The importance of the month of Muharram in Islam is evident in its status as a sacred month honored by Allah. It marks the beginning of the Islamic Hijri year and is one of the four sacred months in which good deeds are multiplied. In this article, we’ll explore the significance of this month and the recommended acts of worship during it.
Thefirst month of the Islamic Calendar Muharram
The first month of the Islamic Calendar Muharram is the beginning of the Hijri New Year and one of the four sacred months during which fighting is prohibited. It holds a great virtue in Islam.
Why is Muharram important in Islam?
There are many reasons behind the importance of the month of Muharram in Islam , including the following:
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It is the Month of Allah
One of the signs of the importance of the month of Muharram in Islam is that the Prophet ﷺ called it “The Month of Allah – Al-Muharram.”
Scholars explained that attributing this month to Allah (using His name) signifies its honor and great status.
That’s because it includes significant events where Allah manifested the truth over falsehood, such as the Day of Ashura, when Allah saved Prophet Musa (Moses) from Pharaoh.
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One of the Sacred Months
Allah Almighty mentioned that the sacred months are four: Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab.
During these months, fighting and wrongdoing are prohibited, as sins committed within them are considered more serious than in other months. This is clearly stated in the following noble verse:
“إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًۭا فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌۭ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ ۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا۟ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ وَقَـٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ كَآفَّةًۭ كَمَا يُقَـٰتِلُونَكُمْ كَآفَّةًۭ ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ ٣٦”
“Indeed, the number of months ordained by Allah is twelve—in Allah’s Record since the day He created the heavens and the earth—of which four are sacred. That is the right way. So do not wrong one another during these months. And fight the polytheists together as they fight together against you. And know that Allah is with those mindful ˹of Him˺.”
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
“ إِنَّ الزَّمَانَ قَدِ اسْتَدَارَ كَهَيْئَتِهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ السَّنَةُ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ثَلاَثٌ مُتَوَالِيَاتٌ ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ وَ ذُو الْحِجَّةِ وَالْمُحَرَّمُ وَرَجَبُ مُضَرَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ جُمَادَى وَشَعْبَانَ ”
The Prophet (ﷺ) gave a sermon during his hajj and said: “Time has completed a cycle and assumed the form of the day when Allah created the heavens and the earth. The year contains twelve months of which four are sacred, three of them consecutive, viz. Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram and also Rajab of Mudar which comes between Jumadah and Sha’ban.”
The best days to fast in the month of muharram
After understanding the importance of the month of Muharram in Islam , we find that fasting in Muharram is the best fast after the fast of Ramadan.
This is supported by the authentic hadith:
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمِ وَأَفْضَلُ الصَّلَاةِ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم
“Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “The most excellent fast after Ramadan is in God’s month al-Muharram, and the most excellent prayer after what is prescribed is prayer during the night.”
Some of the best days to fast in the month of Muharram include
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Fasting the Day of Ashura (10th of Muharram)
It is the day when Allah saved Prophet Musa (Moses) and drowned Pharaoh. Prophet Musa used to fast on that day due to its virtue. Even the People of the Book and the Quraysh of Jahiliyyah used to fast it.
Even The Jews used to fast it, and when the Prophet ﷺ asked them why, they replied: “This is a great day in which Allah saved Musa and his people and drowned Pharaoh and his people, so Musa fasted it in gratitude, and so we fast it.”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “We are more entitled and closer to Musa than you,” so he fasted it and commanded the Muslims to do so.
The Prophet ﷺ was keen to fast on this day. Its virtue is that it expiates the sins of the previous year, as mentioned in the hadith:
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ “ صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ إِنِّي أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ ” .
“It was narrated from Abu Qatadah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Fasting the day of ‘Ashura’, I hope, will expiate for the sins of the previous year.”
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Fasting the Ninth of Muharram
This fast is intended to differ from the Jews, who only fast on the Day of Ashura. As narrated in the hadith:
وَحَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْحُلْوَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي مَرْيَمَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، حَدَّثَنِي إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا غَطَفَانَ بْنَ طَرِيفٍ الْمُرِّيَّ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ، بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ – رضى الله عنهما – يَقُولُ حِينَ صَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ وَأَمَرَ بِصِيَامِهِ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ يَوْمٌ تُعَظِّمُهُ الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَى . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ فَإِذَا كَانَ الْعَامُ الْمُقْبِلُ – إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ – صُمْنَا الْيَوْمَ التَّاسِعَ ” . قَالَ فَلَمْ يَأْتِ الْعَامُ الْمُقْبِلُ حَتَّى تُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
“Ibn ‘Abbas reported that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) fasted on the day of ‘Ashura and commanded that it should he observed as a fast, they (his Companions) said to him, ‘Messenger of Allah, it is a day which the Jews and Christians hold in high esteem. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When the next year comes, God willing, we would observe fast on the 9th But the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) died before the advent of the next year.”
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Fasting the White Days
These are the days when the moon is full—the 13th, 14th, and 15th of the Hijri month.
Fasting these days each month is like fasting the entire year, as mentioned in the following hadith:
عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ صِيَامُ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ وَأَيَّامُ الْبِيضِ صَبِيحَةَ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ وَأَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ وَخَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ ” .
It was narrated from Jarir bin ‘Abdullah that the Prophet said: “Fasting three days of each month is fasting for a lifetime, and the shining days of Al-Bid, the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth.”
To-Do List During the Month of Muharram
It is recommended to increase good deeds during the month of Muharram. The most important ones include:
- Giving charity frequently.
- Maintaining ties of kinship.
- Remembering Allah often.
- Honoring one’s parents.
- Voluntary night prayers.
- Avoiding wrongdoing (to oneself or others).
- Fasting: Ashura + a day before or after, the White Days, Mondays and Thursdays.
Conclusion:
It is clear that the importance of the month of Muharram in Islam lies in its high status among the months and the great virtues of fasting and good deeds during it. Let this sacred month be a spiritual beginning to renew your connection with Allah.
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