Muharram 2022 and Its Significance as A Sacred Month for Muslims

Muharram is the first month in the Islamic calendar. Its name means sacred, as in which Arab have forbidden frightening before Islam, a tradition that continues even after prophet Mohammed’s message.

Also, it’s called the month of Allah.

Imam Al-Suyuti explained the names of all months, including Ramadan, don’t change after Islam except for Muharram. Its name was Safar Alwal, and after Islam, Allah named it al-Muharram, which means the sacred month.

Muharram Date 

Muharram marks the start of the Islamic new year. According to observances, Muharram month will start on the evening of Friday, 30 July 2022, and end at sundown on Sunday, August 27th. 

Muharram 2022 calendar

Here are Muharram 2022 dates with the days corresponding to it in the Georgian calendar.

Is Muharram an Official Holiday?

The 1st of Muharram, which marks Islamic New Year, is one of the days that Muslims patiently await and celebrate

. And the first of the month is considered an official holiday in several Islamic countries, most notably Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Sudan, Mauritania, Malaysia, Kuwait, UAE, and Qatar.

However, it’s not a festival in most countries in the world.

Read also: Moharram and Ashura: How Do People Celebrate This Month?

Why Do We Celebrate Muharram?

There are many reasons why Muslims welcome this month with joy and celebrations.

Below we mention some of those virtues in detail.

It’s One of The Four Sacred Months

One of the traditions that dominated the arab peninsula before Islam was to stop Bloodshedding and skirmishes among tribes during four months which are Dhul-Qi`dah, dhu al-hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab.

Such convention was in force since the days of Ibraheem and his Ismael, So pilgrims could feel safe while they went their way to Kabba, the holy site.

Allah, SWT said:

Allah has made the Ka’bah, the Sacred House, standing for the people and [has sanctified] the sacred months, the sacrificial animals, and the garlands [by which they are identified]. (Surah Al-Maidah, ayat 97)

Mourning Martyrdom of Husayn Ibn Ali

This is the anniversary for Shiat to commemorate the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson in the Battle of Karbala, which corresponds with the 10th day of Muharram.

On this day, Imam Hussein and his family were killed after being besieged for days by the army of Yazid bin Muawiyah, during which water was prevented from them, so Hussein’s head was cut off, and the women were taken captive.

Though this battle doesn’t hold a great significance in terms of military or strategic skills, it left important political, intellectual, and religious implications, and Shiite Muslims connected it with noble meanings “such as sacrifice, righteousness, and freedom. For them, such a battle symbolizes the injustice and persecution that the grandson of the Prophet, Hussein in Ali, has gone through.

Read also: Virtues of Rajab for Muslims and Good Deeds in This Month

How Do Shia Muslims Celebrate ‘ashura’ Day?

From the period (the first of Muharram to the tenth and forty days after it), the Shiites wear black clothes to express their sadness for this painful memory.

• Shiites practice religious ceremonies, and people circulate in places called Husseiniyas or in homes.

• They say poems that praise the traits of Imam Hussein, his brothers, his children, and his companions, as well as lessons in religion, morals, and Islamic values.

• People listen to the story of Karbala and leave their setting after praying for Allah to have mercy upon Imam al-Mahdi, hasten his reappearance, and meet their needs.

• During the 40 days, water is distributed abundantly amongst tents, homes, and settings. Water has a historical symbolisism , as it was prevented from Hussein and his family and companions for ten days during their siege by the army of Yazid bin Muawiyah,

• A specific type of cake, called Al-Abbas cake, made from flour, sugar, anise, and oil, was distributed in honor of the brother of Al-Hussein, Fadl Al-Abbas. He sought out Al Hussain on the seventh day of Muharram to provide water for the children but was martyred while carrying water after one arrow pierced him.

• The harissa, another folk dessert, is also served to everyone and carried to the houses. This is memorization for the lady Zainab, who prepared it of wheat, chicken, and meat to feed the children and women during the blockade. On this sad anniversary, it has become a custom dish in Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq.

