Al-Hijrah, the Islamic New Year is the first day of the month of Muharram. It marks the Hijrah (or Hegira) in 622 CE when the beloved Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu wa alayhi wa sallam)- peace and blessings be upon him- left the persecution and migrated from Mecca to Medina to set up the first Islamic State. Although Muslims do not celebrate this particular day through any particular ritual, it can be a time to think about the general meaning of Hijrah and regard this as a good time for "New Year Resolutions.” On a more personal level, Hijrah as used in Al- Quran can mean moving from a bad place or state of affairs to good — and so Muslims may think about how their Iman (faith) can guide them to leave behind the bad habits in their daily lifestyle and aim to achieve something much better. This date marks the beginning of Islam as a community in which spiritual and earthly life were combined with the religious and ethical codes of behaviour that still provide the foundation of Muslim life today. Unfortunately, many traditional practices of tribes and countries around the world have begun to influence and distort the significance of the month of Muharram and the Islamic New Year, and when the average Muslim is asked, you will get a variety of answers.

I would like to start off by looking at the definition of Muharram. The literal meaning of Muharram is “forbidden.” It was forbidden to wage war and fight during this month. Muharram is so-called because it is sacred (haram) and as an affirmation of its sanctity.

It is regarded as one of the sacred months (Ash'hurul- Hurum). Each year Muslims throughout the world celebrate the new Islamic year, Muharram 1427A.H. The Hijrah, which records the migration of the Holy Prophet Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) from Makkah to Madinah, is the central historical event of early Islam. It led to the foundation of the first Muslim city-state, a turning point in Islamic and world history. The Islamic (Hijrah) calendar (with dates that fall within the Muslim Era) is usually abbreviated A.H. in Western languages from the Latinised Anno Hegirae or more commonly known a "After Hijrah.”

The Islamic calendar is based on lunar months, which begin when a thin new crescent moon is actually sighted in the western sky after sunset within a day or so after the new moon. Hence, the month is either 29 days or 30 days. There are 12 months in an Islamic year, which is either 354 days long or 355 days long, compared to (Gregorian) civil calendar year of 365 or 366 days. Since the Islamic lunar year has 12 lunar months, it is on an average, 11 days shorter than the (Gregorian) civil year, the Islamic year shifts earlier in each civil year by about 11 days. Muharram is the month with which the Muslims begin their lunar Hijrah Calendar. It is one of the four sanctified (sacred) months about which the Holy Qur'an says: "The number of the months according to Allah is twelve months (mentioned) in the Book of Allah on the day in which He created the heavens and the earth.

Among these (twelve months) there are four sanctified". These four months, according to the authentic traditions are the months of Dhul Qa'dah, Dhul Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab. All the commentators of the Holy Qur'an are unanimous on this point, because the Holy Prophet Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) in his sermon on the occasion of his last Hajj declared: "One year consists of twelve months, of which four are sanctified months, three of them are in sequence; Dhul Qa'dah, Dhul Hijjah, Muharram and the fourth is Rajab." One should remember that the specific mention of these four months does not mean that any other month has no sanctity, because the month of Rabi ul Awwal is sanctified and the month of Ramadhan is admittedly the most sanctified month in the year.

But, these four months were specifically termed as sanctified months for the simple reason that their sanctity was accepted even by the pagans of Makkah. In fact, it would not be wrong for me to say that every month, out of the twelve, is originally equal to the other, and there is no inherent sanctity which may be attributed to one of them in comparison to other months. When Allah chooses a particular time for His special blessings, then it acquires sanctity out of His grace. The month of Muharram is also associated with many auspicious events in Islamic history.

Allah created the heavens and the earth on this blessed day. On this day He gave His infinite blessings and bounties to many of His Prophets and delivered them from the clutches of their enemies. Allah created Hadhrat Adam (Alay Hissalaam) in this month and pardoned Him; Hadhrat Nuh's (Alay Hissalaam) Ark landed successfully on Mount Judi during this time centuries ago; Hadhrat Ibrahim (Alay Hissalaam) was saved from the great fire and Allah rescued Hadhrat Musa (Alay Hissalaam) from the Pharaoh. Let's look briefly at THREE duties of the Month of Muharram: 1) It is the best of months for general voluntary fasts, after Ramadhan. 2) It is especially recommended to fast on the 10th of Muharram (known as the Day of ‘Ashurah’), with a day before it or after it. 3) It is also virtuous to give in charity on this day. (Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar) People quite often ask, "What is Ashurah?" Well, it is the tenth, originally 'Asharah', ten. It denotes the tenth day of the month of Muharram. It is Sunnah to fast on that day and a day before or after. Sheikh Al-Nawawi (Alayhi Rahmah) said: "'Ashurah and Tasu'aa are two elongated (lengthened) names [the vowels are elongated / extended] as is stated in books on the Arabic language.

