Muharram

Last night, the new moon heralded the beginning of the New Year of the Islamic or Hijri calendar.

Today is the 1st of Muharram, 1433.

A lot of laypersons associate Muharram with activities that would take place 10 days later. Known as Ashuraa’ (from Ashra’ or ten in Arabic), that is the 10th of Muharram, and marks the day of one of the most heart-rending events that occurred in Islam – the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Ashuraa’ is also associated with a number of events of earlier eras. According to various traditions, it was on the 10th of Muharram that Adam’s prayer was accepted, Noah landed his Ark on Mount Judi, Abraham was saved from the fire in which Nimrod had thrown him, Jonah emerged from the belly of the fish, Joseph was re-united with his parents, Moses led his people across the sea and the Pharaoh was destroyed; apart from many others.

Due to all the above, in the era when Prophet Muhammad (SAW) lived, Jews used to fast on the 10^th of Muharram. Even today, quite a few Muslims fast for the entire 10 days of Muharram, and many others on the 9th and 10th.

However, the events that took place on 10 Muharram 0061 (approx Oct 680 AD) overshadowed all other events.

Yazeed, a despot, tyrant and the total antitheses of Islam, proclaimed himself the Caliph or leader of Muslims. He asked Imam Hussain to pledge allegiance to him, which was naturally refused.

In a nutshell, this refusal of Imam Hussain to pledge allegiance to the despot Yazeed led to various events, leading to Imam Hussain leaving Madinah with his family and a few companions numbering 72 men, and about 51 women and children towards a place called Kufah (in modern-day Iraq). This small group of people was surrounded by an approximately 30,000-strong army sent by Yazeed at a place called Karbala, near the Euphrates river.

After denying water for 3 days (from 7 Muharram onwards) to this small group of people comprising women and children, including a six month-old infant, Yazeed’s mercenaries mercilessly killed the men and captured the women and children. From then onwards, the 10th of Muharram is marked as a day of mourning, remembrance and prayers by Muslims across the world.

Is it just a coincidence that the Islamic calendar begins with one sacrifice and ends with another? Or is it a message for us Muslims to be ready and willing to sacrifice their all for the will of Allah?