The Virtues of Fasting in the Month of Muharram

The month of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, holds many virtues. Fasting, charity and prayer hold additional values. Surely, the months provides a great opportunity to seek the inner strength that comes from the nearness to Allah سبحانه وتعالى for Muslims in general and dedicated dawa carriers in particular.



The Virtues of Fasting in the Month of Muharram


Muslim reported from Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, "The best of fasts after the month of Ramadan are in the Month of Allah, which you call Muharram. And the best of prayer after the obligatory prayer is the night prayer." [Muslim, 1163]


This refers to general voluntary fasts according to Imam Ibn Rajab (Allah have mercy on him): These are best in the month of Muharram, just as the best general voluntary prayer is night prayer.

Fasting is a secret between the servant and his Lord. This is why Allah Mighty and Exalted says, [in the divine hadith (hadith qudsi)], "Every action of the son of Adam is his, except for fasting. It is Mine, and it is I who reward it." [Bukhari and Muslim, from Abu Hurayra]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) also said, "The fasting person has two joys: one when he breaks his fast, and the other when he meets his Lord." [Muslim]

Similarly, it has been related that fasting is a means for good health. The Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) is reported to have said, "Fast, and you shall have good health." [Ahmad, from Abu Hurayra]


The Day of `Ashura': The Tenth of Muharram


It is mentioned in Bukhari and Muslim from Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him and his father) that he was asked about fasting the Day of `Ashura' [10th of Muharram]. He said, "I did not see the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) fast a day while more avid to seek its virtue than this day," meaning the Day of `Ashura'." [Bukhari (2006), and Muslim (1132)].


The Day of `Ashura' has great virtue, and tremendous sanctity (hurma). The virtue of fasting it was known among the Prophets (peace be upon them all). Both Prophet Nuh and Prophet Musa (peace be upon them both) fasted it.


The Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) used to fast this day even in Mecca, though he had not yet ordered others to do so, as mentioned in both Bukhari and Muslim. [Bukhari (2002), Muslim (1125)]


When he migrated to Medina, and found the People of the Book fasting this day and venerating it, he ordered the Muslims to fast it, and encouraged it so much that even the children would fast it.


It has been reported in both Bukhari and Muslim from Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him), that, "When the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) reached Medina, he found the Jews fasting the Day of `Ashura', so he asked them, ‘What is this day you are fasting?' They said, ‘This is a tremendous day. Allah saved Musa and his people on this day and drowned Pharaoh and his people. Musa fasted it out of thanks, so we fast it too.' The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) said, ‘And we are more deserving of Musa than you are.' So he fasted this day, and ordered that it be fasted." [Bukhari (2004) and Muslim (1130)]


At the end of his life, the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) made the determination not to fast this day alone, but with another day [either before or after it], in order to be different from the People of the Book.


It has been reported in the Sahih of Imam Muslim (Allah have mercy on him), also from Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) that, "When the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) fasted the Day of `Ashura' and ordered his companions to fast it, they said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! This is a day that the Jews and Christians venerate.' So the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) said, ‘When next year comes - if Allah wills - we will fast the Ninth [of Muharram with it].' But the next year did not come before the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) passed away." [Muslim (1134), Abu Dawud (2445)]

And it is reported in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad (Allah have mercy on him), from Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, "Fast the Day of `Ashura' and be different from the Jews by fasting a day before it or a day after it." [Ahmad]


Giving in Charity on the Day of `Ashura'

It has been reported from Abd Allah ibn `Amr ibn al-`As (Allah be pleased with him), that "Whoever fasts `Ashura' it is as if he has fasted the entire year. And whoever gives charity this day it is like the charity of an entire year."


Some of the Virtues of the Day of `Ashura'


It is a day in which Allah forgave an entire people. Tirmidhi relates that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said to a man, "If you want to fast a month after Ramadan, then fast Muharram, for it has a day in which Allah forgave an entire people, and He turns to others in repentance in." [Tirmidhi (841)]


Night Prayer


As for voluntary night prayer (qiyam al-layl), it is superior to voluntary prayer during the day because it is closer to secrecy, and nearer to sincerity (ikhlas).


Allah Most High said,
إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ اللَّيْلِ هِيَ أَشَدُّ وَطْئًا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا
"Lo! the vigil of the night is (a time) when impression is more keen and speech more certain." [Qur'an, 73:6]

This is because the time of the night vigil (tahajjud) is the best of times for voluntary prayer, and the closest a servant gets to his Lord. It is a time when the doors of the skies are opened, supplications answered, and needs fulfilled.

