The new Islamic year AH, commenced today (June 27) in South Africa and many parts of the world, making the first of the Muharram. Muharram (meaning sanctified) is one of the four sacred months referred to in the Holy Quraan and is the month with which Muslims begin their lunar calendar, each month compromising 29 or 30 days only, making the Islamic year about 10 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar. Although the month is sanctified as a whole, the first 10 days are regarded by many as a tragic period in Islamic history, as it is during this time that the battle of Karbala took place, when the beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW’s) grandson, Imaam Hussain (AS), his family members, including the baby Ali Asghar and a number of his companions were martyred after being deprived of water for days, by the enemy. The 10th of Muharram is the most sacred amongst all it’s days and is called the day of ‘Ashurah,’ as it is on this heart-wrenching day that Imaam Hussain (AS), was martyred. The Noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, “The best fasts after the fasts of Ramadaan, are those of the month of Muharram.”
*For those who intend fasting on the day of Ashurah, it is recommended that two consecutive fasts be kept, either the 9th and 10th or the 10th and 11th of Muharram.
**The Laudium Sun wishes all our Muslim readers a blessed and peaceful Islamic New Year.