The Gregorian calendar which has 365 days is different from the Islamic lunar calendar followed by Muslims which is based on the phases of the moon and has approximately 354 days divided into 12 months of which Muharram is the first, followed by the months of Safar, Rabi’ al-Thani, Jumada al-Awwal, Jumada ath-Thaniyyah, Rajab, Sha’ban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Zil-Qadah (or Zul Qadah) and Zil-Hijjah (or Zul Hijjah). After Ramadan or Ramzan, Muharram is considered the holiest month in Islam and marks the beginning of the lunar calendar that Islam follows.
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and the first of this month holds great importance for Muslims around the world as it is celebrated as the Islamic New Year, also known as Al Hijri or Arabic New Year. It was in this holy month that Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina, however, on the 10th day of the month, known as Ashura, Muslims mourn the death of Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.
date:
The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, so the dates of Muharram change every year in the Gregorian calendar. The crescent of Muharram was not sighted in Saudi Arabia on Friday evening i.e. July 05, 2024, which corresponded to the 29th day of the month of Zul Hijjah. Therefore, Saudi Arabian authorities announced that the first date of Muharram 1446 will begin on Saturday July 06, 2024 after Maghrib or evening prayers and according to the Gregorian calendar, July 07, 2024 will be the first day of Muharram in Saudi Arabia, marking the beginning of the Islamic New Year 1446.
The same applies to the UAE, USA, United Kingdom (UK), Oman and other Gulf countries or Western countries that follow KSA’s moon sighting. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and other South Asian countries are usually ready to sight the crescent moon of the holy month of Muharram a day later.
However, the crescent was not sighted after Maghrib on 06 July 2024, which corresponded to 29 Zul Hijjah in the country, therefore, 07 July will be the last day of Zul Hijjah 1445, while the Islamic New Year 1446 will be observed by Muslims in our country on 08 July 2024, which will be the first day of Muharram 1446/2024.
History:
Muharram has historical significance for both Sunni and Shia Muslims. It commemorates important events including the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (grandson of the Prophet Muhammad) at the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. This battle has huge religious and political significance in Islamic history.
The war took place during the caliphate of the second Umayyad caliph Yazid I and involved a conflict between the forces of Imam Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, and the ruling Umayyad army. Imam Hussein, along with his family members and a small group of loyal companions, refused to pledge allegiance to Yazid I due to concerns about his unjust rule and violation of Islamic principles.
They traveled to the city of Kufa in present-day Iraq, where the residents called for support, but upon reaching Karbala, Imam Hussain and his companions were confronted by a large Umayyad army that far outnumbered them. Despite the obstacles, Imam Hussain and his followers remained steadfast in their commitment to upholding justice and the true teachings of Islam.
On the 10th day of Muharram, known as Ashura, Imam Hussain and his supporters faced a brutal battle against the Umayyad army, where a small group of Imam Hussain’s followers, consisting of men, women and children, were surrounded and deprived of food and water for several days. Eventually, they were brutally killed and Imam Hussain himself was martyred in the battle.
Importance:
Muharram marks the beginning of the Islamic New Year, signifying a time of renewal and spiritual reflection. The word Muharram means ‘not permitted’ or ‘forbidden’, therefore, Muslims are forbidden from participating in activities such as war and use it as a time of prayer and reflection.
However, Muharram is also a month of mourning and introspection for Muslims. It commemorates the sacrifices made by Imam Hussain and his companions, highlighting the principles of justice, bravery and standing up against oppression.
The events of Karbala and the martyrdom of Imam Hussain hold great significance for Muslims. The sacrifices made by Imam Hussain and his companions are seen as a symbol of the importance of resistance against oppression and standing up for justice despite tyranny.
Rites and ceremonies:
Muharram is observed differently by Sunni and Shia Muslims, although mourning and remembrance are common aspects of both. Shia Muslims hold mourning processions, meetings called “majlis” and commemorate this tragic event through mourning rituals, processions and gatherings in mosques, Hussainiya or community centers where sermons given by religious leaders are heard, which recall and highlight the events of Karbala, pay tribute to the martyrs and express grief and condolences.
They may also perform acts such as self-flagellation or chest beating to show grief. Shia Muslims refrain from attending all joyous events and celebrations during this period and observe ‘Faqa’ on the tenth day of Muharram, which commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the son of Hazrat Ali and grandson of Prophet Muhammad, at Karbala.
For Sunnis, fasting on this day is considered Sunnah because according to Sunni tradition, the Prophet Muhammad fasted on this day after the Prophet Moses or Musa. Sunni Muslims may fast on the 9th and 10th or 10th and 11th day of Muharram, known as Ashura, as suggested by the Prophet Muhammad, where the two fasts of Ashura are also kept to distinguish them from the Jewish observance of Yom Kippur.
It was in the month of Muharram that Allah saved the children of Israel from Pharaoh, so as a sign of gratitude to Allah, Prophet Moses or Musa fasted on the day of Ashura on the 10th of Muharram. In 622 AD, when Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina in the month of Muharram, he learned from the Jews that they fasted on this day following the ways of Prophet Moses.
Expecting his followers to show the same gratitude to Allah, the Prophet Muhammad decided to observe a two-day fast – one on the day of Ashura and the other the day before (i.e. the 9th and 10th of Muharram). These are the traditional customs of Sunni Muslims.
On the 10th day of the month or Ashura, Muslims mourn the martyrdom of Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, at Karbala. The Shia community remembers the massacre on the day of Ashura when Imam Hussein was beheaded in the Battle of Karbala and to observe public mourning and remember the pain inflicted on their great leader and his family, members of the Shia community wear black clothes, abstain from eating, open And a procession is taken out on this day.
It is important to note that Muharram is a sacred time to reflect, remember and honor the sacrifices of Imam Hussain. It is a time of mourning and respect and those who celebrate it do so with reverence and sensitivity to its cultural and religious significance.
