Islamic New Year
This week marked the beginning of the Islamic New Year, Muharram and soon Ashura, but for those of us who aren’t so familiar what do all these days mean?
Muharram — The New Year & The Sacred Months
Muharram is simply the first month of the lunar calendar; marking the start of the Islamic New year.
Along with Rajab, Dhū al-Qaʿdah, and Dhū al-Ḥijjah these four months make up what Allah has called in the Qur’an "The Sacred Months":
"إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ "
"God decrees that there are twelve months- ordained in God’s Book on the Day when He created the heavens and earth- four months of which are sacred" — Qur’an 9:36
Fighting and war is prohibited in these sacred months. One of these months is Ramadan, the other three months allow for sanctity during the time of Hajj and the adjacent months. Providing safety of travel for those performing Hajj in Dhul-Hijjah, or travelling to or from Hajj in the preceding and succeeding month.
On top of this Muharram is considered the best of months for fasting; after Ramadan naturally.
We know from a hadith that the Prophet (ﷺ) told us:
أَفْضَلُ الصَّلاَةِ بَعْدَ الصَّلاَةِ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ الصَّلاَةُ فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ وَأَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ صِيَامُ شَهْرِ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمِ
“The best prayer after the prescribed prayers is a prayer offered in the middle of the night. The best fast after the month of Ramadan is fasting in the month of Allah, Muharram.” [Sahih Muslim]
Apart from general fasting, are there any specific days we are encouraged to fast? That brings us to the oft-discussed and sometimes contentious topic of Ashura.
Ashura
Ashura is the 10th day of Muharram and has much historical significance for Jews as well as Muslims.
"When the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) reached Medina (after Hijrah), he found the Jews fasting the Day of `Ashura, so he asked them:’What is this day you are fasting?’
They said: 'This is a tremendous day. Allah saved Moses and his people on this day and drowned Pharaoh and his people. Moses fasted it out of thanks, so we fast it too.'
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'And we are more deserving of Moses than you are.' So he fasted this day, and ordered that it be fasted." — [Bukhari]
Ashura marks the day that Moses saved his people from Pharaoh. Moses is one of the foremost Prophets in Islam, being the most mentioned Prophet in the Qur’an. As such many sunni Muslims will fast on this day too.
"أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم سئل عن صيام يوم عاشوراء فقال: "يكفر السنة الماضية"
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked about fasting on the tenth day of Muharram, and he replied, 'It is an expiation for the sins of the preceding year.’" — [Sahih Muslim]
In addition to this it is recommended for those fasting the 10th of Ashura to also fast one day either before or after Ashura, i.e either the 9th or 11th of Ashura.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Fast the Day of Ashura and be different from the Jews by fasting a day before it or a day after it.” [Ahmad]
Karbala
The day of Ashura, 10th of Muharam, also marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Killed at the battle of Karbala his sacrifice is considered to be one of the ultimate sacrifices for Allah.
"وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أَمْوَٰتًۢا ۚ بَلْ أَحْيَآءٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ
فَرِحِينَ بِمَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَيَسْتَبْشِرُونَ بِٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يَلْحَقُوا۟ بِهِم مِّنْ خَلْفِهِمْ أَلَّا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ بِنِعْمَةٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ"
"Think not of those who are slain in the way of Allah as dead. Nay they are living! With their Lord they have provision. Jubilant are they because of that which Allah hath bestowed upon them of His bounty, rejoicing for the sake of those who have not joined them but are left behind: that there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve. They rejoice because of favour from Allah and kindness, and that Allah wasteth not the wage of the believers" — Qur’an 3:169-171
This day is considered the most tragic day in Islamic history, after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). As such it is lamented by Muslims across the world. Among those mourning will be both Sunnis and Shias, with a main difference being that Shias won’t fast for Ashura while Sunnis will. However this small difference doesn’t preclude both parties honouring and remembering the martydom of Imam Hussain.
"it was the supreme sacrifice that is for God’s Sake… Muharram may just as easily be called the ‘month of sacrifice." —Shaykh Faid Mohammed Said
This year Muharram 1444 AH began on Saturday 30th July 2022 — Ashura will be on Monday 8th August 2022 insha’Allah.
The First of Muharram (Awal Muharram)
While there aren’t specific prayers to read to bring in the new year, in some cultures there is a beautiful tradition to recite dua at the mosque to bring in the new year. The following is a beautiful supplication that’s often read to ask God for his favour and blessings as we begin our new year:
الحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ العَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَى سَيِّـدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ
Alhamdulillāhi Rabbil ‘ālamīn, wassolatu wassalāmu 'ala sayyidinā Muhammad, wa ‘alā ālihi wasohbihi ajma’īn
اَللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الأَبَدِيُّ القَدِيمُ الأَوَّلُ وَعَلَى فَضْلِكَ العَظِيمِ وَجُودِكَ المُعَوَّلِ، وَهَذَا عَامٌ جَدِيدٌ قَدْ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا
Allahumma Antal-Abadiyyul-Qodimul-Awwal, wa 'ala fadhlikal-’azhim wa jūdikal-mu'awwal, wa haza 'āmun jadidun qad aqbala ‘alainā.
