Muharram

 

Dear all my muslim brothers,

Alhamdulillah, today we have been in a new year of Islam and it becomes the first Khutbah on this Islamic-new year. It is sad to see people that they tend to forget this important Islamic date. We tend to remember the dates of the English calendar but we don’t recall the proper dates of the Islamic calendar. This is the month of Muharram and we should know that this month is indeed an important month for all Muslims.

Allah sent us the best human being, the best Messenger, the best teacher of all time and he is our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw.) and we should all love him more than any human in this world. Firstly, Allah is the one who has determined that this Dunya will have twelve months. It is wrong to believe that humans were the first discoverer of this miracle. Allah says in the Quran:

 

إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِى كِتَٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ ۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا۟ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ وَقَٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ كَآفَّةً كَمَا يُقَٰتِلُونَكُمْ كَآفَّةً ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ

 

Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them. And fight against the disbelievers collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that Allah is with the righteous [who fear Him].

Surah At-Tawbah, Ayah 36 (9:36)

 

Honorable Brothers!

In the month of Muharram, definitely we know about Ashura or the tenth day of Muharram. Usually we are more familiar with the observation of mourning by the Shias due to the Karbala but this date of Ashura has plenty of other historical significance.

Abdur Rahman Ibn Abu Bakrah (rah.) reported that the Prophet (saw.) said: “The year is twelve months of which four are sacred, the three consecutive months of Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab Mudar which comes between Jumaada and Sha’baan.”

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 2958

Four Islamic months have been ordained as holy months. Fighting on these months have been made Haram. It is mentioned in the Quran:

 

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الشَّهْرِ الْحَرَامِ قِتَالٍ فِيهِ ۖ قُلْ قِتَالٌ فِيهِ كَبِيرٌ ۖ وَصَدٌّ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَكُفْرٌ بِهِ وَالْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَإِخْرَاجُ أَهْلِهِ مِنْهُ أَكْبَرُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ ۚ وَالْفِتْنَةُ أَكْبَرُ مِنَ الْقَتْلِ ۗ وَلَا يَزَالُونَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَرُدُّوكُمْ عَنْ دِينِكُمْ إِنِ اسْتَطَاعُوا ۚ وَمَنْ يَرْتَدِدْ مِنْكُمْ عَنْ دِينِهِ فَيَمُتْ وَهُوَ كَافِرٌ فَأُولَٰئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

They ask you about the sacred month – about fighting therein. Say, “Fighting therein is great [sin], but averting [people] from the way of Allah and disbelief in Him and [preventing access to] al-Masjid al-Haram and the expulsion of its people therefrom are greater [evil] in the sight of Allah . And fitnah is greater than killing.” And they will continue to fight you until they turn you back from your religion if they are able. And whoever of you reverts from his religion [to disbelief] and dies while he is a disbeliever – for those, their deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter, and those are the companions of the Fire, they will abide therein eternally.

Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 217 

 

The reason why these months have also been referred to as being “Haram” is because of illustrating their holiness, they are haram in the sense that we need to abstain ourselves from Haram activities on these months as much as possible. The reason we call the holy Masjid at the Kaaba Sharif “Masjid Al-Haram” is to indicate that the place is precious to us, Muslims.

 

Ma’asyirol muslimin rahimakumullah

Regarding to the fasting on the day of Ashura, there is a famous Hadith based on its ruling:

Ibn ‘Abbas (rah.) said: “The Prophet (saw.) came to Madinah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of ‘Ashura’. He said, ‘What is this?’ They said, ‘This is a righteous day, it is the day when Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemies, so Musa fasted on this day.’ He said, ‘We have more right to Musa than you,’ so he fasted on that day and commanded [the Muslims] to fast on that day.”

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1865

 

The fasting on Ashura has a lot of blessings. Hadiths mention:

Abu Hurairah (rah.) reports that the Holy Prophet (saw.) said that after Ramadan, the fasts of Muharram have the greatest excellence. (HR. Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1982)

Then, another hadiths also informs,

Abu Qatada (rah.) relates that the Holy Prophet (saw.) said that the fast on the 10th of Muharram atones for the sins of the preceding year. (HR. Sahih Muslim)

It is mustahabb (encouraged) to fast ‘Taasoo Aa’ with ‘Ashura’

Ibn ‘Abbas (rah.) said: “When the Messenger of Allah (saw.) fasted on Ashura and commanded the Muslims to fast as well, they said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, it is a day that is venerated by the Jews and Christians.’ The Messenger of Allah (saw.) said, ‘If I live to see the next year, In Shaa Allah, we will fast on the ninth day too.’ But it so happened that the Messenger of Allah (saw.) passed away before the next year came.”

