THE VIRTUES OF THE MONTH OF MUHARRAM AND FASTING ON ‘ASHURA

 

The wheels of time turn without ceasing. A new moon rises over us — Muharram is here.

Despite the overwhelming prevalence of the Gregorian calendar, we, as Muslims, must keep in mind that our calendar is the Hijri calendar, which began with the Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) migration from Makkah to Madinah.

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them, four are Sacred (i.e., the 1st, the 7th, the 11th, and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein.”

(Surat at-Tawbah 9:36)

The first month—the month of Allah, Al-Muharram—is one of the four sacred months, during which we must strive to increase our good deeds and avoid sin.

Commenting on the verse above, Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, concerning the words of Allah, “so wrong not yourselves therein” [Surat at-Tawbah 9:36]:

“The command not to wrong yourself applies in all months. Then Allah singled out four months and made them sacred, and emphasized their sanctity. He made sin during these months more grave, and He made righteous deeds—and the reward thereof—greater.”

One of the virtuous deeds to increase in during Muharram is fasting. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“The best fasting after Ramadan is the month of Allah, al-Muharram, and the best prayer after the obligatory prayer is prayer at night.”

(Muslim, 1163)

Qiyamul-layl—waking up to worship your Rabb while most of the world lies in deep slumber—is another act of worship through which we can hope for immense reward from Allah.

My dear busy health professional students, dhikr (remembrance of Allah) as we go about our daily lives can be a great avenue for earning rewards.

Charity and supporting a good cause is another avenue for great rewards. Allah says:

“Who is it that will lend to Allah a goodly loan, so that He may multiply it for him many times over? And it is Allah who withholds and gives freely, and to Him you will all return.”

(Surat al-Baqarah, 2:245)

Will you heed this call and lend Allah a goodly loan in this sacred month? Will you contribute to strengthening the bond of brotherhood in MSSN UCH? Will you take ₦1000, ₦2000, or more out of what He has provided for you and donate towards the procurement of a new bus for the Ummah?

This bus will facilitate the transport of students for Islamic programmes, prison visitations, medical outreaches, etc. More information on this should be shared in the future, in shaa Allah.

Fasting on the Day of ‘Ashura

The day of ‘Ashura—the 10th day of Muharram—is one on which we are encouraged to fast, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“Fasting the day of ‘Arafah—I hope Allah will expiate thereby for the year before it and the year after it—and fasting the day of ‘Ashura—I hope Allah will expiate thereby for the year that came before it.”

(Muslim, 1162)

Likewise, in the hadith narrated by al-Bukhari (1865) from Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him):

 The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came to Madinah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of ‘Ashura.

He said, “What is this?”

They said, “This is a good day—this is the day when Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy, and Musa fasted on this day.”

He said, “We are closer to Musa than you.”

So he fasted on this day and told the people to fast.

The month of Muharram and the day of ‘Ashura are great opportunities that Allah has bestowed upon us.

"May Allah aid us to do good deeds that are accepted by Him in the coming month and beyond."

by Zaynab Boladale