Muharram - A month to remember

Story by  ANI | Posted by  Aasha Khosa • 2 Years ago
A tazia being taken out
A tazia being taken out

 

 Obaidur Rahman Nadwi

Muharram, the first month of Islamic calendar is considered one of the four sacred months. The holy Quran says: “Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months in a year, so it was ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them, four are sacred. (Muharram, Ziqadah, Zilhijjah,and Rajab). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein.” (At-Tawbah-9:36)

History bears witness that the month of Muharram assumes great significance because of various events. Adam was created on the 10th  of Muharram and he entered paradise the same day. He was thrown out of the paradise the same day and his repentance is also accepted that day. This is also said that the first time rain descended to earth in month of Muharram. Prophet Noah’s ark touched Mount Judi from horrible deluge in this month. Namrud’s fire turned into flowers on Prophet Ibrahim on tenth of Muharram. Prophet Jonah was taken out from abdomen of fish after a long time in this month. A splendid throne was conferred on Prophet Solomon on 10th of this month. Prophet Moses got rid of oppressions and atrocities of Pharaoh in this month.

Hazrat Husain, grandson of Prophet Mohammad was martyred on 10th of Muharram too

It may be noted that when Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Madinah, he saw that Jews observe fast on 10th of Muharram. They said that it was the day on which the Prophet Moses and his followers crossed the Red Sea miraculously and the Pharaoh was drowned in its water.

On hearing this from the Jews, the Prophet said, “We are more closely related to Moses than you,” and advised the Muslims to keep fast on the day of Ashoorah. The Prophet said: “The best of fasting after Ramadhan is the fasting in Allah’s favourite month of Muharram. A number of traditions describe virtues and attributes of Muharram in a sublime way. Let us see to what extent we observe the day of Ashoorah (10th day of Muharram). Here there is no difference or distinction between different sects of Muslims as they observe this great and sacred day reverentially.

There is no dispute that the martyrdom of Hazrat Husain on 10th of Muharram was indeed a great event in the annals of history. In his book “The Life of Caliph Ali,” Maulana S. Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi writes: “Abu Makhnuf relates that after Husain was martyred he saw his body bore marks of 33 cuts by lances and 34 by other weapons. The number of martyrs who laid their lives with Husain was 72.

Muhammad b. Hanafiyah relates that 17 of the martyrs were the progeny of Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet. The day on which this tragedy befell was Friday, the 10th of Muharram, 61 H/10th  of October 680 A.D. Husain was then of 54 years six and a half month of age.” In fact Hazrat Husain was on the right path. He dedicated his whole life to the cause of Islam. His martyrdom reflects his courage, bravery, integrity, honesty, truthfulness, justice and righteousness to fight against evil and disruptive forces. Needless to say that Yazid whose forces attacked Hazrat Husain’s party himself confessed his sin and mourned the death of Hazrat Husain.

Hisham says that when the head of Hazrat Husain was brought before Yazid, his eyes got filled with tears. He said to his courtiers: “I would not have admonished you if you had not killed Husain. May Allah curse Ibn Sumayyah. By God, had I been there, I would have forgiven him” (Al-Bidayah, Vol. VIII, P. 189)

It is a point to ponder over that Sunnis and Shias have no difference with each other on this issue. Sunnis and Shias both have high regard for Hazrat Husain. In fact, Hasan and Husain are refered to as the leaders of young men in paradise. In Friday sermons Sunni Imams often praise Hasan and Husain in their congregational address.

Ibn Taimiyah says: “Allah honoured Husain with martyrdom and disgraced those who took his life or assisted in the misdeed or assented to it. Husain was a paradigm of the earlier martyrs of Islam since he and his brother are the leaders of the youth in Paradise. They had been brought up during the initial period of Islam and so they had been deprived of migration and sufferings for the cause of Islam and the persecution undergone by their predecessors. Therefore Allah blessed them with martyrdom and raised them in honour and esteem and enhanced their status. His martyrdom was grievous tragedy” (Fatawa Ibn Taymiyah Vol. IV: P. 483)

To sum up, Sunnis and Shias both hold Hazrat Husain in high regard. The tragedy of Karbala is considered by both too painful to be forgotten. It is unfortunate that today a political colour is given to this tragedy. The best tribute to Hazrat Husain would be to keep fast and get involved in good deeds and pious and holy acts on 10th day of Muharram. Husain laid down his life for the cause of establishing an egalitarian, fair, honest and God-fearing society so he should not be betrayed by raising disputes on the interpretation of his mission and thus dividing the community.

Dr.Obaidur Rahman Nadwi is a faculty of the Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, Lucknow