Muharram is the month with which the Muslims begin their lunar Hijrah Calendar. It is one of the four sanctified months about which the Holy Qur’an says:
"The number of the months according to Allah is twelve months (mentioned) in the Book of Allah on the day in which He created heavens and the earth. Among those (twelve months) there are four sanctified".
These Four months, according to authentic traditions, are the months of Zulqa’dah, Zuihijjah, Muharram and Rajab. All the commentators of the Holy Qur'an are unanimous on this point, because the Holy Prophet صلی الله عليه وسلم in his sermon on the occasion of his last Hajj, has declared:
“One year consists of twelve months of which four are sanctified months, three of them are in sequence: Zulqa’dah, Zuihijjah, Muharram, and the fourth is Rajab.”
The specific mention of these four months does not mean that any other month has no sanctity, because the month of Ramadan is admittedly the most sanctified month in the year. But these four months were specifically termed as sanctified months for the same reason that their sanctity was accepted even by the pagans of Makkah.
In fact, every month, out of the twelve, is originally equal to the other, and there is no inherent sanctity which may be attributed to one of them in comparison to other months. When Allah Almighty chooses a particular time for His special blessings, then it acquires sanctity out of His grace.
Thus, the sanctity of these four months was recognized right from the days of Sayyidina Ibrahim علیہ السلام. Since the Pagans of Makkah attributed themselves to Sayyidina Ibrahim علیہ السلام they observed the sanctity of these four months and despite their frequent tribal battles, they held it unlawful to fight in these Months. In the Shariah of our Holy Prophet صلی الله عليه وسلم the sanctity of these months was upheld and the Holy Qur'an referred to them as the 'sanctified months'.
The month of Muharram has certain other characteristics peculiar to it which are specified below:
The Holy Prophet صلی الله عليه وسلم has said:
“The best fasts after the fasts of Ramadan are those of the month of Muharram.”
Although the fasts of the month of Muharram are not obligatory, yet, the one who fasts in these days out of his own will and choice is entitled to a great reward by Allah Almighty. The Hadith cited above signifies that the fasts of the month of Muharram are most rewardable ones among the Nafl fasts i.e. the fasts one observes out of his own choice without being obligatory on him.
The hadith does not mean that the reward promised for fasts of Muharram can be achieved only by fasting for the whole month. On the contrary, each fast during this month has merit. Therefore, one should avail of this opportunity as much as he can.
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