Muharram

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Islamic Calendar
Muharram Safar Rabi' al-awwal Rabi' al-thani Jumada al-awwal Jumada al-thani Rajab Sha'aban Ramadan Shawwal Dhu al-Qi'dah Dhu al-Hijjah

Muharram (Arabic: محرم ) is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sanctified months of the year. Fighting in this month is looked down upon and is often put to the side in respect for Islam. Since the Islamic calendar is lunar, Muharram moves from year to year when compared to the Gregorian calendar.

The first day of Muharram is the start of the Islamic New Year. The Festival of Muharram takes place during this month in which Shia Muslims especially commemorate the Battle of Karbala. The commemoration reaches its climax on the tenth day of Muharram, known as Ashurah.

This day is related to the time of Moses when he crossed the Red Sea escaping from the Pharaoh. Sunni Muslims often fast on this sacred day. Later, in the month of Ramadan it is recommended to fast so the day of Ashura is optional.

This month of Muharram also has traditions which have no support from Islamic teachings. For example, the celebration of the Muslim new year, and the partying and card giving, etc, associated with it is considered to be a bidah and even haraam to some.

Muharram

Muharram is so called because it was unlawful to fight during this month; the word is derived from the word ‘haram’ meaning forbidden. It is held to be the most sacred of all the months. This months is most sacred to the Shi’a community and the fast on the first ten days of the month to commemorate the slaying of Imam Hussain(A.S), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad(P.B.U.H), by Yazid's Army. The tenth day is called Ashura, meaning, ‘the tenth’, and it is a day of voluntary fasting. The Sunnis also fast on the tenth day because they believe that Adam and Eve, heaven and hell, life and death, fate and the pen were created on this day.

1 Timing
2 Fasting During Muharram
3 Islamic Events
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Timing

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the Islamic lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year, Muharram migrates throughout the seasons. The estimated start and end dates for Muharram are as follows (all future dates are estimates):

1426 AH – First day: February 11, 2005; last day: March 11, 2005
1427 AH – First day: January 31, 2006; last day: March 1, 2006
1428 AH – First day: January 20, 2007; last day: February 18, 2007
1429 AH – First day: January 10, 2008; last day: February 8, 2008

[edit] Fasting During Muharram

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was asked: "Which prayer is the best after the obligatory (five daily) prayers?"

He said: "Prayer during the middle of the night."

The Prophet was then asked: "Which fast is the best after the fast of Ramadan?"

He replied: "The (voluntary fasts during the) month of God that you call Muharram."

Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 125

[edit] Islamic Events

On 1 Muharram, the Muslim New Year is observed by some Muslims.
On 2 Muharram, Shi'ite Muslims begin the observance of the Commemoration of Muharram which marks the anniversary of the Battle of Karbala. Imam Husayn entered Karbala.
On 7 Muharram, access to water was banned on Husayn by Yazid's order.
On 10 Muharram, the Day of Ashurah is commemorated by Shi'ite Muslims as the anniversary of the martrydom of Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.
On 25 Muharram, Fourth Imam Ali ibn Husayn was martyred.
On 27 Muharram, Mesum was martyred.