“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 to say, Dhul-Qaddah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab): That is
the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them.”
(At-Tauba, 9:36).
The
month of Muharram is one of the four holy months of Allah (swt). They are : Rajab,
Dhul-Qaddah, Dhul-Hijjah, and Muharram. Obedience in these months
brings more reward and disobedience multiplies punishment.
This
is the only month of the year that the Prophet (pbuh) connected to the name of
Allah (swt). He called it “The Holy Month of
Allah” (Shahrullah al-Muharram).
The emigration (Hijra) of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) from Mecca to Medina did not take place in this month as one would tend to believe. But it was in the month of Rabi-ul-Awwal.
The emigration (Hijra) of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) from Mecca to Medina did not take place in this month as one would tend to believe. But it was in the month of Rabi-ul-Awwal.
Taking the 10th day of Muharram as a mourning celebration because of the death of Al-Husayn ibn Ali (ra), is not in the Sunnah. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) never ordered his companions or his community (Ummah) to take the misfortunes of the prophets and their deaths as mourning (funeral) ceremonies. So what about those who were not [even] prophets? Therefore, it is not allowed to take the 10th of Muharram as a day of sorrow and sadness to gather for this purpose. It is true that it is very sad and grieving what happened to the grandchild of our beloved Prophet (pbuh) and the son of Hazrat Ali (ra), the 4th Rightly-Guided Caliph (Khalifa-e-Rashida). But do not make mourning ceremonies.
Today we can explain to young people who
are not aware of this tragedy about the sacrifices and martyrdom of Hazrat Imam
Husayn ibn Ali (ra), his family and his companions. This is a lesson for all
Muslims until the Day of Judgment, and it would be good to explain to young
people about this part of our history as Muslims so that we all become brave,
pious, honest, sincere and valiant as Imam Husayn ibn Ali (ra).
The
important point, as I told you, is that our beloved prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
never ordered his companions or his community to take the misfortunes of the
prophets and their deaths as mourning ceremonies. If for the dead prophets, our
beloved prophet (pbuh) did not give the instruction to perform such mourning
ceremonies, then how is it that today Muslims have trampled this instruction/
teaching and have introduced many innovations (bidat) into the pure
religion of Islam?
Nowadays we find that at the death of a close person, a section of Muslims practice Khattam or Chalisma. And besides, they prepare dishes such as brianni and they invite the mullahs and others to come and read every day for forty days. These are innovations (bidat) that did not exist in Islam. There were no Urs for the Pirs, such as mourning/ funeral ceremonies and the construction of the Dargas (mausoleums) in their memory. Today these innovations have taken a worrying scale because these acts are synonymous with associations with Allah (the Shirk).
Nowadays we find that at the death of a close person, a section of Muslims practice Khattam or Chalisma. And besides, they prepare dishes such as brianni and they invite the mullahs and others to come and read every day for forty days. These are innovations (bidat) that did not exist in Islam. There were no Urs for the Pirs, such as mourning/ funeral ceremonies and the construction of the Dargas (mausoleums) in their memory. Today these innovations have taken a worrying scale because these acts are synonymous with associations with Allah (the Shirk).
Some
Muslims practice idolatry in a different form, addressing their prayers to dead
people whom they believe can intercede on their behalf with Allah. It is not
surprising either that when people of other religions, especially Hindus, see
these practices, they approve of them and they too go to these Dargas
because these are indeed their own practices and cultures that Hindus of
yesteryears, after embracing Islam introduced into the pure religion of Islam.
Instead of embracing the precepts of Islam in the right way, they introduced
their own beliefs by mixing them with those of Islam to create another
perception of Islamic practices and all of this is very condemnable in Islam. Allah, through His Book (the Qur’an) and His Messenger (Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh))
has condemned all these practices.
The
pagans of Arabia used to worship idols, and then they had faith in one God.
Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) and his companions with the help of Allah showed them
the right way. But what happened after the death of the Holy Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh)? The Muslims were divided, and there was even a hideous person like
Yazeed who dismembered the healthy body of Islam, and Hazrat Imam Al-Husayn
(ra) represented that blessed body! So, all this is food for thought! Muslims
have a duty to reflect on all this before leaving this world. How would they dare
to show themselves to Allah when they practiced this kind of Shirk by
believing that what they did was good?
The Fast of ASHURA
According
to a Hadith narrated by Abdur Rahman ibn As-Sakhr (ra), the Holy Prophet (pbuh)
said: “The best fast after the fast of Ramadan is that of the holy month of
Allah, Al-Muharram.” (Muslim)
We
understand from this that it is strongly recommended to fast during the month
of Muharram. And as you know, fasting is for Allah and not for another. The
Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) before the revelation of the command to fast
Ramadan used to fast the day of Ashura on the 10th day of the month
of Muharram in thanks to Allah for the victory that Allah had granted to Hazrat
Musa (as) on Pharaoh, the great tyrant of the history of humanity. May Allah
(swt) curse this Pharaoh forever. Ameen.
