Virtues of the month of Muharram

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In this thread, I will share some hadiths and sayings of the salaf regarding importance of month of Muharram.

Abu Hurairah narrated that : The Messenger of Allah said:
The most virtuous fasting after the month of Ramadan is Allah's month Al-Muharram.
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي بِشْرٍ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْحِمْيَرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ صِيَامِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ ‏.‏
Grade : Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 740
In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 59
English translation : Vol. 2, Book 3, Hadith 740
https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/8/59

Similar Hadith is found in Sahih Muslim:

Abu Haraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
The most excellent fast after Ramadan is God's month. al-Muharram, and the most excellent prayer after what is prescribed is prayer during the night.
حَدَّثَنِي قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي بِشْرٍ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، الْحِمْيَرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ وَأَفْضَلُ الصَّلاَةِ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1163 a
In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 261
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2611
https://sunnah.com/muslim/13/261
 
Understanding the Naafil Fast of Muharram

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said: “The best fast after Ramadan is in the month of Allah; Muharram.” [Muslim]
I have already quoted this hadith & have provided its references in my previous post, here I want to discuss two important things in understanding this hadith:
  1. It is proven that the Prophet never fasted any month in full apart from Ramadan. So this hadeeth is to be understood as meaning that it is encouraged to fast a great deal during the month of Muharram, not to fast the entire month.
  2. It was reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to fast more in Sha’baan. It is likely that the virtue of Muharram was not revealed to him until the end of his life, before he was able to fast during this month. (Sharh al-Nawawi ‘ala Sahih Muslim).
​And Allah knows the best!
 
It was said by Abu Uthmaan (May Allah have mercy on him): There are three sets of 10 that are venerated:
1. The last 10 nights of Ramadan
2. The first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah
3. The first 10 days of Muharram
[Lataaif Al-Ma'aarif]
 
The Day of 'Ashura: The Tenth of Muharram

It was narrated by Ibn Abbas that when the Prophet arrived at Medina, he found the Jews observing the fast on the day of 'Ashura (10th of Muharram). The Prophet asked them about it and they replied, "This is the day when Moses became victorious over Pharaoh." The Prophet said to the Muslims, "We are nearer to Moses than they, so fast on this day." [Bukhari]

It was narrated by Ibn Abbas that the Prophet said, “Fast the Day of `Ashura and be different from the Jews by fasting a day before it or a day after it.” [Ahmad]
It was narrated by Abu Qatadah that the Prophet was asked about observing fasting on the 10th day of Muharram, and he replied "It is an expiation for the sins of the preceding year." [Ibn Majah]

This year (2020) the day of 'Ashura (10th of Muharram) will be on Saturday August 29th. Muslims can choose to fast the 9th and 10th (Friday and Saturday), or the 10th and 11th (Saturday and Sunday). As needed, due to circumstances, the 10th may be fasted alone as well.
 
Fabricated ahadiths/stories about month of Muharram

Some people attribute the sanctity of ‘Ashura’ to the martyrdom of Sayyidna Husain [Radi-Allahu anhu], during his battle with the Syrian army. No doubt, the martyrdom of Sayyidina Husain [Radi-Allahu anhu] is one of the most tragic episodes of our history. Yet, the sanctity of ‘Ashura’ cannot be ascribed to this event for the simple reason that the sanctity of ‘Ashura’ was established during the days of the Holy Prophet ﷺ much earlier than the birth of Sayyidna Husain [Radi-Allahu anhu].
Consequently, deviated groups have been propagating lies about this event together with baseless and bid’ati acts during the month of al-Muharram. Hereunder are some frequently observed:

​

  • That the person applying kohl on this day will not have any pain in the eyes for the entire year.
  • That the person who baths on this day will not suffer any illness for the year.
  • That there is a special salaah to be performed on this day.
  • That the repentance of Prophet Adam [peace be upon him] was accepted on this day.
  • That the ark of Prophet Nooh [peace be upon him] settled on Mount Judi on this day.
  • That on this day Allah reunited Prophet Yusuf [Peace be upon him] his father Prophet Ya’qoob [Peace be upon him].
  • That Prophet Ibrahim [Peace be upon him] was saved from the fire on this day.
  • That on this day Allah sent the ram to be sacrificed in place of Prophet Isma’eel [Peace be upon him]
  • Day of Judgement will be established on this 'Ashura. An authentic hadith reported in Tirmidhi states that Qiyaamah will take place on a Friday.

However, no authentic hadith says that this Friday will fall on the month of Muharram (i.e. the day of Aashura). A hadith of this nature has been classified as a fabrication by Sheikh Ali bin Muhammad Ibn Arraaq (Rahimahullah) and by Allaama Suyuti (rahimahullah). A person called Habib Ibn Abi Habib has concocted it.

​
Sources and references for this post:
http://www.islamibayanaat.com/Englis...mAndAshura.pdf
https://islamqa.info/en/answers/4033...ay-of-mourning
http://www.albalagh.net/general/muha...ess Traditions
 
Last edited:
Important reminders: Friday (28th of August, 2020) & Saturday (29th August, 2020) correspond to 9th and 10th Muharram, 1442. Its Sunnah & highly recommended to fast these two days.

HADITH REFERENCES

It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“If I live until next year, I will fast the ninth day (of Muharram) too.”

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ عَبَّاسِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، مَوْلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏ "‏ لَئِنْ بَقِيتُ إِلَى قَابِلٍ لأَصُومَنَّ الْيَوْمَ التَّاسِعَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
English reference: Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 1736
Arabic reference: Book 7, Hadith 1808
https://sunnah.com/urn/1271390
Narrated `Aisha:
(The tribe of) Quraish used to fast on the day of Ashura' in the Pre-Islamic period, and then Allah's Apostle ordered (Muslims) to fast on it till the fasting in the month of Ramadan was prescribed; whereupon the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He who wants to fast (on 'Ashura') may fast, and he who does not want to fast may not fast."

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ، أَنَّ عِرَاكَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ، حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ عُرْوَةَ أَخْبَرَهُ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّ قُرَيْشًا، كَانَتْ تَصُومُ يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، ثُمَّ أَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِصِيَامِهِ حَتَّى فُرِضَ رَمَضَانُ وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ، وَمَنْ شَاءَ أَفْطَرَ ‏"‏‏.‏
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 1893
In-book reference: Book 30, Hadith 3
USC-MSA web (English) reference: Vol. 3, Book 31, Hadith 117
https://sunnah.com/bukhari/30/3
 

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