نَسْألُكَ العِصْمَةَ فِيهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ وَأَوْلِيَاءِهِ وَجُنُودِهِ
Nas-alukal ‘ismata fihi minas-syaitānir-rojīm wa awliyā-ihi wa junūdih,
وَالعَوْنَ عَلَى هَذِهِ النَّفْسِ اللأَمَّارَةِ بِالسُّوءِ، وَالاِشْتِغَالِ بِمَا يُقَرِّبُنَا إِلَيْكَ زُلْفَى، يَا ذَا الجَلاَلِ وَالإِكْرَامِ
wal-‘auna 'alā hazihin-nafsil ammārati bis-sū’, Wal-ishtighali bimā yuqorribunā ilaika zulfa. Ya Zhal-Jalāli Wal-Ikrom.
اللَّهُمَّ أَهِلَّهُ عَلَيْنَا بِالأَمْنِ وَاْلإِيْمَانِ، وَالسَّلاَمَةِ وَاْلإِسْلاَمِ، رَبِّيْ وَرَبُّكَ اللهُ، هِلَالُ رُشْدٍ وَخَيْرٍ
Allāhumma ahillahu 'alainā bil-amni wal-īmān, wassalāmati wal-islām, Rabbī wa-RabbukAllāh, hilālu rusydin wa-khayrin
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسأَلُكَ اْلعَافِيَةَ وَالشِّفَاءَ مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ وَوَبَاءٍ، وَاجْعَلْ لَنَا مِنَ السَّالِمِيْنَ وَاْلمُعاَفِيْنَ مِنْهَا
Allāhumma innā nas-alukal-'āfiyata wasy-syifā-a min kulli dā-in wa-wabā-in, waj-'al lanā minas-sālimīna wal-mu'āfīna minhā,
وَأَعِدْ عَلَيْنَا لَذَّةَ التَّحَنُّثِ وَاْلاِعتِكَافِ فِيْ بَيْتٍ مِنْ بُيُوْتِكَ يَا أَكْرَمَ اْلأَكْرَمِينَ
wa-a'id 'alainā lazzatat-tahannuthi wal-i’tikāfi fī baytin min buyūtika yā Akramal-Akramīn
وَصَلَّى اللهُ وَسلَّمَ عَلَى سَيـِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَالحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ العَالَمِينَ
Wa sollAllāhu wasallam ‘alā sayyidinā Muhammad wa ‘alā ālihi wa sohbihi ‘ajma’īn wal-hamdu lillāhi Rabbil-‘ālamīn
(x3)
In the name of Allah The Most Merciful, The Most Compassionate.
All praises be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds. Prayers and salutations be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and all of his companions.
O Allah, You are The Everlasting, The Eternal and The First, and by Your great blessings and generosity as this new year has dawned upon us - we ask You for protection from the devil, his allies and forces. And we seek from You assistance to repel against our own urges to sin, and to immerse us with that which brings us closer to You, O The Posessor of Majesty and Honour.
O Allah, let this moon appear before us with security and faith, with safety and Islam. My lord and your lord is Allah. May this moon bring guidance and goodness.
O Allah we ask you for well-being and cure from all sickness and diseases. And make us amongst those who are safe and have recovered from it.
Restore to us the sweetness of performing acts of worship and i’tikaf at Your house (of worship), O Allah the Most Honourable.
And may Allah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and all his companions. And all praises be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
Summary
Muharram marks the new year in the Islamic Calendar (Starting on: Saturday 30th July 2022)
It is a blessed month during which we should aim to fast more, especially on the day of Ashura: Monday 8th August 2022 and the two days flanking it: 7th + 9th August 2022
It is a blessed time for extra prayers (dua) - as the ones mentioned above.
I hope and pray that we all may benefit from it and if we are able to take the opportunity to fast, may it be accepted from us and an expiation for our sins of the last year insha’Allah.
Ashura can often be a time of division in the community due to the different approaches often taken by Sunnis and Shias at this time. I’ve only skimmed the surface in my brief writing and would highly recommend the following reading for those looking to learn more.
Further Reading:
Yaqeen Institute: https://yaqeeninstitute.org/read/paper/the-months-ordained-by-allah-reviving-the-islamic-calendar
Seekers Guidance: https://seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/virtues-of-the-sacred-month-of-muharram-its-first-ten-days-and-the-day-of-ashura/
Muslim.sg 🇸🇬: https://muslim.sg/articles/why-is-muharram-celebrated-and-other-muharram-faqs
https://www.muslim.sg/articles/doa-awal-muharram-and-3-other-simple-acts-for-muharram
https://seekersguidance.org/tag/virtues-of-muharram/
Sacred months: https://muslim.sg/articles/4-sacred-months-in-islam
Karbala: https://whoishussain.org/who-is-hussain/the-full-story/
Jezzak Allah Khair for such an accurate and clear description of Ashura and for the magnificent Du'as. May Allah SWT reward the author abundantly, Ameen.