Allah Most High has praised those who wake up at night in His remembrance, supplication, seeking forgiveness, and intimate entreating (munajat), saying,
تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنْفِقُونَ


فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَا أُخْفِيَ لَهُمْ مِنْ قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ


"Who forsake their beds to cry unto their Lord in fear and hope, and spend of that We have bestowed on them. No soul knows what is kept hid for them of joy, as a reward for what they used to do." [Qur'an, 32:16-17]


And,
أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَانِتٌ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ سَاجِدًا وَقَائِمًا يَحْذَرُ الْآخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُو رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِ ۗ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ
"Or he who pays adoration in the watches of the night, prostrate and standing, bewaring of the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord? Say: Are those who know equal with those who know not? But only those of understanding will pay heed." [Qur'an, 39:9]


And He سبحانه وتعالى said to His Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace),
وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِ نَافِلَةً لَكَ عَسَىٰ أَنْ يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًا مَحْمُودًا


"And some part of the night awake for it, as voluntary worship for you. It may be that thy Lord will raise thee to a praised estate." [Qur'an, 17:79]


It has been said that those who worship at night will enter Paradise without reckoning, and that standing in night prayer shortens the length of one's Standing on the Day of Judgment.


This is why the Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) said, "Stick to night prayer, for it was the way of the righteous before you. Night prayer is a means of closeness to Allah Most High, of expiating for bad deeds, avoiding sins, and keeping away illness from one's body." [Tirmidhi (3543], Bayhaqi, and others; it is a sound (hasan) hadith]


This is why Abu Sulayman al-Darani would say, "The people of the night find more joy than the people of distraction (lahw) in their distractions. Were it not for the night, I would not like to remain living."

Which Is The Right Faith Sunni Or Shia?

I think it does not matter what I believe is wrong with the Sunni or the Shi'a faith. My question to you would be that why do you believe in the Sunni faith? If it is because you were just born a Sunni and inherited this faith, then I would say that Shi'as have also been told the same thing, and they also believe that they are on the right path. Then the question arises that how does one know that they are on the right faith. It is possible that you could have been born a Shi'a and told all your life that Shi'a is the correct faith whereas Sunnis are misguided!

My brother, there is no reason why you should believe that you are necessarily on the right path, and there is no reason why she should believe the same. We, as Muslims, are required to recite "Show us the right path" seventeen times every day in our prayers. Obviously, we are always in the need of the right path and that is why God has required us to ask for it from Him.

As to the solution, there are two separate things that both of you need to do.

Firstly, God has laid an immense duty upon us to treat others well, especially our husbands, wives and our parents. Your wife's parents are to you as your own parents are. It does not matter what we think of each other, we have to treat parents and our partners in life with as much respect as possible, and possibly avoid discussions that can lead to heated debates. Example of the Prophet (pbuh) is perfect in this regard: People used to bully him but He always prayed to God to show them the right path. In our case, not only should we pray to God to show our relatives and the beloved ones the truth, but we should also pray for ourselves that God show us the path of His liking.

Secondly, I think both you and your wife should turn to God and His word. Quran has been revealed to us for nothing but guidance. It prescribes the way we should live and deal with others and solves all the problems, including the one that you are facing. There is only one ultimate truth and that is the Quran. I think both of you should study Quran together, and help each other understand the Quran with an unbiased and honest attitude. After that, you may realize that you have differences of opinion. If your intentions are honest, these minor differences shall not be of concern. And when you understand something in Quran different from what you believe in, then you should change your ways and believe in Quran for it is the word of the Lord of the Worlds.

In addition, there is no concept of sects in eyes of God, instead we have been called by only one name - Muslims. The righteous path, therefore, is to understand the wants of God and get closer to him. Neither should one allow anything to intervene in their relationship with the Almighty.

And always use intellect and keep yourself open to the truth, that is what real Islam is. When you get a new point of view that looks even stronger on reasoning, you should not waste time in accepting it. Remember, we will be judged on our effort in finding the truth and our understanding of it. And if the intentions are honest, you will find that ultimate truth is only in understanding the Quran, that is what Muhammad (pbuh) brought with so much trouble after having being oppressed by his opponents, and not only that, he set up a society to practice it and show it to us. Let us be fair to the Book of God.

Pakistan in trouble with food

Pakistan are troubled with the food because of the flood, many millions have been affected with shortages of food and they want to fast for allah. They are in desperate times, food prices have been rised by three times before because of the damages to the crops, roads and bridges.