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Muharram in Ahadith
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. This month we begin the year 1431 Hijrah.
Muharram is mentioned in numerous Ahadith (Sayings of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم).
Muharram is among the four sacred months of the Islamic calendar.
Narrated Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمsaid, "Time has come back to its original state which it had on the day Allah created the Heavens and the Earth. The year is twelve months, four of which are sacred, three of them are in succession, namely Dhul-Qa'dah, Dhul Hijjah and Muharram, (the fourth being) Rajab Mudar which is between Juma'da (ath-thani and Sha'ban. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمthen asked, "Which month is this?" We said, "Allah and his Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلمknow better." He kept silent so long that we thought that he would call it by a name other than its real name. He said, "Isn't it the month of Dhul-Hijjah?" We said, "Yes." He said, "Which town is this?" We said, "Allah and His Apostle know better." He kept silent so long that we thought that he would call it by a name other than its real name. He said, "Isn't it the town (of Makkah)?" We replied, "Yes." He said, "What day is today?" We replied, "Allah and His Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلمknow better." He kept silent so long that we thought that he would call it by a name other than its real name. He said, "Isn't it the day of Nahr?" We replied, "Yes." He then said, "Your blood, properties and honor are as sacred to one another as this day of yours in this town of yours in this month of yours. You will meet your Lord, and He will ask you about your deeds. Beware! Do not go astray after me by cutting the necks of each other. It is incumbent upon those who are present to convey this message to those who are absent, for some of those to whom it is conveyed may comprehend it better than some of those who have heard it directly." (Muhammad, the sub-narrator, on mentioning this used to say: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then said, "No doubt! Haven't I delivered (Allah's) Message (to you)? Haven't I delivered Allah's message (to you)?"
Bukhari, Book 68, Hadith 458 |
'Ashura - the tenth day of Muharram was considered very sacred by the non-Muslim Quraysh of Makkah. They used to change the cover of the Ka'bah on this day and also observed fast on the 10th of Muharram - the day of 'Ashura. The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and his Sahabah (Companions) also used to fast on the day of 'Ashura.This fast was made optional when fasting during the month of Ramadan was made Fard (Compulsory) in the year 2 Hijrah (623CE).
Narrated 'A"ishah رضى الله عنها: The people used to fast on 'Ashura (the tenth day of the month of Muharram) before the fasting of Ramadan was made obligatory. And on that day the Ka'bah used to be covered with a cover. When Allah made the fasting of the month of Ramadan compulsory, Allah's Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلمsaid, "Whoever wishes to fast (on the day of 'Ashura') may do so; and whoever wishes to leave it can do so."
Bukhari,
Book 26, Hadith 662
Narrated Ibn 'Umar رضي الله عنه: The Prophet observed the fast on the 10th of Muharram ('Ashura), and ordered (Muslims) to fast on that day, but when the fasting of the month of Ramadan was prescribed, the fasting of the 'Ashura was abandoned. 'Abdullah رضي الله عنهdid not use to fast on that day unless it coincided with his routine fasting by chance.
Bukhari, Book 31, Hadith 116
Narrated 'A"ishah رضي الله عنه: 'Ashura' (i.e. the tenth of muharram) was a day on which the tribe of Quraysh used to fast in the pre-lslamic period of ignorance. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمalso used to fast on this day. So when he migrated to Madinah, he fasted on it and ordered (the Muslims) to fast on it. When the fasting of Ramadan was enjoined, it became optional for the people to fast or not to fast on the day of 'Ashura.
Bukhari, Book 58, Hadith 172
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When the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم migrated to Madinah, he found out that the Jews of Madinah also observed fast on the day of 'Ashura to commemorate the release of their ancestors by Musa عليه السلام (Moses) from the cluthches of Fir'aun.
Narrated Ibn 'Abbasرضي الله عنه : When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمcame toMadinah, he found (the Jews) fasting on the day of 'Ashura (i.e. 10th of Muharram). They used to say: "This is a great day on which Allah saved Moses and drowned the folk of Pharaoh. Moses observed the fast on this day, as a sign of gratitude to
Allah." The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمsaid, "I am closer to Moses than they." So, he observed the fast (on that day) and ordered the Muslims to fast on it.
Bukhari, Book 55, Hadith 609 |
In the year 11 Hijrah, last year of his life, the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم told
his Sahabah (Companions) that he would InshaAllah observe two fasts i.e. on the 9th and 10th of Muharram in order to be different from the Jewish traditions. But he expired and could not fulfill his wish. Muslims must observe two fasts on the 9th and 10th of Muharram as per the Hadith (Tradition of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم).
Fasting in the month of Muharram is better than any fast with the exception of Ramadan fasts.
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