Muharram and the new Hijri year
Allah's sacred month, and the start of the Islamic year. Why the calendar begins with the Hijrah, and what fasting Ashura earns.
Outline
- 1
The Hijri calendar starts with sacrifice
Umar chose the Hijrah as the start of the Islamic year, not the birth of the Prophet ﷺ or his prophethood. Because the Hijrah was when the ummah was born as a community willing to leave everything for Allah.
- 2
Allah's month
The Prophet ﷺ said: the best fasting after Ramadan is in Allah's month, Muharram (Muslim 1163). The only month He attaches to Himself directly.
- 3
Ashura, the day Musa was saved
Musa and his people crossed the sea, freed from Pharaoh. The Prophet ﷺ found the Jews of Madinah fasting that day and said: we have more right to Musa than they. He fasted it and ordered the fast. Expiates the previous year (Muslim 1162). Add the 9th to make it a sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
Closing line
If you missed Muharram this year, plan for next. If it is still in this year, fast at least the 9th and 10th.
Aisha (RA) reported: the Prophet's ﷺ khutbahs were of moderate length and his prayers were short (Sahih Muslim 869). Aim for fifteen to twenty minutes. Two sections separated by a brief sitting is the Sunnah pattern.