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MUHARRAM is the first month of the Islamic New Year. The change of a year does not hold much importance in Islam but what is important is that “the time that runs out of our life will not run through again in our life”.
Hence, the course of time causes us to think. It is here that Muslims remember the words of the Prophet (S):
“May Allah turn out the opportunities of our life to be an occasion of enhancing virtues.”
It is Allah who makes certain months more distinguished than others so that the people can replace their losses with righteous activities.
The Quran says: “Verily, the number of months in the sight of Allah is 12 (in a year) – so ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are sacred: (Zul-ad, Zul-Haj, Muharram and Rajab). That is the straight usage. So wrong not yourselves therein.” (9:36).
The most important point that a Muslim should figure out from the verse is to relinquish all types of wrongs, especially fighting, during these four months.
This does not mean that Islam permits the wrongs and fighting during the rest of the months.
The concept of Islam intends only right and peace to prevail; in order to achieve this it promulgates self-restraint through compulsory practices such as prayer, fasting, Haj and the like.
The Arabs had no specific event to set the calendar. The second Khalifa, Umar Bin Khatab, kept receiving letters from governors of different provinces without mentioning a year.
Umar discussed with his advisers the issue of forming an Islamic calendar year. Different names of months in connection with the life of the Prophet were mentioned but the majority agreed to his suggestion of Muharram as the first month of the year because the planning of the Prophet’s migration started to shape in Muharram.
Migration, or Hijra, of the Prophet and his companions from Mecca to Medina took place due to an order from Allah the Almighty to defeat the devilish designs of the pagans of Mecca against the Prophet.
The Prophet and his companions, therefore, migrated to Medina after having left all their valuables and kith and kin, in addition to the patriotic feelings towards their birthplace, Mecca.
A real Hijra, therefore, exemplifies the fact that everything ought to be sacrificed for the sake of one’s faith and principles. In such a sacrificial life worldly fortunes or any other things that a man is set out to value becomes inconsequential or insignificant.
The most important event happened on the 10th of Muharram with Allah saving the children of Israel from their enemies. It is because of this that Prophet Moosa (A) observed fasting on the 10th of Muharram as a mark of gratitude to Allah. Prophet Muhammad (S) also observed fasting on the 10th of this month as a moral support to Prophet Moosa (A). But our Prophet did not want to follow the Jewish because of their deviations from the preaching of Prophet Moosa (A) and the Book of Torah.
That is why our Prophet said: “When the following year comes, Allah willing, we shall fast on the 9th of this month” so as to emphasise on his followers that Islam does not want to imitate Jewish in any of their religious activities.
The reward for fasting on the 10th of Muharram, the Prophet said, is the expiation of sins of the preceding year”. (Saheeh Muslim).
A true believer of Islam should be ready to imbibe the important lessons of Muharram. This is possible only when the Muslims relinquish all sorts of malicious thoughts, deeds, riots, and naughty parts of media from their lives lest their moralities deteriorate.
This is what Allah said Muslims should decide and do in Muharram: “So wrong not yourselves therein.” (9:36).
T P Abdurahman (Payyoli)
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