In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful. 

Month of Moharram and its grace

 

Written by:  Sk Abd-Razzag Taher Farih

Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa

  

07 Almuharram 1444.

05 August   2022.

  

Dear brothers and sisters,

 

The month of Moharrum is a great and blessed month. It is the first month in the Hijri lunar year (or Islamic calendar). It is also one of the forbidden months. It is named with this name: the forbidden or sanctified month of Allah because it is actually a sanctified and a forbidden month. Meaning we should refrain from committing sin or committing the Haram during this month (or especially during this month). As a confirmation and certainty of how forbidden it is the prophet ppbu used to do a lot of fasting during this month of Moharrum. The messenger ppbu said {The best of fasting that can be done next to fasting of Ramadan is the fasting during the month of Al-Moharram}. It was ascertained or confirmed that the messenger never had a continuous fasting of a full month except the month of Ramadan. So, this hadeeth is taken to encourage to do a lot of fasting during the month of Moharrum.

 

 During this blessed month of Moharram, Allah made it to contain one being an extra blessed day. That is the day of Ashouraa. This is the tenth day of the month of Moharram. This Ashuraa, it will fall in this coming Monday. The messenger ppbu used to glorify, exalt and gave a preference this particular day over other days. When the prophet came or immigrated to Madina, he found that the Jews fasted this day of Ashouraa. He asked for the reason. They told him: "This is a pious day, this is the day that Allah saved the children of Israel from their enemy. (Or a day during which Allah saved Musa and his people and made Faro and his people to drown.  So, the prophet of Allah Musa fasted this day and commanded it to be fasted so we fast this day, (Or  the prophet of Allah Musa fasted this day and gave thanks to Allah and so we fast it in order to glorify this day)". The messenger ppbu said: {I am more entitled to  Musa that you are}. The reward or grace for fasting during this month is tremendous.

 

Ebn Abbas said: "I have never seen the prophet ppbu is more concerned or more attention to fasting any day as he did about fasting this day of Ashoura or starting fasting the month of Ramadan". This clearly indicates the big reward of fasting this day. The messenger ppbu said: {Fasting the day of Ashoura, I would expect that Allah will clear sins of the previous year}. This a grace from Allah upon us to reward us for fasting one day by clearing sins of one complete year. The majority of the scholars share the view that fasting the day of Ashouraa will clear the smaller sins. The greater sins will require resentence in order to be cleared or forgiven.

 

When the messenger ppbu fasted and commanded that day of Ashouraa to fasted, many Muslims said: "this is a day that is glorified by the Jews and the Christians". The messenger ppbu said: {When the following year comes, with the well of Allah, we will fast the day 9 of the month as well as the 10th day}. The following year the messenger ppbu died before month of Moharram approached. The Imams of the Islamic sects (Hanbali, Shafeiee and others) stated that it is preferable to fast the 9^th and 10^th days together. The reason for that is that the messenger ppbu fasted the 10^th day and had intended to fast the 9^th day of the month of Moharram. It is for that reason dear brothers and sisters, the day of Ashoura can be fasted on its own, or it can be fasted with the 9^th day.

 

I say this and I ask Allah’s forgiveness for you and I. Do ask His forgiveness, He is the most Forgiving the most Merciful.

 

Notes:

1. Adhan - The call to prayer.

2. Ahmad (Ahmed)- Another name for the messenger Muhammad (PPBU).

3. Allah - The Arabic word for "god."  It is often used as a name for God in Islam.

4. Ansar (or Al-Ansar): The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.

5. Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.

6. Aya (or Ayah): is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God.

7. Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat): is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day.

8. Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.  

9. Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa) 

10. Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.

11. Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.  

12. Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life. 

13. Duaa: a prayer in the form of talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help.

14. Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.

15. Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.

16. Fiqh - Religious law.

17. Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.

18. Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.

19. Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar.  One of the five pillars of Islam.

20. Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.

21. Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers.  Considered authoritative and perfect.

22. Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.

23. Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.

24. Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.

25. Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.

26. Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.

27. Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.  

28. Iman: belief or faith

29. Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.

30. Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.

31. Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise.  The place of the faithful in the afterlife.

32. Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."

33. Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels.  They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.

34. Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.

35. Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".

36. Khutbah  - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.

37. Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.

38. Koran - Also spelled Qur'an.  The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel.  Koran literally means "the recital."  It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)

39. Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.

40. Masjid - A center for Muslim activity.  It is referred to as a mosque.

41. Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act

42. Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).

43. Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.

44. Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.

45. Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations.  He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah

46. Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.

47. Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.

48. Nasara - Christians.  Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.

49. Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.

50. Paradise - Another word for heaven.  A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live  in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.

51. PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.

52. Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.

53. Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.

54. Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.

55. Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.

56. Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.

57. Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.

58. Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.

59. Shirk - Associating another god with Allah.  Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.  

60. Siam  or Soam- Fasting

61. Sunni: is a the title of  those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.

62. Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.

63. Surah - A chapter of the Koran.  

64. Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.

65. Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)

66. Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah.  A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.

67. Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.

68. Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.

69. Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.

70. Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.

71. Zaboor - The Psalms

72. Zakat - The third pillar of Islam.  Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.