The month of Muharram is one of the sacred months. A Muslim is supposed to gain the advantage of these months so as to draw nearer to Allah by offering voluntary religious deeds such as supererogatory prayers, voluntary fasting, charity, etc.
In the month of Muharram, we should remember the Hijrah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) from Makkah to Madinah. There are many lessons in this story and it can help us understand the basic significance of the Hijrah calendar.
It is also the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) to fast on the 9th and 10th of Muharram. The Prophet used to fast on the 10th day (Ashura). When he came to Madinah, he found out that the Jews of Madinah were also fasting on this day remembering Prophet Musa (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet admired this tradition and he said to the Jews, “We are closer to Musa than you are.” He fasted and he also told his Companions to fast on this day. Later, before the end of his life on this earth, the Prophet told Muslims to add the 9th day also. Thus, it is recommended to fast on both the 9th and 10th of Muharram.
In his well-known book, Fiqh Assunnah, the late Sheikh Sayyed Sabiq states: Abu Hurayrah reported: “I asked the Prophet: ‘Which Prayer is the best after the obligatory Prayers?’ He said: ‘Prayer during the mid of the night.’ I asked: ‘Which fasting is the best after that of Ramadan?’ He said, ‘The month of Allah that you call Muharram’” (Ahmad, Muslim, and Abu Dawud).
Muawiyyah ibn Abi Sufyan reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah say: “Concerning the day of `Ashura’, it is not obligatory upon you to fast on it as I do. Whoever wishes may fast and whoever does not wish to is not obliged to do so”
(Bukhari and Muslim).
It is noteworthy that Muslim scholars have stated that fasting of Ashura is of three levels:
1. fasting for three days, i.e., on the 9th, 10th, and 11th of Muharram,
2. fasting on the 9th and 10th of Muharram, and
3. fasting only on the 10th of Muharram.
It is also good to remember the great sacrifice of Al Husain and his family (may Allah be pleased with all of them). Theirs was the true Jihad for the cause of truth and justice. We should learn the lessons of courage, patience and perseverance from the episode of Karbala’ (year 61 A.H. / 680 C.E).
