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	Friday Talks |  | 
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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 9th and 10th days together. The reason for that is that the messenger ppbu fasted the 10th day and had intended to fast the 9th 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 9th 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:  
		Adhan 
	- The call to prayer.  Ahmad (Ahmed)- Another name for 
	the messenger Muhammad (PPBU).  Allah - The Arabic word for 
	"god."  It is often used as a name for God in Islam. 
		 Ansar (or Al-Ansar):
		 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.
		
		 Aya (or Ayah): Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat): Badr 
	- The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the 
	pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.  
		 Caliph 
		- A Muslim ruler. See: 
	(Khalifa) 
		 Dajjal 
	- Antichrist or the False Massiah.  Dawah 
	- The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.   
		 Deen (Din) 
	- Religion or way of life.  Duaa:
  		a prayer in the form of Fatwa 
	- Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are 
	the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.  Ferdose: 
  		is the highest level of 
  the all the gardens of Eden or paradise. Fiqh 
	- Religious law.  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. Hajar -
		The Black Stone set into the corner of the 
	Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven. 
		 Hajj -
		The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in 
	the last month of the Islamic calendar.  One of the five pillars of Islam.
		 Hasana or hasanas: 
  is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed. Hadith 
	- The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his 
	followers.  Considered authoritative and perfect.  Hajj: is 
  the worship of pilgrimage.  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. Ibadah -
		Worship. All the words and deeds with which 
	Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity. 
		 Iblis - (Ibleese):
		On of Satan's names.  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.  Imam 
	(or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.  
		 Iman: 
  belief or faith Injil (Enjeel) -
		The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the 
	Christians. Islam 
	- Submission, the religion of all the 
	prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.  Jannah -
		The heavenly garden, Paradise.  The place of 
	the faithful in the afterlife.  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." 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.  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.  Khalifa: 
  is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: 
  "Successor". Khutbah  -
		A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.
		 Kufr -
		Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for 
	anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed. 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.) 
		 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. Masjid - 
		A 
	center for Muslim activity.  It is referred to as a mosque. 
		 Masiah - 
		A 
	sin, or a sinful act  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). Mosque - A Muslim 
	house of worship.  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. 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  Muslim 
	- One who holds faith to the religion of 
	Islam.  Nasara -
		Christians.  Nasrani:
		A Christian individual. Nasraniah:
		Christianity. Ommah:
  		is the Arabic word for a
  		nation. It usually refers to 
  the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.  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. Qadar -
		Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all 
	things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.  Qibla -
		The direction which Muslims turn for daily 
	prayers, towards Mecca.  Quraish -
		An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger 
	Muhammad belonged.  Ramadan -
		The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which 
	is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander. 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. 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. 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.    Siam  or Soam-
		Fasting  
		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. 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.  Surah -
		A 
	chapter of the Koran.    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. 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) Taqwah -
		Proper fear and veneration of Allah.  A divine spark that enables the person 
	to understand God.  Taurat: The old 
	Testaments and scriptures of Mosa. Ummah -
		the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to 
	the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.  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.  Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual 
  done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution. Zaboor -
		The 
	Psalms  
		
		Zakat -
		The 
	third pillar of Islam.  Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor. 
	 
		
Faheem Bukhatwa, my email address is : faheemfb@gmail.com