Al-Muharram: Welcome to the Islamic New Year
‘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. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them…’ (Qur’an, 9:36)
Muharram is the first month of the Hijri calendar and one of the four sacred months of the Islamic year (the other three being Rajab, Dhul Qa’dah and Dhul Hijjah). This year, Muharram begins July 7th, 2024.
The month of Muhurram is so important to Allah (swt) that He associated it with his name.
Most of us understand the importance of the month of Ramadan, but we often neglect the holy month of Muharram. Months like Muharram offer us more opportunities to go the extra mile, do good, and seek Allah's (swt) mercy and Barkah.
These months have been chosen by Allah (swt), giving us the opportunity to become close to him, just as the Prophet (saw) was selected to guide the Ummah to Islam. Below are some ways you can make the most of al-Muharram, the Sacred Month of Allah.
Fast
‘On the authority of Abu Hurairah (ra) who said, the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “The best fasting after Ramadan is the Sacred Month of Allah (al-Muharram) and the best prayer after the obligatory ones is the night prayer (Tahajjud)”’. (Muslim)
Prophet (saw) marked the most important days of the Islamic calendar with fasting, but the month of al-Muharram is of such sanctity that even the Quraysh in the days of Jahiliyah (ignorance) used to fast on certain days. One such day is the Day of Ashura, which celebrates Allah (swt) freeing Prophet Musa (as) and his people from the bonds of Pharaoh:
’Ibn ’Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: “The Prophet (saw) came to Madinah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of ’Ashura. He said, ‘What is this?’ They said, ‘This is a righteous day, it is the day when Allah (swt) saved the Children of Israel from their enemies, so Musa fasted on this day.’ He said, ‘We have more right to Musa than you,‘” so he fasted on that day and commanded [the Muslims] to fast on that day’. (Bukhari)
Fasting on the Day of Ashura will expiate the minor sins of the past year. (Muslim). The Prophet (saw) advised his Ummah to fast on the 9th and 11th Muharram. It's advisable to keep as many fasts as you can however, fasting for the entire month is obligatory in Ramadan only.
During Muhurram, sins and good deeds both carry a heavier weight than any other time of year. In his commentary on Surah at-Tawbah, verse 36, Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him), explains:
‘Allah (swt) has chosen elites from His creation: from among the angels He chose Messengers, from among mankind He chose Messengers, from among speech He chose remembrance of Him (dhikr), from among spaces on earth He chose the mosques, from among the months He chose Ramadan and the sacred months… So, venerate that which has been chosen by Allah, for people of understanding and wisdom respect that which has been chosen by Him’. (Tafseer Ibn Katheer)
Set your intentions, act with kindness, and uphold this goodness consistently throughout the year to experience its rewards continuously.
Give Zakat and Sadaqah
The increased reward available for honoring special times of the year favored by Allah (swt) is one of the reasons why many Muslims around the world choose to give their Zakat and Sadaqah in al-Muharram.
The Prophet (saw) was known for his incredible generosity, and there is no better way to seek Allah's (swt) mercy than by emulating His most favored creation, ‘You have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern [of conduct] for anyone whose hope is God and the Final Day’ (Qur’an, 33:21).
Remember, charity should be regular and consistent.
The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “The acts most beloved to Allah, Exalted be He, are those which are done regularly, even if they are small”. (Muslim)
At Muslim Hands, several of our projects are Zakat and Sadaqah eligible. Most of them give you the option to make either a one-time donation or regular smaller payments.
For an even bigger impact, give Sadaqah Jariyah on behalf of someone who has passed away, and receive the immense blessings of your charity, Insh'Allah.
