Milestones
are markers fundamental to the human psyche. As we near the end of the
calendar year, outside of the controversies surrounding the months of
Ramadan and Zul Hijah, have we given any thought to the other months of
the Hijri (Islamic) calendar? In fact, could we even say that we know
the Islamic months and could we recall them in order?
It
is especially imperative for Muslims living outside of Muslim majority
nations to maintain a connection to Allah through the specific Prophetic
acts of worship encouraged during each particular month and to
understand the significance of the Islamic months as they relate to the
life of a Muslim.
This
week marks the end of the Islamic Year 1440 and with it, the
opportunity for a new dawn in nearness to our Creator in 1441, insha
Allah. It is an opportunity to reflect on the year that has passed and
to ask Allah to forgive our sins and the sins of our brethren.
Additionally, it is a time to look forward to new beginnings and to seek
greater closeness to Allah and the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing
of Allah be upon him) by striving to embody our own humanity through
consciousness of Allah and service to others.
The
first month of the Islamic year is the Month of Allah, commonly called
Muharram and it is one of the scared months, whereby the reward for
one’s deeds are multiplied, as are the penalties for sins. The month of
Muharram contains a special day, the tenth day. It is narrated in
Prophetic traditions that the tenth of Muharram was the day Allah
decreed for emancipation of Bani Israel (the children of Israel –
Prophet Jacob – peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) from the
tyranny of the Pharaohs. The Jews were freed from their slave hood and
the tyrants were dealt the justice of Divine intervention.
In
a time and place where those who submitted to the Divine will of Allah
were methodically persecuted because of their beliefs; by being
enslaved, having their children systematically killed and their women
systematically assaulted, the relevance of the story of Bani Israel in
Egypt bares particular significance for those who submit in contemporary
times and are subject to current trends of a similar nature.
Therefore, the significance of Ashura must be more profound to the
believer as we approach the end of 2017.
It
has also been mentioned that the tenth of Muharram was the day Allah
selected to save the people of Prophet Nuh (Noah- peace and blessing of
Allah be upon him) from the floods. The common thread in the stories of
the Prophets Nuh and Musa (peace and blessing of Allah be upon them
both) are that Allah changed the circumstances of the people once they
sincerely repented for their misgivings and they firmly entrenched
themselves in the ways of their respective Prophets.
The
above scenario is identical for the people of our time; if we yearn to
have our grievances alleviated and to establish justice and peace, we
must repent to Allah and become righteous. Without this vital step, our
condition will not change and our sorrows will deepen. Other practical
solutions need to be implemented but without internal change in our
perceptions and external change in our actions, Allah’s divine
assistance will not grace our lives or the lives of humanity. This
realization and application is the fundamental step!
How
can one day have so much significance? The Prophet (peace and blessing
of Allah be upon him) is recorded as saying in the fasting of the day
of Arafah, I hope Allah will expiate thereby for the year before it and
the year after it, and in fasting the day of Ashura I hope Allah will
expiate thereby for the year that came before it. Therefore, the
All-Mighty Lord of the Mercy and Grace pardons a whole year of minor
sins and the abovementioned repentance is required to expiate the major
sins. Once people repent the divine assistance of Allah begins to
descend.
When
the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) migrated
to Medina, he witnessed the Jews fasting Ashura and he asked why they
fasted this day. He was told it was the day Allah emancipated the Musa
and his followers from the Pharaohs, so Prophet Musa used to fast this
day in gratitude to Allah. A Prophetic tradition states that the best
sawm (fasting) after sawm in the month of Ramadan is during the month of
Allah, known as Muharam. In particular the fasting of the tenth day of
the Muharram, known as the Day of Ashura. The Prophet recommended
fasting on the tenth and also the ninth of Muharram.
What
else can one do to ensure the maximum benefit from the month of
Muharram and in particular the tenth day? Another Prophetic tradition
related that whoever fasts `Ashura it is as if s/he has fasted the
entire year and whoever gives charity on this day it is like the charity
of an entire year. Giving charity in secret appeases the wrath of
Allah and expedites the Divine Mercy of Allah. The Prophetic acts of
fasting and giving charity are causes that Allah uses to improve the
human condition, both individually and socially.
For
those in a dilemma about which days to fast, the scholars have stated
that if there is confusion about the beginning of the month, one should
fast for three days, to be sure of fasting on the ninth and tenth days.
The difference of opinion of the scholars is indeed a mercy for those
who believe.
Furthermore,
leading up to New Years Eve (1 January), people, generally, begin to
think about their life and some even make resolutions about how they
will approach the new year and their work, health and relationships.
Could I suggest that believers also use the beginning of the Islamic New
Year to also make New Year’s resolutions? Instead of resolutions about
material progression, the resolutions of a believer would and should be
about one’s progression on the path of enlightenment and nearness to
the Creator.
My
suggestion would be that each person makes specific intentions for the
year regarding; the amount of money one donates to charity, the amount
of time one spends volunteering, the amount of time one wastes on idle
pursuits (such as non-essential social media interaction,
counterproductive YouTube videos and the like), memorizing verses of
Quran or Prophetic traditions, making quality time to spend with family,
assisting one’s mother and/or father, speaking well with one’s
siblings, furthering Islamic knowledge, serving those less fortunate and
thanking Allah for the all blessing and bounties for which He has
bestowed upon us. In addition, it helps to write down intentions and to
regularly review those intentions in order to fulfill those commitments
to yourself.
