The Muharram Month of Allah is considered one of the greatest and most sacred months in the Islamic calendar, blessed with numerous merits.
The month of Allah, Muharram, has several virtues, including the following:
1- Its Attribution to Allah Almighty:
The Prophet ﷺ named it (the Month of Allah), and this indicates its virtue, status, and elevation, for Allah Almighty does not attribute to Himself except the most special of His creations ([1]).
Narrated Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The best fasting after Ramadan is the month of Allah, Al-Muharram, and the best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer” ([2]).
Since this month is distinguished by its attribution to Allah Almighty, fasting from among all deeds was also attributed to Allah Almighty. Since fasting belongs to Him among all deeds, it was fitting that this month attributed to Allah be distinguished by the deed attributed to Him, which is fasting.
It has been said regarding the meaning of attributing this month to Allah Almighty: It is an indication that its sacredness is decreed by Allah Almighty, and no one has the right to change it, unlike the pre-Islamic era (Jahiliyyah) when they used to make it lawful and make Safar sacred in its place. So, he pointed out that it is the month of Allah which He made sacred, and none of His creation has the right to alter or change that ([3]).
It was named Muharram as a confirmation of its sacredness; because the Arabs used to alternate it, making it lawful one year and sacred another year. Al-Zamakhshari said: He attributed it to His Exalted Name to honor and magnify it, like their saying: the “House of Allah” and the “Family of Allah” for Quraysh.
It was exclusively given this attribution unlike the rest of the months, even though there are months better than it by consensus; because it is an Islamic name. Its name in the pre-Islamic era was Safar Al-Awwal, and the rest of the months had identical names in both Jahiliyyah and Islam ([4]).
2- The Best Month for Fasting After Ramadan:
Fasting in the month of Allah, Muharram, is of the best fasts after the venerated month of Ramadan. Narrated Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The best fasting after Ramadan is the month of Allah, Al-Muharram, and the best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer” ([5]).
It is the best month to volunteer to fast completely after Ramadan. As for volunteering for parts of a month, it may be better than some of its days, like fasting on the Day of Arafah and the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, as mentioned by Al-Hafiz Ibn Rajab. That is because it is the beginning of the newly commenced year, and opening it with fasting—which is a light—is the best of deeds.
Al-Zamakhshari said: He singled it out among the sacred months because of the position of Ashura. The best months for voluntary fasting are Muharram, then Rajab, then the rest of the sacred months, then Sha’ban.
This does not contradict the Prophet’s ﷺ abundant fasting in the month of Sha’ban over it:
- A- Because he might have only learned of the virtue of fasting Muharram late before being able to fast it.
- B- Or perhaps excuses occurred that prevented him from fasting abundantly in it, such as travel, illness, and the like.
The preference for the fasting of Dawud (David) is regarding the method, and this is regarding the time. The method of Dawud in Muharram is better than his method in other months.
It appears that the best absolute voluntary fasting is in Muharram, just as the best absolute voluntary prayer is the night prayer. As for fasting that is subordinate, like fasting before and after Ramadan, it is not absolute; rather, its fasting is subordinate to Ramadan. Therefore, it is said that fasting the six days of Shawwal is attached to Ramadan and written with it as an obligatory fasting of a lifetime. So this type of fasting is the best of all voluntary fasts absolutely, while the absolute voluntary fast is best in Muharram ([6]).
3- One of the Sacred Months:
Allah Almighty said: {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.} [At-Tawbah: 36]. They were named sacred due to their increased sanctity and the prohibition of fighting during them ([7]).
Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn Abbas regarding His saying: {Indeed, the number of months with Allah…} the verse: Do not wrong yourselves in all of them, then He singled out four months from that, making them sacred and magnifying their sanctities, making the sin in them greater, and righteous deeds and reward greater.
Qatadah said regarding His saying: {so do not wrong yourselves during them}: Injustice in the sacred months is a greater error and sin than injustice in other months, although injustice is grave in all circumstances, but Allah magnifies whatever of His affairs He wills.
He also said: Allah has chosen elites from His creation. He chose messengers from angels and messengers from mankind, He chose His remembrance from speech, and He chose mosques from the earth. He chose Ramadan and the sacred months from the months, Friday from the days, and the Night of Decree (Laylat al-Qadr) from the nights. Therefore, magnify what Allah has magnified. The magnification of matters is only according to what Allah has magnified them by, in the sight of the people of understanding and intellect.
Al-Thawri reported from Qays bin Muslim from Al-Hasan from Muhammad bin Al-Hanafiyyah: That you do not violate their sanctity just as they are sacred.
Muhammad bin Ishaq said: {so do not wrong yourselves during them} meaning do not make its sacred lawful nor its lawful sacred, as the people of polytheism did. For the postponing [of a sacred month] (An-Nasi’) which they used to do is but an increase in disbelief {by which those who disbelieve are led astray} the verse ([8]).
Narrated Abu Bakrah, may Allah be pleased with him, from the Prophet ﷺ that he said: “Time has come back to its original state which it had when Allah created the Heavens and the Earth. The year is twelve months, four of which are sacred. Three of them are in succession: Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah, and Al-Muharram, and (the fourth being) Rajab of (the tribe of) Mudar which comes between Jumada and Sha’ban.” ([9]).
4- The Best of the Sacred Months:
Scholars differed as to which of the sacred months is the best:
- Al-Hasan and others said: The best of them is the month of Allah, Al-Muharram, and a group of the later scholars favored this view.
- Saeed bin Jubayr and others said: The best of the sacred months is Dhul-Qa’dah or Dhul-Hijjah.
- Some Shafi’i scholars claimed that the best of the sacred months is Rajab.
Ibn Rajab said: This is a rejected opinion, and the best is the month of Allah, Muharram, specifically its first ten days ([10]).
5- The First Month of the Hijri Year:
With it, the months of the Hijri year begin, and this was agreed upon during the era of Al-Farooq Umar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him. In it, documents are written, history is dated, and coins are minted.
By: Al-sayyid Ahmed Ahmed Sahloul
