Importance of Muharram

Today (8th january) is 10th Muharram (first month) according to Islamic Calendar-Hijri. It is national Holiday in many countries, But why? What is the importance of this day? What do Muslims do in this day.

Ashura is significant as the day that Allah (God) saved Moses (peace be upon him) and the Israelites by parting the Red Sea and drowning Pharaoh. When the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him)* migrated to Medina, the Jews told him that Moses (peace be upon him) fasted in gratitude on Ashura, and Jewish practice was to fast Ashura as well. Upon learning this, the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) replied, “We have more right to Moses than you,” and he commanded Muslims to fast Ashura. Later, when fasting the entire month of Ramadan became obligatory, the Ashura fast was declared optional, and Muslims were instructed to differentiate their fast from the Jews by fasting the 9th or 11th of Muharram along with the 10th.

As all know, there are two groups Sunnis and Shias (very little differnce in ideology, will write latter about this). Sunnis only fast for the reason above and believes fasting on Ashura offers the reward of having their previous year’s sins forgiven. This is based on the hadith in which the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said: "For fasting the day of Ashura, I hope that Allah will accept it as expiation for the year that went before." Most Sunni scholars note that fasting should be the only way . Cultural traditions associated with Ashura are wrong, as they were not practices of the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) or his companions.

While Shias observe the 10th of Muharram for an entirely different reason – it marks the day that Hussain, son of Ali and grandson of the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), was killed as a martyr at the Battle of Karbala. Ashura is a major festival of self-reflection for Shiites, and they commemorate the tragic death of Hussain with outward displays of grief and mourning.

Such displays of grief, however, contradict the teachings of the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him). Ashura(10th Muharram) was not declared a holiday by the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), who cautioned Muslims about religious innovations: “Those of you who live after my death will see many disputes. I urge you to adhere to my Sunnah (teachings and traditions) and the Sunnah of my rightly-guided successors who come after me.