Muslims
have a higher right over Hazrat Musa (as) than Jews, because Muslims - those
who absolutely respect all Islamic precepts - are the true heirs of the prophet
Moses (as).
Abdullah
ibn Abbas (ra) reports: “When the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) arrived in
Medina, he saw that the Jews were fasting on the day of Ashura. He asked them, ‘What
is this fast?’ They answered, ‘It is a good day, it is the day when Allah (swt)
saved the children of Israel from their enemy. Musa (as) therefore fasted that
day. ‘The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) added: ‘I have more right than you over Musa.’
He then fasted that day and commanded us to do the same.” (Bukhari)
In
short, when Hazrat Musa (as) left Egypt with his followers, Pharaoh followed
him with his people, including notables, councilors, Copts, and so on. The two
groups were soon within sight of each other. As Pharaoh and his men approached
the disciples of Hazrat Musa (as), the fear of being joined and overtaken by
the tyrant increased in their hearts. But Hazrat Musa (as) comforted his people
as Allah informs us in the following verse:
“So they pursued them at sunrise. And when the two groups saw
one another, the companions of Moses said, ‘Indeed, we are to be overtaken!’
[Moses] said, ‘No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me.’ Then We
inspired to Moses, ‘Strike with your staff the sea,’ and it parted, and each
portion was like a great towering mountain. And We advanced thereto the
pursuers. And We saved Moses and those with him, all together. Then We drowned
the others. Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be
believers. And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.”
(Ash-Shu’ara 26: 61-69).
Finding
that his death is very near, Pharaoh then attested his faith to the true Lord Whom
he always denied. Unfortunately, it was too late for him. When the soul reaches
someone’s throat, it becomes too late to repent and return to the truth. Allah
(swt) says:
And We brought the Children of Israel across the sea, and
Pharaoh with his hosts pursued them in rebellion and transgression, till, when
the (fate of) drowning overtook him, he exclaimed: ‘I believe that there is no
Allah save Him in Whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of those who
surrender (unto Him).’ - ‘What! Now! When before that you have rebelled
and been of the wrong-doers? Today We will preserve your corpse so that you may
become an example for those who come after you. And surely most people are
heedless of Our signs!’” (Yunus
10: 91-93).
Then
the sea rejected him, so that he might become an eternal example for those who reflect
(for the Ulul-al-Baab). Such is the consequence of the sins of a true
dictator, unprecedented arrogant. Thus is the finality of injustice and
tyranny. The punishment of the afterlife is even more painful and more enduring
for him. Allah confirms this fact in His Blessed Book:
“So Allah protected him [Moses] from the evils they plotted, and
the people of Pharaoh were enveloped by the worst of punishment - The Fire;
they are exposed to it morning and evening; and on the day when the Hour is
established (it will be said to the angels): ‘Make the people of Pharaoh enter
the severest punishment.’” (Ghafir 40: 46-47).
So,
to celebrate this victory, the Jews fasted that day. It is a noble act that the
Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) approved. He not only approved it but put it into
practice too.
The
Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) also used to fast on the 9th of
Muharram. Ibn Abbas (ra) recounted in another narration that the Messenger of
Allah (pbuh) said: “If I live until next year, I will fast also the ninth (day
of Muharram).” (Muslim)
So,
he fasted the 9th and 10th of Muharram, and he even
recommended fasting one day after the day of Ashura. He said, “Fast the day
of Ashura, [and] counter the Jews by fasting also a day before or a day after.”
(Ahmad)
The
fast of Ashura expiates the small sins committed during the past year. (Muslim).
We fast on that day to thank Allah (swt) and show our gratitude to Him (swt).
Even the Quraish before the advent of Islam fasted on the day of Ashura. And
later, after the revelation of Allah’s command to fast the month of Ramadan,
that day of fasting (Ashura) became optional.
According
to Hazrat Aisha (ra): “Ashura was a day of fasting for the Quraish in the
pre-Islamic era. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) also observed this day of fasting.
When he emigrated to Medina, he fasted the day of Ashura and ordered his
companions to do so. Subsequently, when the fast of Ramadan was prescribed, he
fasted only Ramadan and left that of Ashura. So, we are free to fast that day or
not.” (Bukhari)
Thus
the fasting of Ashura and that of the month of Muharram as a whole are optional
and should in no way be associated with the death of Al-Husayn (ra) or other
dead people on this day. We must thank Allah and ask Him to protect us
continually against evil in all its forms.
And
kindly remember in your duahs the wife of our Naib Amir Hariz Sahib of
Kerala, Razia Sahiba who is very ill, and pray also for all our members who are
ill, the men, women and children in the different countries – Comoros, Mayotte, etc. – and those who have sent me emails to pray for them.
May
Allah (swt) give us mercy and favour us with a continual victory over His
enemies and the enemies of Islam. Ameen, Summa Ameen, Ya Rabbul Aalameen.
On
this end note, I wish all my followers and other Muslims around the world: Muharram Mubarak ! Naya
Saal Mubarak !