I
ask Allah to accept all our deeds for the previous year and to pardon
all of our sins, I also ask Allah to make the upcoming year one of great
prosperity and advancement for all who proclaim to submit to the Divine
will of the Most Merciful Creator of all that is in existence.
It
is especially imperative for Muslims living outside of Muslim majority
nations to maintain a connection to Allah through the specific Prophetic
acts of worship encouraged during each particular month and to
understand the significance of the Islamic months as they relate to the
life of a Muslim.
This
week marks the end of the Islamic Year 1440 and with it, the
opportunity for a new dawn in nearness to our Creator in 1441, insha
Allah. It is an opportunity to reflect on the year that has passed and
to ask Allah to forgive our sins and the sins of our brethren.
Additionally, it is a time to look forward to new beginnings and to seek
greater closeness to Allah and the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing
of Allah be upon him) by striving to embody our own humanity through
consciousness of Allah and service to others.
The
first month of the Islamic year is the Month of Allah, commonly called
Muharram and it is one of the scared months, whereby the reward for
one’s deeds are multiplied, as are the penalties for sins. The month of
Muharram contains a special day, the tenth day. It is narrated in
Prophetic traditions that the tenth of Muharram was the day Allah
decreed for emancipation of Bani Israel (the children of Israel –
Prophet Jacob – peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) from the
tyranny of the Pharaohs. The Jews were freed from their slave hood and
the tyrants were dealt the justice of Divine intervention.
In
a time and place where those who submitted to the Divine will of Allah
were methodically persecuted because of their beliefs; by being
enslaved, having their children systematically killed and their women
systematically assaulted, the relevance of the story of Bani Israel in
Egypt bares particular significance for those who submit in contemporary
times and are subject to current trends of a similar nature.
Therefore, the significance of Ashura must be more profound to the
believer as we approach the end of 2017.
It
has also been mentioned that the tenth of Muharram was the day Allah
selected to save the people of Prophet Nuh (Noah- peace and blessing of
Allah be upon him) from the floods. The common thread in the stories of
the Prophets Nuh and Musa (peace and blessing of Allah be upon them
both) are that Allah changed the circumstances of the people once they
sincerely repented for their misgivings and they firmly entrenched
themselves in the ways of their respective Prophets.
The
above scenario is identical for the people of our time; if we yearn to
have our grievances alleviated and to establish justice and peace, we
must repent to Allah and become righteous. Without this vital step, our
condition will not change and our sorrows will deepen. Other practical
solutions need to be implemented but without internal change in our
perceptions and external change in our actions, Allah’s divine
assistance will not grace our lives or the lives of humanity. This
realization and application is the fundamental step!
How
can one day have so much significance? The Prophet (peace and blessing
of Allah be upon him) is recorded as saying in the fasting of the day
of Arafah, I hope Allah will expiate thereby for the year before it and
the year after it, and in fasting the day of Ashura I hope Allah will
expiate thereby for the year that came before it. Therefore, the
All-Mighty Lord of the Mercy and Grace pardons a whole year of minor
sins and the abovementioned repentance is required to expiate the major
sins. Once people repent the divine assistance of Allah begins to
descend.
When
the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) migrated
to Medina, he witnessed the Jews fasting Ashura and he asked why they
fasted this day. He was told it was the day Allah emancipated the Musa
and his followers from the Pharaohs, so Prophet Musa used to fast this
day in gratitude to Allah. A Prophetic tradition states that the best
sawm (fasting) after sawm in the month of Ramadan is during the month of
Allah, known as Muharam. In particular the fasting of the tenth day of
the Muharram, known as the Day of Ashura. The Prophet recommended
fasting on the tenth and also the ninth of Muharram.
What
else can one do to ensure the maximum benefit from the month of
Muharram and in particular the tenth day? Another Prophetic tradition
related that whoever fasts `Ashura it is as if s/he has fasted the
entire year and whoever gives charity on this day it is like the charity
of an entire year. Giving charity in secret appeases the wrath of
Allah and expedites the Divine Mercy of Allah. The Prophetic acts of
fasting and giving charity are causes that Allah uses to improve the
human condition, both individually and socially.
For
those in a dilemma about which days to fast, the scholars have stated
that if there is confusion about the beginning of the month, one should
fast for three days, to be sure of fasting on the ninth and tenth days.
The difference of opinion of the scholars is indeed a mercy for those
who believe.
Furthermore,
leading up to New Years Eve (1 January), people, generally, begin to
think about their life and some even make resolutions about how they
will approach the new year and their work, health and relationships.
Could I suggest that believers also use the beginning of the Islamic New
Year to also make New Year’s resolutions? Instead of resolutions about
material progression, the resolutions of a believer would and should be
about one’s progression on the path of enlightenment and nearness to
the Creator.
My
suggestion would be that each person makes specific intentions for the
year regarding; the amount of money one donates to charity, the amount
of time one spends volunteering, the amount of time one wastes on idle
pursuits (such as non-essential social media interaction,
counterproductive YouTube videos and the like), memorizing verses of
Quran or Prophetic traditions, making quality time to spend with family,
assisting one’s mother and/or father, speaking well with one’s
siblings, furthering Islamic knowledge, serving those less fortunate and
thanking Allah for the all blessing and bounties for which He has
bestowed upon us. In addition, it helps to write down intentions and to
regularly review those intentions in order to fulfill those commitments
to yourself.
I
ask Allah to accept all our deeds for the previous year and to pardon
all of our sins, I also ask Allah to make the upcoming year one of great
prosperity and advancement for all who proclaim to submit to the Divine
will of the Most Merciful Creator of all that is in existence.
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