Brothers and sisters! We bid farewell to another year of the Hijrah. After the passing of the blessed month of Dhul-Hijjah, we are now in the sacred month of Muharram of the new Hijri year – 1436.
Do we realize that the year contains a number of days and nights which are what makes up our lifespan? When a day passes, then a part of us has passed. We are but a body and spirit existing in a limited time period. When that period comes to an end, our worldly life comes to an end. We move on to the realm of the life to come. There, we will be judged on how we spent our time in this world. We will be judged on our intentions and actions and rewarded or punished accordingly. It is only those of sound heart and intellect who realize the true value of these days and nights that pass.
We hope that insha’Allah, all of us tried to round off the last year with acts which drew us closer to Allah, as “actions are judged by their endings.” We welcome this New Hijri year and pray that Allah (SWT) in his infinite grace and mercy blesses us and keeps us busy with deeds that will draw us close to Him, in this New Year, and beyond. I want to share some thoughts with you in today’s khutbah on the historical aspect, the significance, and the virtues of this blessed month.
The Islamic calendar was first introduced during the era of Umar ibn Al-Khattab (RA). He asked the people as to which year they think should mark the beginning of the Islamic calendar. Some held that it should start from the birth of the Prophet (SAW) Others suggested that it should begin from the year he passed away. Still others said that it should commence from the very first day the Prophet (SAW) began his mission. A fourth group believed that the calendar should start with the hijrah. Umar (RA) chose the last suggestion, perhaps because the hijrah marked the point in history when Allah (SWT) differentiated between truth and falsehood. The hijrah was not only a historical event, but one that changed the course of history.
The month of Muharram, derives its sacredness from the two primary sources of Islamic guidance, the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Allah says,
إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ
“Indeed the number of months with Allah is twelve months in Allah’s Book, the day when He created the heavens and the earth. Of these, four are sacred”(al-Taubah, 9:26).
In a hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) identified these four sacred months to be Dhul Qa’dah, Dhul Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab. As a matter of fact, these four months were regarded as sacred by the Arabs, even before the advent of Islam. All fighting was deemed wrong and warfare was considered improper and irreligious during these months.
The month of Muharram features important events in the lives of earlier Prophets and Messengers of Allah (‘Alaihimussalam). The most significant of these is the one related by Ibn Abbas (RA). He reports that when Muhammad (SAW) first arrived in Madinah, he found the Jews fasting on the day of Aashura (i.e. the 10th of Muharram). They used to say: “This is a great day on which Allah saved Musa (AS) and the Bani Israel from the tyranny and persecution of Firaun. Musa (AS) used to fast on this day, as a sign of gratitude to Allah (SWT).” The Prophet (SAW) replied, “We have more right to Musa than you”; so he observed the fast on that day and commanded the Muslims to do so. This was one of the first forms of fasting that the early Muslims engaged in before the fasting of Ramadan.
On the basis of evidences, scholars of Islam have recommended three equally valid formats of fasting that can be observed during Muharram:
1. Fasting for the three consecutive days of the 9th, 10th and 11th of Muharram.
2. Fasting two days, either the 9th and 10th or 10th and 11th of Muharram.
3. Fasting only on the 10th of Muharram.
Fasting on the day of Aashura was a gradual step in the process of introducing the compulsory fasting during the month of Ramadan. It is reported from Ibn Mas’ud (RA) that when the fasting in the month of Ramadan was made compulsory, the obligation to fast on Aashura was lifted, i.e., it was no longer compulsory to fast on this day, but it is still mustahabb or desirable and is one of the ways through which Muslims uphold the sacredness of the month of Muharram. In a hadith, the Prophet (SAW) said: “For fasting the day of Aashura, I hope that Allah will accept it as expiation for the year that went before.” According to Imam al-Nawawi, (Rahimahullah), this expiation is for all minor sins.
