Issues and Questions

New Year of Hijrah 1427: A Time of Reflection
and Renewal

By Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi

Allah alternates the Night and the Day. Indeed in this is an instructive example for those who have vision! (Al-Nur 24:44)
Blessed is He Who made constellations in the skies, and placed therein a Lamp and a Moon giving light. And it is He Who made the Night and the Day to follow each other, for anyone who wants to reflect or who wants to be grateful. (Al-Furqan 25:61-62)
Inshallah, in a few days we shall be saying good bye to the year 1426 and we shall welcome the year 1427 of Hijrah. We pray to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala to bless us in the coming year and always and keep us on the right path. The time is on a constant motion. It does not stop for a moment. Blessed are the moments that are spent in the service of Allah and for the benefit of His creation. It is reported that Sayyidna ‘Ali – may Allah be pleased with him - said:
This world is moving out and the Hereafter is moving in. For both of them there are children. Be the children of the Hereafter and be not the children of this world. Today is the time of action not judgment; tomorrow will be the time of judgment not action (Al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Riqaq, Bab fi al-ÕAmal wa Tulihi)
Every moment is the moment of happiness for some and the moment of sadness for others. At the same time you may see in some homes the joy of welcoming of a new baby but in some other homes the sadness of the death of a loved one. Some get married and some get divorced. Some find a job and some lose a job. Some laugh and some cry. In every person’s life there are different moments. Sometime we are healthy and sometimes we get sick. Whatever is created is susceptible to change, alteration and accidents. The change in the creative order is a sign of the greatness of Allah. Blessed is the Living One, Who does not die. Blessed is He Who slumbers not, nor sleeps. Blessed is He Who guards the Heavens and Earth and does not need rest (cf. al-Baqarah 2:255). The Prophet – peace be upon him - used to say:
O Allah, You are the First; there is none before You. You are the Last; there is none after You. You are the Evident; there is none above You and You are the Imminent; there is none away from You... (Muslim 4888)
Blessed are also those who use their time in the right way. The Prophet –peace be upon him- said:
A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, who is best among people?” The Prophet said, “One whose life is long and whose action is good.” He said, “Who is worst among people?” The Prophet said, “One whose life is long but his action is evil.” (Al-Tirmidhi 2252)
The New Year of Hijrah is a time of reflection and renewal. We should think of our Prophet and his Companions’ Hijrah from Makkah to Madinah. We should also reflect on our own conditions as individuals, families and as the Ummah at large. The Prophet and his Companions went through many difficulties and challenges at the time of Hijrah. It was the most critical time for them; but they were patient and steadfast. They worked with wisdom and full trust in Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. Then by the mercy of Allah that moment of challenge and difficulty became the moment of success, triumph and glory. Allah has described that moment:
If you support him not, well Allah did indeed support him, when the Unbelievers expelled him as second of two, when they were both in the Cave, and he said to his companion, “Have no fear for Allah is with us”: then Allah sent down His peace upon him, and strengthened him with forces which you did not see, and humbled to the depths the word of the Unbelievers. But the word of Allah is exalted to the heights. Allah is Mighty, Wise. (Al-Tawbah 9:40)
Whatever challenges we have, we should face them with patience and steadfastness, with wisdom and righteousness and we should trust that Allah’s support will indeed come. The lesson of Hijrah has always been:
Have no fear for Allah is with us.
And be patient, and you patience is in your being with Allah. And do not feel saddened because of them, not be in any anguish because of their plots. Indeed Allah is with those who are mindful (of Him) and those who do good. (Al-Nahl 16:127-128)
Khutbah at ISOC – Dhul Hijjah 27, 1426/ January 27, 2006
-DrSiddiqi@aol.com

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The Month of Muharram

Muharram is the first month of the Islamic, Hijrah calendar. It is one of the four sanctified months about which Allah says, “The number of months in the sight of Allah are twelve (in a year). So ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; Of them four are sacred: That is the right religion. So wrong not yourselves therein.” (At-Tawbah: 36)
The four months, according to authentic Hadith, are the months of Dul-Qa`dah, Dhu-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab. The sanctity of these four months was observed in the Shari’ah of all the Prophets.
Muslim scholars have stated that the actions performed in these months have an effect on what a person does in the remaining months of the year.
The Month of Muharram
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is reported to have said, “The best of fasts besides the month of Ramadan is the fast during Allah’s month of Muharram and the best of prayer besides the obligatory prayers is the Tahajjud prayer.”
The 10th Day of Muharram known as the day of `Ashura’, is a very significant day in the Islamic calendar. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, has exhorted the Ummah to fast on this day. He is reported to have said, “Fasting the day of `Ashura’, I hope that Allah will accept it as expiation for the previous year.” (Reported by Muslim)
The Fast of `Ashura’
It is reported in the Sahih of Imam Bukhari and other authentic collections of Hadith that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions used to fast on the 10th day of Muharram while they were in Makkah (before the Hijrah).
Ibn `Abbas says, ‘I did not see the Prophet anxiously awaiting the fast of any day, which he gave preference to over other days, but this day (of `Ashura’) and the month of Ramadan.’
It was a day on which people of Makkah used to change the covering (Kiswah) of the Ka`bah. Quraysh also used to fast on this day. (Reported by Al-Bukhari)
After the Hijrah when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came to Madinah, he found that the Jews of Madinah also used to observe this day with fasting. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked them the reason of their fasting on this day. They said, “This is a blessed day. On this day Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy (in Egypt) and so Prophet Musa fasted on this day giving thanks to Allah.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “We are closer to Musa than you are.” He fasted on that day and commanded Muslims to fast on this day. (Reported by Al-Bukhari)
In another report it is mentioned that Jews of Madinah used to hold feast on this day. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) told his Companions to fast instead. (Reported by Al-Bukhari)
`Ashura' fasting was obligatory (Fard) in the beginning. In the second year of Hijrah (624 CE) when Allah’s command came that Muslims should fast the whole month of Ramadan, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) then sent someone to announce to people that fasting of `Ashura' had become voluntary (Nafl). This indicates that whosoever wishes to fast, may fast and whosoever does not want to fast, there will be no blame on him/her.
Imam At-Tirmidhi mentions that Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to say that we should fast on two days: the 9th and 10th of Muharram to distinguish ourselves from the Jewish community. (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)
Ibn `Abbas also quotes the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying, “If I live next year, I shall also fast on the 9th day.” (Reported by Ahmad)
There is a great reward in fasting the `Ashura'. There are many Hadiths that mention its blessings and virtues. It is good to fast on this day, although it is not obligatory.
Courtesy islamonline

Editor: Akhtar M. Faruqui
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