Muharram is the first month in the Islamic calendar, which starts with sadness as it is surrounded by some sad events. This month holds a high amount of importance in Islamic history.
Importance Dates In Muharram – Muharram Observances
- 2nd Muharram: Hussain Ibn Ali (R.A) entered Karbala in 680 and established his camp. Yazid’s forces were present surrounding him. While traveling to the nearby city of Kufa, Hussain (R.A.) and fellow travelers were stopped by Umayyad soldiers, who made them set up camp in the desert area of Karbala, where they had no access to water or protective walls.
- 7th Muharram: After Yazid’s order, access to water was banned for Hussain Ibn Ali (R.A). In the days that followed, the people in Hussain (R.A) camp became very thirsty and hungry.
- 8th Muharram: Martyrdom of Zain Ul Abideen (R.A), son of Hussain Ibn Ali (R.A) was the only survivor of the battle of Karbala.
- 9th Muharram: On this day in 680, talks between Hussain (R.A.) and the Umayyad forces broke down. The Umayyad leader Umar ibn Sa’d (who died in 686) planned to attack after the afternoon prayer on Tasu’a, but others convinced him to wait until the next day. Hussain (R.A.) and his followers spent that night praying.
- 10th Muharram (Ashura): It is the day of Ashura; The Battle of Karbala took place on this day in 680. It was when Hussain ibn Ali (R.A) was martyred after Abbas (R.A) was martyred at the Euphrates River and most of his male family members had been martyred by the Umayyad soldiers in Karbala. At the day end, Umayyad army captured the women and children from Hussain ibn Ali (R.A)’s camp and forced them to travel to Damascus, the Umayyad capital in Syria. It was the day when Musa (A.S) was recused from Pharoah.
- 16th Muharram: On this day, Prophet Muhammad chose the Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem as the qibla, which is the direction that early Muslims faced when they prayed. Later, this was changed to the ancient Kaaba sanctuary in Mecca, following verse 2:144 of the Quran.
- 17th Muharram: The “people of the elephant” arrived in Mecca on this day. This event is mentioned in al-Fil (which means ‘the elephant’), a chapter in the Quran.
- 20th Muharram: Death of Bilal (R.A) first Muazzin of Islam.
Fasting in Muharram / Fasting on Ashura Day
Fasting in this month is highly recommended; a hadith quotes that Muhammad PBUH also fasted on the day of the 10th of Muharram.
Importance of 9th and 10th Muharram – Muharram History
9th and 10th Muharram holds high importance in this whole month. 9th Muharram is the night when the household of Muhammad PBUH, Hussain Ibn Ali (RA), faced a lot of trouble after many days they hadn’t drunk a single drop of water.
And the 10th of Muharram, the battle of Karbala happened, and Hussain ibn Ali (RA) lost his life defending his innocent family, a family of Muhammad PBUH.
OTHER MONTHS
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