Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear brother

Assalamualaikum

I want to know about the month of Moharram. ( like what to do and what not to do)

I have seen that many people who are Sunni (other than Shia) do some things like walking on the fire, taking rally..........etc.

Thankyou

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Answer:

Ritual ashura muharram

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Ibn 'Abbas reported: "The Prophet (saws) came to Madinah and found the Jews fasting on the day of 'Ashurah. He (saws) said to them: 'What is this fast?' They said: 'A great day. Allah saved Moses and the tribes of Israel from their enemies on this day and therefore, Moses fasted on this day.' The Prophet (saws) said: 'We have more of a right to Moses than you,' so he (saws) fasted on that day also and ordered the believers to fast on that day."

Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

According to al-Bukhari and Muslim, Musa al-Ash'ari reported: "The Jews would honor the day of 'Ashurah as an 'id. The Prophet (saws) said: 'You [Muslims] are to fast on it.'"

The tenth of Muharram was a day which not only the pagans of Quraish, but also the Jews and the Christians of the time held in honor before the advent of Islam; and they commemorated this day by fasting. The Messenger of Allah (saws) declared that the believers, because of their true belief upon all the previous Prophets of Allah, had more right to honor this day and he (saws) encouraged the believers to differ from the pagans and fast two days, either the 9^th and the 10^th of Muharram or the 10^th and the 11^th, in commemoration of this great day.

Ibn 'Abbas reported: "The Messenger of Allah (saws) fasted on the day of 'Ashurah and ordered the people to fast on it. The people said: 'O Messenger of Allah (saws) , it is a day that the Jews and Christians honor.' The Prophet (saws) said, 'When the following year comes--Allah willing--we shall fast (also) on the ninth.' The death of the Prophet (saws) came before the following year."

Related by Muslim and Abu Dawud.

Dear and beloved brother, other than the fasting on the two consecutive days for ‘Ashura’ (the 9^th/10^th or the 10^th/11^th), to the best of our knowledge, there is absolutely nothing in the authentic and established Sunnah or practice of the Messenger of Allah (saws) whereby the Prophet (saws) encouraged the believers to do any additional specific rites or rituals or prayers or anything else especially for the month of Muharram.

Performing any rite or ritual in the month of Muharram assuming that their this practice is a part of the deen, or that their these self-invented rites and rituals would earn them extra rewards from Allah Subhanah, etc……especially when such rites and rituals are not endorsed by Allah and His Messenger (saws) would without an iota of a doubt, be a manifestation of the evil sin of ‘bida’ or innovation in the Sight of Allah Subhanah.

Aisha narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘If somebody innovates something which is not present in our religion, then that thing will be rejected.’

Related by Bukhari.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1885 Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said in a sermon: “The best speech is that which is embodied in the Book of Allah, the Al Quran; and the best guidance is the guidance given by me, Mohamed (saws). The most evil affairs are the innovations (bida), and every innovation (bida) is an error.”

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4515 Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: “If anyone introduces an innovation (bida in religion), he will be responsible for it. If anyone introduces an innovation (bida) or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (bida), he is cursed by Allah, by His Angels, and by all the people!”

Dear and beloved brother, know with absolute conviction that the taking out of such rallies and/or the walking on fire, etc. during the month of Muharram (or otherwise) are no more than self-invented rituals and have absolutely no basis or relevance to the guidance of Allah and His Messenger (saws).

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan