Barakah Life
Sign in
All khutbahs
Friday sermon outline

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.

10 to 15 minute outlineDownload PDF
Prepared by for Barakah Life. Last updated .
Centrepiece
Sahih Muslim 1163

First khutbah

  1. 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. 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. 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.

Second khutbah

After the brief sitting, return to the centrepiece and gather the message into one clear request. Remind the congregation that the point of this khutbah is not simply to understand muharram and the new hijri year, but to carry one honest change into the coming week.

Suggested closing

If you missed Muharram this year, plan for next. If it is still in this year, fast at least the 9th and 10th.

Prepare it in your own voice

  • Read each cited verse or hadith in full before using it.
  • Add one example that your own congregation will recognise.
  • End with one action people can realistically begin today.

Sources for this outline

The centrepiece is Sahih Muslim 1163. Other references are given beside the points where they are used. Check the full passage, translation, grading, and local fiqh context before delivering the khutbah. An outline helps with preparation, but it does not replace study or qualified scholarship.

Related khutbah outlines

The first ten of Dhul Hijjah

The Prophet ﷺ said no deeds done in any days are more beloved to Allah than deeds in these ten. Day of Arafah and how to use the days.

Read this outline

The Day of Arafah, mercy, dua and return

Arafah is the heart of Hajj and a day of immense mercy for Muslims everywhere. It calls us to fasting, dua and humble return.

Read this outline

Hajj, the journey of a lifetime

Hajj is the only pillar that is once-in-a-lifetime, and only for those who can. The spiritual structure of the journey, beyond the logistics.

Read this outline

Qurbani, sacrifice and what reaches Allah

The sacrifice recalls Ibrahim's surrender and teaches that the heart of qurbani is taqwa, obedience and generosity rather than display.

Read this outline

Ammar ibn Yasir (RA) reported that the Prophet ﷺ called a man's long prayer and short khutbah a sign of his understanding (Sahih Muslim 869). Aim for fifteen to twenty minutes. Two sections separated by a brief sitting is the Sunnah pattern.