Significance of The Holy Month Muharram ul Haram
By Zarafshan
Shiraz
Aug 20,
2020
Muharram 2020 or Al Hijri 1442(Twitter/karbala_network)
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After
Ramadan or Ramzan, Muharram is considered to be the most sacred month in Islam
and it marks the beginning of the lunar calendar which Islam follows. Unlike the
Gregorian calendar that consists of 365 days, Islamic calendar has about 354
days divided into 12 months. Muharram is the first month in Islamic calendar
followed by Safar, Rabi-al-Thani, Jumada al-Awwal, Jumada ath-Thaniyah, Rajab,
Shaban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Zu al-Qadah and Zu al-Hijjah.
The Islamic
New Year, also known as Al Hijri or Arabic New Year, is celebrated on the first
day of Muharram as it was in this holy month that Prophet Muhammad migrated
from Mecca to Medina. However, the 10th day of the month, known as Ashura, is
mourned by Shia Muslims in the remembrance of the martyrdom of Prophet
Muhammad’s grandson, Hussain Ibn Ali.
Date
Depending
on the sighting of the moon, Al Hijri 1442 will fall on August 21 in India,
marking the first day of Muharram. The word Muharram means ‘not permitted’ or
‘forbidden’ hence, Muslims are prohibited from taking part in activities like
warfare and use it as a period of prayer and reflection.
Observing a
fast on this day is considered a ‘sunnah’ since Prophet Muhammad to kept a roza
on this day after Prophet Musa or Moses as per the Sunni tradition. On the
other hand, Shia Muslims refrain from attending and celebrating all joyous
events in this period and observe the fast on the tenth day of Muharram,
commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain who was the son of Hazrat Ali and
the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.
Significance
It was in
the month of Muharram that Allah saved the Children of Israel from Pharaoh. As
a sign of gratitude to Allah, Prophet Musa fasted on this day that is the 10th
of Muharram. In 622 CE, when Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina in
the month of Muharram, he learnt from the Jews that they fasted on this day
following the ways of Prophet Musa. Wanting his followers to show the same gratitude
to Allah, Prophet Muhammad decided to observe a two-day fast - one on the Day
of Ashura and the day prior that is the 9th and 10th day of Muharram. These are
the traditional customs of Sunni Muslims.
The Shia
community remembers the massacre on the 10th day, Ashura, when Imam Hussain was
said to be beheaded in the battle of Karbala. To mark public mourning and
remembering the pain given to their great leader and his family, members of
Shia community puts on black clothes, observes abstinence, fast and take out
processions on this day.
Original
Headline: Muharram 2020: Al Hijri date, significance of the Islamic New Year
Source: The Hindustan Times
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-society/significance-holy-month-muharram-ul/d/122678