Muharram Month begins; 2nd Holiest Month after Ramzaan
Muharram is considered one of the holiest months of the Islamic Lunar calendar. In this month, Muslims are prohibited from taking part in warfare. Muharram means ‘impermissible’ and is believed to be the month of recollection. Muharram al Haram is the first month of the Islamic Calendar.
Muslims around the globe will celebrate Al Hijri 1442 on August 20 or August 21 according to the appearance of the new moon. The Islamic calendar consists of twelve months, namely al-Muharram, Safar, Rabi-al-Thani, Jumada al-Awwal, Jumada al-Thani, Rajab, Shaban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Zu al-Qadah and Zu al-Hijjah. Islamic calendar or Hijri calendar has about 354 or 355 days non-similar to the Gregorian calendar. The day also marks the migration of Prophet Muhammed from Mecca to Medina.
According to the lunar or Islamic calendar, the New Year is observed on the first day of Muharram. This month is the second holiest month after Ramadan (a period of fasting called Sawm). Celebrations begin after the sighting of the new moon on the last day of the lunar calendar. The tenth day of Muharram, known as the day of Ashura, which is expected to fall on August 30, is the most important.
Legend
According to the Sunni tradition, Prophet Muhammed did a fast on this day in Mecca. It is believed that Allah saved the people of Israel from Pharaoh and Prophet Musa kept a fast on this day. Some people keep a fast on Ashura, the tenth day of Muharram and they mourn the death of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammed. Husayn ibn Ali was killed in the battle of Karbala (modern-day Iraq). On this day, Shia Muslims mourn the loss of Imam Husayn and remember the suffering that he went through.
Public mourning takes place and followers chant ‘Ya Hussain’ or ‘Ya Ali’. Muslim people shed blood by beating themselves with sharp weapons as a mark of respect to the Imam. Shias believe it cleanses away the sins. This ritual is known as Tatbir or Qama Zani. In India, it is known as matham.
Events Associated with Muharram
Consequently, various historical events, including the year when Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was born, the year of the Prophethood, the time of Migration and the time when the Prophet had died, were proposed by the people.
“However unanimity surfaced for the year that coincided with the migration of the Prophet (peace be upon him) from Makkah as the commencing year of the Islamic Calendar. For, it was the migration of Prophet Mohammad (Peace be Upon Him) from Makkah to Madinah that had resulted Islam nurturing into the new heights and spreading to the whole Arab lands, and also to the surrounding States”, Rehnuma says quoting from the history.
“Moreover, Moharram al-Haram was also associated with many historical events and the month has always been considered as one among the four most respected and sacred months since centuries. These features only added strength to the selection of Moharram al-Haram as the first month of the Islamic calendar”, she added.
Youm e Ahsura coincides with 10th of Muharram. This is the day when Prophet Moses (Peace be upon him) was liberated from Pharaoh. The day is also remembered for the Sahadah of Hadhrat Hussain (R. A.) – the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).
The Islamic Calendar thus introduced and adopted some 1,441 years ago, soon became popular, and also became part and partial of the calendars in every Muslim household.
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