• Finally, The tenth of Muharram is considered is an official holiday in Iran, Pakistan, Lebanon, Bahrain, Iraq, and Algeria, in addition to some places and provinces in India.

Ashura Fasting

Though it’s not obligatory, Many Muslims fast the 10th of Muharram voluntarily, and many hadiths of the prophet Mohammed show the virtues of fasting this day.

It was narrated from ‘Ubaidullah that:

he heard Ibn ‘Abbas, when he was asked about the fast of ‘Ashura’ say: “I do not know that the Prophet fasted any day because of its virtue, except this day,” meaning the month of Ramadan and the day of Ashura.’

And on Ashura, Allah rescued his Prophet Moses – peace be upon him – from Pharaoh and drowned him in the sea. So, Musa fasted on the day to thank God Almighty.

The Quran portrayed this horrifying night in many verses. Allah ordered Moses peace be upon him – to go out at night with the believers. Pharaoh and his soldiers were chasing after them until he reached the sea… At this moment, Allah ordered his prophet to hit the sea with his stick, and a road was made so they could walk around. Then Pharaoh and his legion tried to trace his steps but they were doomed to drown.

Therefore, fasting Ashura equals fasting all days of the year, as shown in this hadith.

Abu Qatadah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

So, we can conclude that fasting is mustahabb for Muslims who can bear that. And prophet’s companions were used to do it and teach their children to follow such ritual for its great benefits, as narrated by one of the Companions:

We used to make toys out of wool and took (them to the mosque) along with us. When they (the children) asked us for food, we gave them these toys to play with, making them forgetful until they completed their fast.”

Read also: Duas for Calamities in The Times Hardships and Distress

Public Life During This Month

Many Arab, Islamic, Sunni, and Shiite countries celebrate the Hijri New Year.

Muslims commemorate the migration of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, from Mecca Al-Mukarramah to Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, and exchange gifts and greetings on this occasion. Also, they recite Quranic verses and prophetic hadiths, besides religious songs. And those expressions of celebrations vary from one country to another.

• In the Tunisian villages , many people gather to slaughter sheep, cook molokhia and spicy porridge with eggs and other popular dishes, and wish for a year full of goodness.

• In Mecca, Muslims read the Noble Qur’an and the Prophetic hadiths, exchange blessings, cook molokhia with optimism for the New Year, and spread joy among adults and children.

• In Egypt, Large tables teeming with delicious dishes are served to celebrate the Islamic New Year; people are dressed in beautiful new clothes and gather in public squares to recite the Holy Qur’an, hadiths, and religious songs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are many questions people ask about Mohuraam.

When Is the 10th Muharram 2022?

10th Muharram (Ashura) Will Be Observed on Monday, 8 August 2022.

So, Don’t forget to make your intention to fast this day

 how Long Is Muharram 2022?

The month of Muharram 2022 began on July 30 of the year 2022 AD and ended on August 27 of the same year, so it consists of 29 days, most of which will be aligned with August.

How Many Days do We Fast In Muharram?

It was not reported from the Prophet – may God’s prayers and peace be upon him- that he fasted the entire month of Muharram or any other month other than Ramadan.

Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not fast throughout any month except during Ramadan. And when he observed fast (he fasted so continuously) that one would say that he would not break (them) and when he Abandoned, he abandoned (so continuously) that one would say: By Allah, perhaps he would never fast.

However, he urged us to increase our dating this month, ranking it as the second month for fasting after Ramadan.

Several scholars have preferred fasting all the days of the month of Muharram o, and others held that fasting some days. Overall, fasting the entire month or a part of it is one of The good things.

Al-Hafiz Ibn Rajab – may God have mercy on him – said: “The best voluntary fasting after Ramadan is fasting the month of God Muharram, and it may be meant: it is the best month to voluntarily fast completely after Ramadan.”

Conclusion

Muharram is one of the sacred months that holds great significance for millions of Muslims worldwide because it means a new year, hopefully, full of happiness and good moments.

This article taught you about the Muharram calendar and its great virtues, why it’s important, and how Muslims celebrate it.

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