Overview

Muharram is the month in which the Muslims begin the Lunar Hijrah Calendar.

The Prophet (SAW) in his last sermon mentioned that: “One year consists of twelve months, out of which four are sanctified. Three of them are in sequence: Zul Qadah, Zul Hijjah, Muharram, and the fourth is Rajab.” (Bukhari).

There are two main themes to this month:

  1. Fasting during the month

    The Prophet (SAW) mentions in a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA) that "the best fasts after Ramadhan are those of Allah's month, Muharram." (Tirmidhi).

  2. The day of A'shurah

    It is Sunnah to fast on the 10th of Muharram and the Prophet (SAW) instructed the Sahabah (RA) to add a day before or after the day of A'shurah to differ from the Jews of Madinah.

Highlights

10th of Muharram is known as the day of A'shurah

Fasting on 9th and 10th or 10th and 11th

A'shurah day spending extra on family is highly rewarded

إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِندَ اللَّـهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّـهِ 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. [9:36]
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ صِيَامِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ ‏"‏َ Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates that The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "The most virtuous fasting after the month of Ramadan is Allah's month Al-Muharram." (Tirmidhi)
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَمَّا قَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ وَجَدَهُمْ يَصُومُونَ يَوْمًا، يَعْنِي عَاشُورَاءَ، فَقَالُوا هَذَا يَوْمٌ عَظِيمٌ، وَهْوَ يَوْمٌ نَجَّى اللَّهُ فِيهِ مُوسَى، وَأَغْرَقَ آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ، فَصَامَ مُوسَى شُكْرًا لِلَّهِ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ أَنَا أَوْلَى بِمُوسَى مِنْهُمْ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَصَامَهُ وَأَمَرَ بِصِيَامِهِ‏.‏ٌ " Ibn Abbas (RAD) narrates that when the Prophet (SAW) came to Medina, 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 Mus (AS) and drowned the folk of Pharaoh. Musa (AS) observed the fast on this day, as a sign of gratitude to Allah." The Prophet (SAW) said, "I am closer to Musa than they are." So, he observed the fast (on that day) and ordered the Muslims to fast on it. (Abi Dawud)

Do's

  • Fast on either the 9th and 10th of Muharram
  • Or fast on the 10th and 11th of Muharram
  • Be kind and generous to the people around you.
  • Increase daily 'ibadah.
  • Offer Salaah with Jama'ah.
  • Read as much Quran as possible.

Don'ts

  • To hold mourning and lamenting ceremonies on the day of A`shurah in the memory of Husain (RAD)
  • To believe that it is unlucky to get married in this month