Muharram is the beginning of a New Hijri Year. So, it is a good time for all of us to take stock of our lives and to make New Year resolutions that will lead to self-improvements in our lives. These resolutions should be balanced and should include spiritual, as well as physical, intellectual and social goals. For example, it is commendable to make resolutions of increasing our voluntary acts of worship such as prayers and fasting. We should, however, not limit ourselves to these noble and worthy goals but also make some modest resolutions concerning our physical health and well-being, improving our inter-personal relations with members of our family and friends and advancing our knowledge.
May Allah SWT grant us peace, security, health and happiness. May this be the year of mutual love, respect, understanding, reconciliation and compassion.
الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على سيد المرسلين وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين
The tenth of Muharram also marks a significant day in the Muslim calendar for a tragic event that took place in the 61st year of the hijrah; the martyrdom of Imam Husain (RA), the beloved grandson of the Prophet at Karbala in Iraq. Imam Husain challenged the authority of Yezid, the Umayyad ruler, and established the principle that sometimes the goals of life become more important than life itself. Imam Husain stood for the Qur’anic principle of justice and fairness. He spoke on behalf of those who were marginalized by a class of rulers who were laying the foundation of dynastic rules in Islam. Imam Husain refused to surrender to the forces of oppression knowing well that he could perish in the process.
Muharram is a month of serious reflections for the Muslim world. Unfortunately, in many parts of the world, this month has become a point of conflict between the Shias and the Sunnis. Thus, Imam Husain and his legacy is seen as a sectarian event. We should remember that Imam Husain was the grandson of the Prophet who lived his life the way he watched his grandfather live it. He embodied the qualities of the prophet in his character and he remained deeply committed to the Qur’anic values of justice and equality. His struggle was for fairness and Islamic values for common men and women.
When the power was usurped by the Umayyad rulers and the people’s right to elect their Caliph was turned into a dynastic rule with little regard for human life, human dignity, freedom, and justice, Imam Husain mobilized first his family then his supporters to challenge the brutal might of a well organized, well equipped and well trained army. The outcome was known from the beginning. Imam Husain was aware of the imbalance in power. He had the choice to make a tactical withdrawal. He had the choice of accepting the rule of the Umayyads and give legitimacy to their claim. Yet he chose to stand his ground knowing fully well that he and his followers may not survive at the end of the conflict. He did not run away. He knew why he was there and why he had challenged the authority. He fought bravely and left the world with violent wounds as a testimony of his belief that sometimes in the life of nations come moments when liberty and justice become more important than the life itself.
Imam Husain’s martyrdom at Karbala provides evidence of the moral victory of right over wrong, of virtue over vice, of principle over compromise, of the oppressed over the oppressor, the ultimate victory of blood over sword. It was a sacrifice given in support of human rights and human dignity. It is this sacrifice that has inspired millions throughout history to challenge injustice and inhumanity on the part of political powers. Imam Husain is a living legacy of Muslims. This legacy should not be split into Sunni or Shia conflict.
Shias and Sunnis both need to work together to uphold the legacy and sacrifice that the Grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), Imam Husain (RA) gave. Shias need to look at this observance beyond the passion plays and Sunnis should recognize this historical tragedy beyond a sectarian and political divide. All Muslims need to remember Imam Husain for his commitment to justice as taught by the Quran.
وَأْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَانْهَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا أَصَابَكَ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ
“Command what is right and forbid what is wrong and be steadfast in the face of all that happens to you. Surely, this is something which requires firm resolve” (Luqman, 31:17).
We ask Allah (SWT) to make us live in Islam and to make us die in iman. May He help us to do that what pleases Him. We ask Him to help us to remember Him and to be thankful to Him, to obey Him and to worship Him. May He accept our good deeds and forgive us our misdeeds. May He make us of those who are mindful of Him. Ameen.
وَصَلَّ اللهُ عَلَى خيرِ خَلقِهِ مُحمَّدٍ وعَلَى آلِه وأصْحَابِه أجْمَعِين- بِرَحْمَتِكَ يا أرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِين–