(HR. Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1916)

 

It is best to fast on the ninth of Muharram although one can also fast on the eleventh of Muharram along with the fasting of Ashura. Since we do not follow the practices of the Jews it is best we fast both days rather than one. The Prophet (saw.) wanted to fast two days but he could not, as his Ummah we should be ones who need to take the responsibility of practicing this Deen properly.

 

Ma’asyiral Muslimin Rahimakumullah,

Ashura is a day of great historical significance. On this day Allah (swt.) created the whole universe and this earth. Adam(as.) was created on this day. Adam (as.) was entered to Jannah on this day. Allah created Hawa (as.) from the rib of Adam (as.) on this day. Allah forgave them on this day. Both of them were also sent to this Dunya on Ashura. Ibrahim (as.) is believed to be born on this day and also after staying in the fire for forty days Allah released him and that day was the tenth of Muharram. Ibrahim (as.) and Ismail (as.) was tested with Ibrahim (as.)’s dream about the sacrifice on this day. Allah (swt.) relieved Ayub (as.) from his disease on this day. Dawud (as.) was forgiven on this day. Suleiman (as.) reattained his kingdom on this day. Prophet Isa (as.) was born on Ashura and ascended to the heaven on Ashura, as well. Yusuf (as.) came out of the well on the day of Ashura. After the great flood, Prophet Nuh (as.)’s ark landed on Mount Judi. Nuh (as.) fasted this day, in thanks to Allah. From him and his Ummah we were born, that is why is called the “Second Adam”. The world will be destroyed on Ashura. Ibrahim (as.) was declared a friend of Allah on this day. And Yunus (as.) was freed from the belly of the whale on this day by his dua which mentioned in the Quran Surat Al Anbiya ayat 87.

 

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ

Meaning: ‘‘There is no God but You: Glory to You: I was indeed wrong’’ (QS. Al-Anbiya ayat 87).

 

The dua of Yunus (as.) or we called it as “dzun nun” is a lesson for us and also a standard invocation for those who want to call Allah at the time of distress. Allah loved Yunus (as.)’s dua, that is why He has mentioned it in the Quran and as Muslims we should use this dua to call our Lord for help. This du’a contains Tauhid (believe in the Greatness of Allah SWT), confession of sins committed, and requesting forgiveness from Allah SWT.

 

Dear all my Moslems brothers!

We ask Allah to grant us His taufiq and inayah to increase our good deeds, and may He bestow us with His grace and forgiveness always. Amin Ya Rabbal ‘Alamin.


 بَارَكَ اللهُ لِيْ وَلَكُمْ فِي الْقُرْآنِ الْعَظِيْمِ، وَنَفَعَنِي وَإِيَّاكُمْ بِمَا فِيهِ مِنَ الْآيَاتَ وَالذِّكْرِ الْحَكِيم 

أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَاسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ وَلِسَائِرِ المُسْلِمِيْنَ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَمِيْعُ العَلِيْمُ

Khutbah II

الحَمْدُ للهِ رَبِّ العَالمِيْنَ وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَى أَشْرَافِ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالمرْسَلِيْنَ نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِيْنَ
اَمَّا بَعْدُ

رحيمكوم الله ........................................   


اِنَّ اللهَ وَمَلاَئِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّوْنَ عَلىَ النَّبِىْ يَاَ يُّهَاالَّذِيْنَ آمَنُوْاصَلُّوْاعَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوْا تَسْلِيْمًا

اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَجِيْدٌ. وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَجِيْدٌ

 

اللهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلْمُسْلِمِيْنَ وَالمسْلِمَاتِ وَالمؤْمِنِيْنَ وَالمؤْمِنَاتِ الأَحْيَاءِ مِنْهُمْ وَالأَمْوَاتِ إِنَّكَ سَمِيْعٌ قَرِيْبٌ مُجِيْبُ الدَّعْوَةِ

رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ الهُدَى وَالتُّقَى وَالعَفَافَ وَالغِنَى

رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا

اَللَّهُمَّ أَرِنَا الْحَقَّ حَقًّا وَارْزُقْنَا اتِّبَاعَهُ، وَأَرِنَا الْبَاطِلَ باَطِلاً وَارْزُقْنَا اجْتِنَابَهُ.

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُوْنَ، وَسَلاَمٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِيْنَ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ.
عِبَادَ اللهِ، إِنَّ اللهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ بِالْعَدْلِ وَاْلإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَآئِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَآءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُوْنَ. فَاذْكُرُوا اللهَ الْعَظِيْمَ يَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاسْأَلُوْهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ يُعْطِكُمْ وَلَذِكْرُ اللهِ أَكْبَرُ  


 


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