السلام fasted in gratitude. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“We are closer to Mūsā than you.”
He then fasted and ordered fasting on this day. [Bukhārī 2004, Muslim 1130]
◈ The Command to Fast on ʿĀshūrāʾ
Salamah ibn al-Akwaʿ رضي الله عنه reported: The Prophet ﷺ instructed, “Whoever has already fasted should complete it, and whoever has not, should fast for the remainder of the day.” [Bukhārī 2007, Muslim 1135]
◈ Teaching Children to Fast on ʿĀshūrāʾ
Al-Rubayyiʿ bint Muʿawwidh رضي الله عنها said:
We fasted on ʿĀshūrāʾ and made our children fast. We would take them to the masjid and give them toys to distract them until ifṭār. [Bukhārī 1960, Muslim 1136]
◈ Voluntary Nature of the Fast after Ramadan’s Obligation
Muʿāwiyah ibn Abī Sufyān رضي الله عنه said in a khutbah:
“I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: ‘This is the day of ʿĀshūrāʾ. Allah has not made fasting it obligatory upon you, but I am fasting. Whoever wishes may fast, and whoever wishes may leave it.’” [Bukhārī 2003, Muslim 1129]
◈ The Reward of Fasting ʿĀshūrāʾ
Abū Qatādah al-Anṣārī رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Fasting on ʿĀshūrāʾ expiates the sins of the past year.” [Musnad Aḥmad 22904]
◈ Differentiating from the Jews
Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“If I live till next year, I will fast on the ninth as well.” But he passed away before the next year. [Muslim 1134]
He ﷺ instructed: “Fast on the day of ʿĀshūrāʾ, but oppose the Jews by also fasting a day before or a day after.” [Musnad Aḥmad 2154]
◈ Significance of Muharram and Hijrah
The first of Muḥarram reminds us of the Hijrah of the Prophet ﷺ, which marked the beginning of Islamic victories. During ʿUmar’s رضي الله عنه caliphate, the Islamic calendar was officially initiated from the Hijrah, starting with Muḥarram.
◈ Innovations and Misconceptions about Muharram
Sadly, today Muharram is associated in many minds only with mourning rituals and Karbala, neglecting its authentic Islamic significance.
Some common innovations include:
① Mourning rituals—wailing, self-harm, chest beating, and calling upon other than Allah—all of which are prohibited.
② Cooking food or setting up water stalls in the name of al-Ḥusayn رضي الله عنه, believing in their intercession—this is shirk.
③ Avoiding marriages in Muharram—there is no Islamic basis for this.
④ Visiting and decorating graves on 10th Muharram—no evidence in Shariah.
⑤ Believing in special blessings for lavish spending on family on ʿĀshūrāʾ—no authentic hadith supports this.
⑥ Attending gatherings where the Companions رضي الله عنهم are insulted—this is haram.
◈ The Sunnah Response to Tragedy
The Prophet ﷺ himself lost loved ones but never allowed wailing or self-harm. He showed patience and submitted to Allah’s decree, saying:
“The eyes shed tears, the heart is saddened, but we say only what pleases our Lord.” [Bukhārī 1303, Muslim 2315]
Conclusion
The true Islamic way of honoring Muharram is to respect its sanctity, fast on ʿĀshūrāʾ (along with a day before or after), and avoid all innovations. All other practices not proven from the Qurʾān and Sunnah are to be rejected.
