Assalamualaikum everyone.

Alhamdulillah, Allah’s sacred month of Muharram is upon us.

It is a month that marks the first month of the Hijri calendar, and is one of the four sacred months in Islam.

The Prophet (PBUH) said:

“The year is twelve months of which four are sacred, the three consecutive months of Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab Mudar which comes between Jumadah and Sha’ban.” (Bukhari)

Given that this month marks a brand new Islamic year, a deeper look into the above narration highlights how Allah Almighty gave us the blessed month of Dhul-Hijjah at the end of the year in order for us to have the opportunity to end off our previous year strongly, and then gives us Muharram, in order to help us start our new year strongly as well!

In light of this, we should ensure extra care with regards to two matters:

📌Firstly: Staying away from sin.

Allah Almighty says about His months, and especially the 4 sacred ones: “… so wrong not yourselves therein … “.

In explanation of this verse, our scholars say that that sinning during the sacred months is more serious and more sinful that sinning during any other time.

Don’t get me wrong here! Sinning at any time is a serious matter, but Allah considers it even more severe when His slave sins during these sacred months.

📌Secondly: Doing good deeds, especially fasting!

About this, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘The best month of fasting after Ramadhan is fasting Allah’s month of Muharram.”‘ (Muslim).

The virtues of fasting this sacred month is even more pronounced with regards fasting the 10th day of the month.

Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said:

“I never saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) so keen to fast any day and give it priority over any other than this day, the day of ‘Ashura’, and this month, meaning Ramadhan.”
(Bukhari)

And regarding the rewards of fasting this day, the Prophet (pbuh) said:

“For fasting the day of ‘Ashura’, I hope that Allah will accept it as expiation for the year that went before.”

Life is short my brothers and sisters. We can’t afford to make it shorter by wasting divine opportunities like these.

May Allah Almighty accept the worship and forgive the mistakes of our last 12 months & our life thus far, and inspire us to be the best that we can be for the next 12 months & beyond. Ameen!

All the best my brothers & sisters.

I love you all for the sake of Allah.

Your brother,
Sajid Umar