Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Facts About Muharram

    * Muharram is one of the four sacred Months out of twelve. The other months being Dhul-Qa'dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Rajab.
    * These four months have been sacred since the creation of universe - as told by Allah in the Qur’an in Surah Taubah.
    * After Ramadan, fasting in the month of Muharram is most rewardable.
    * Muharram is a sacred month NOT because the grandson of Prophet Muhammad
صلّى الله عليه وسلّم  was martyred in this month. It is sacred because Allah made it sacred along with three other months and told us about it in the Quran.

Facts about Ashurah - The 10th of Muharram

    * Fasting on the 10th Muharram, i.e. Ashura, was obligatory on the Muslims before the fasts of Ramadan were made obligatory.
    * Fasting on the 10th of Muharram expiates the sins of the previous year.
    * Musa
عليه السلام and the Bani Israel were saved from the Pharaoh by the parting of the sea on 10th Muharram.
    * Prophet Musa
عليه السلام as a sign of gratitude to Allah used to fast on the day of Ashura and Jews did the same.
    * Prophet Muhammad
صلّى الله عليه وسلّم on hearing the fast of Musa عليه السلام also ordered the Muslims to fast on this day and himself did the same.
    * Prophet Muhammad
 صلّى الله عليه وسلّمdecided to fast on 9th Muharram as well to differentiate from the Jews but he passed away before he could do so.

Misconceptions about Ashura

    * This is the day Prophet Adam
عليه السلام was created
    * This is the day when Allah accepted the repentance of Adam
    * This is the day when Ibrahim
عليه السلام was born.
    * This is the day the Qayamat (doomsday) will occur.

    * Whoever bath on the day of Ashura will never get ill.
    * Muharram is an evil or unlucky month (due to the battle of Karbala)
    * Marriages should not be held in Muharram.

All of the above are misconceptions based on unauthentic traditions. This misconception can be easily removed by the fact that on the exact same day Husain
 رضي الله عنه was martyred, years ago Prophet Musa عليه السلام and his followers were saved from Pharaoh, which is why Prophet Muhammad صلّى الله عليه وسلّم observed the fast on Ashura and ordered the Muslims to do the same. The day can not be lucky or unlucky at the same time.

Historical Facts about Muharram

    * Caliph Umar al Farooq
رضي الله عنه succumbed to his injuries and attained Martyrdom on the 1st of Muharram, 23 AH (After Hijri)
    * Grandson of Prophet Muhammad
صلّى الله عليه وسلّم Hussain ibn Ali رضي الله عنه  along with most of his family members was martyred in the desert of Karbala in Iraq on the 10th of Muharram.

Authentic Ibadaat (Worship) of Muharram

    * Fasting in Muharram (any day)
    * Fasting on 10th Muharram and combining it with the fast of 9th Muharram to distinguish from the Jews.

Innovations and things to avoid in Muharram

    * Preparing special dishes meals in Muharram.
    * Holding lamentation and mourning ceremonies in the memory of martyrdom of Sayyidna Husain
رضي الله عنه
    * Cursing the companions.
   
All these are deviant practices which go against the basic teachings of Quran and Prophet Muhammad
صلّى الله عليه وسلّم He said ""He is not from our group who slaps his checks, tears his clothes and cries in the manner of the people of jahiliyyah." (Sahih Bukhari)

Sayyidna Husain
رضي الله عنه before his demise advised his beloved sister Sayyidah Zainab رضي الله عنها not to mourn over his death in this manner. He said, "My dear sister! I swear upon you that in case I die you shall not tear your clothes, nor scratch your face, nor curse anyone for me or pray for your death." (Al-Kamil, ibn Kathir vol. 4 pg. 24)

It is evident from this advice of Sayyidna Husain
رضي الله عنه that this type of mourning is condemned even by the blessed person for the memory of whom these mourning ceremonies are held. Every Muslim should avoid this practice and abide by the teachings of the Holy Prophet, صلّى الله عليه وسلّم and his beloved grand child Sayyidna Husain, رضي الله عنه

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a great resource!

Anonymous said...

Mashallah..very useful information.jazakallah