Our companions said: Ashurah is the tenth day of Muharram and Tasu'aa is the ninth day. This is our opinion and that of the majority of the scholars of Islam. This is the apparent meaning of the Ahadith and is what we understand from the general wording. It is also what is usually understood by the scholars of the language." (al-Majmu) Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (Radi Allah Anho) reported: "I asked the Holy Prophet Muhammadur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam): 'Which prayer is the best after the obligatory prayers?' He said: 'Prayer during the middle of the night.' I asked: 'Which fast is the best after the fast of Ramadhan?' He said, 'The month of Allah that you call Muharram.' "(Related by Ahmad, Muslim and Abu Dawood) Hadhrat Mu`awiyyah ibn Abu Sufyan (Radi Allah Anhuma) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah saying: "Concerning the day of `Ashurah, it is not obligatory upon him you to fast on it as I do. Whoever wishes may fast and whoever does not wish to is not obliged to do so." (Related by Bukhaari and Muslim) The scholars of Islam, however, have mentioned that the fast of `Ashurah' is of three levels: 1. Fasting three days consecutively, i.e. the 9th, 10th and 11th of Muharram; 2. Fasting on the 9th and 10th; and 3. Fasting only on the 10th. Sheikh Al-Nawawi (Alayhi Rahmah) said: "Fasting on the day of Ashurah expiates for all minor sins, i.e., it brings forgiveness of all sins except major sins." Then he said: "Fasting the day of Arafat expiates for two years and the day of Ashurah expiates for one year.

If when a person says 'Aameen' it coincides with the 'Aameen' of the angels, he will be forgiven for all his previous sins. If there are minor sins for which expiation is needed, expiation for them will be accepted; if there are no minor sins or major sins, good deeds will be added to his account and he will be raised in a good status." (Al-Majmoo' Sharh al-Muhadhdhab, part 6, Sawm Yawm Arafat). Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (Alayhi Rahmah) said: "Tahaarah, Salaah, and fasting in Ramadhan, on the day of Arafat and on Ashurah expiate for minor sins only." (al-Fataawa al- Kubra, part 5).

There are some misconceptions and innovations about Ashurah It is commonly known through fabricated Ahadith that during Ashurah that some People use kohl on their eyes thinking that they will not suffer from eye disease for that year; take a bath (ghusl) thinking that they will not get ill during that year; wear henna, shake hands with one another; cook grains; show happiness and so on, whilst on the other hand some People grieve and mourn; go without anything to drink: eulogize (criticise) and wail; recite in a crazy manner and render their garments? On this, Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (Alayhi Rahmah) said: Nothing to that effect has been reported in any Sahih Hadith from the Holy Prophet Muhammad- ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) or from His Sahaabah. None of the imams of the Muslims encouraged or recommended such things, neither the four imams, nor any others.

No reliable scholars have narrated anything like this, neither from the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), nor from the Sahaabah, nor from the Taabi'een; neither in any Sahih report or in a da'eef (weak) report; neither in the books of Sahih, nor in al-Sunan, nor in the Musnads. No Hadith of this nature was known during the best centuries. These are fabricated Ahadith that are falsely attributed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). Let's conclude by asking Allah Taa'la to make us followers of the great Sunnah of His Noble Prophet; to make us live in Islam and die in a state of faith. May He help us to do that which He loves and which pleases Him. We ask Him to help us to remember Him and be thankful to Him, to worship Him as it should be and to accept our good deeds. May He make us of those who are pious and fear Him. May Allah Taa'la bless our Holy Prophet Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) and all His family and Sahaabah. AAMEEN! YAA RABBAL 'AALAMEEN!