In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. We praise Him, seek His help and forgiveness, and ask Him to guide us to the Straight Path. Peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, his family, his companions, and all those who follow his guidance until the Day of Judgment.
Muharram is one of the greatest and most blessed months in Islam. It marks the beginning of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar and is one of the four sacred months that Allah has specially honored in the Qur’an. Because of its sacred status, Muslims are encouraged to increase their worship, perform righteous deeds, and avoid all forms of sin and wrongdoing.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ referred to Muharram as “the Month of Allah,” a unique title that reflects its special virtue and significance. He also taught that fasting during this month is among the best voluntary acts of worship after the month of Ramadan. Within Muharram falls the blessed day of Ashura (10th Muharram), a day connected with the victory of Prophet Musa (Moses) عليه السلام and a day on which the Prophet ﷺ encouraged Muslims to fast.
Unfortunately, many Muslims are unaware of the authentic virtues of Muharram or confuse them with cultural practices and unauthentic narrations. For this reason, it is important to understand what the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah teach about this sacred month.
In this article, you will learn the meaning and importance of Muharram, why it is considered one of the sacred months, the virtues of fasting during Muharram, the significance of Ashura, authentic hadith related to this blessed month, recommended acts of worship, and common misconceptions that every Muslim should avoid.
May Allah ﷻ enable us to honor this blessed month with sincere faith, righteous deeds, and obedience to Him, and may He accept all our worship. Ameen.
Table of Contents
- What is Muharram?
- Why is Muharram a Sacred Month?
- Quran Verses About Muharram
- Virtues of the Month of Muharram
- Fasting in Muharram
- The Day of Ashura (10th Muharram)
- Recommended Acts of Worship in Muharram
- Things to Avoid During Muharram
- Authentic Hadith About Muharram
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Conclusion
What Is Muharram?
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar and marks the beginning of a new Islamic year. The word “Muharram” comes from the Arabic root meaning “forbidden” or “sacred,” reflecting its honored status in Islam.
Unlike the Gregorian calendar, the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, with Muharram being the first of its twelve months. It is a time for Muslims to begin the new year with renewed faith, sincere repentance, and a stronger commitment to worshipping Allah.
Muharram is more than just the start of a new year—it reminds every believer that time is one of Allah’s greatest blessings and that every new beginning is an opportunity to draw closer to Him.
Why is Muharram a Sacred Month?
Allah has chosen Muharram as one of the four sacred months, giving it a special status among the twelve months of the Islamic calendar. These sacred months have been honored since the creation of the heavens and the earth, and Muslims are encouraged to treat them with greater respect and reverence.
During these blessed months, believers should increase their obedience to Allah by performing righteous deeds, seeking forgiveness, giving charity, remembering Allah, and staying away from sins. While every act of disobedience is sinful throughout the year, Muslims should be especially careful during the sacred months because of their unique status in Islam.
The four sacred months are Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab.
Quran Verses About Muharram
Although the Holy Quran does not mention the name Muharram directly, Allah clearly speaks about the four sacred months, of which Muharram is one. These months have been honored by Allah since the creation of the heavens and the earth and hold a special place in Islam.
Allah mentions the sacred months in the Quran:
“Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah from the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them.”
This verse reminds Muslims to respect the sacred months by avoiding sin and increasing righteous deeds. It also confirms that the Islamic calendar and the sacred months are part of Allah’s divine decree, not human tradition. Muharram, being one of these sacred months, is therefore a time to renew our faith, seek forgiveness, and draw closer to Allah through sincere worship.
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets and Leader of the Messengers, and upon all his family and companions. To proceed:
The month of Allah Muharram is a great and blessed month. It is the first month of the Hijri year and is one of the sacred months concerning which Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred, (i.e. the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein”
[Soorat at-Tawbah 9:36]
It was narrated from Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): “… The year is twelve months, of which four are sacred: three consecutive months, Dhu al-Qa‘dah, Dhu al-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab of Mudar which comes between Jumaada and Sha‘baan.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (2958)
Muharram is so called because it is a sacred (muharram) month; this further emphasizes its sanctity.
The words of Allah (interpretation of the meaning): “so wrong not yourselves therein” [Soorat at-Tawbah 9:36] mean: (do not wrong yourselves) in these sacred months, because doing so is a greater sin than at other times.
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said, concerning the words of Allah “so wrong not yourselves therein” [Soorat at-Tawbah 9:36]:
(The command not to wrong yourself) applies in all months, then Allah singled out four months and made them sacred, and emphasised their sanctity, and He made sin during these months more grave, and He made righteous deeds and the reward thereof greater. Qataadah said, concerning the words “so wrong not yourselves therein”: Wrongdoing during the sacred months is more serious and incurs a greater burden of sin than in other months.
Wrongdoing is a serious matter in any circumstances, but Allah makes whatever He wills of His commands carry more weight. And he said:
Allah has chosen elites from His creation: from among the angels He chose Messengers, from among mankind He chose Messengers, from among speech He chose remembrance of Him (dhikr), from among spaces on earth He chose the mosques, from among the months He chose Ramadan and the sacred months, from among days He chose Friday (Jumu‘ah), and from among nights He chose Laylat al-Qadr. So venerate that which has been chosen by Allah, for people of understanding and wisdom respect that which has been chosen by Allah.
End quote from Tafseer Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him), commentary on Soorat at-Tawbah verse 36
The virtue of observing a great deal of naafil (supererogatory) fasts during the month of Muharram
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “The best fast after Ramadan is in the month of Allah Muharram.”
Narrated by Muslim (1982)
The phrase “the month of Allah (shahr Allah)” is indicative of the veneration this month deserves, as it is attributed to Allah (in a genitive or idaafah phrase). Al-Qaari said: What appears to be the case is that what is meant is the entire month of Muharram.
But it is proven that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) never fasted any month in full apart from Ramadan. So this hadeeth is to be understood as meaning that it is encouraged to fast a great deal during the month of Muharram, not to fast the entire month.
It is proven that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) fasted a great deal during Sha‘baan, and perhaps the virtue of Muharram was not revealed to him until the end of his life, before he was able to fast during this month.
Sharh an-Nawawi ‘ala Saheeh Muslim
Allah chooses whatever He wills of times and places
Al-‘Izz ibn ‘Abd as-Salaam (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Superiority of times and places is of two types, the first of which is in worldly terms and the second is in religious or spiritual terms because of what Allah bestows upon His slaves at those times and in those places of a greater reward for deeds, such as the greater virtue of fasting Ramadan over fasting in other months or on the day of ‘Ashoora’. Its virtue is due to Allah’s generosity and kindness to His slaves during it.
Qawaa‘id al-Ahkaam (1/38)
May Allah sent blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.
