As the first month of the Islamic calendar, Muharram holds a special place in the hearts of believers. It is one of the four sacred months mentioned by Allah in the Qur’an, and it serves as a time of reflection, renewal and righteous action. 

For centuries, scholars and worshippers alike have looked to Muharram as a powerful opportunity to draw closer to Allah, remember key moments in Islamic history, and revive our commitment to truth and justice.

Imam al-Ghazzali wrote in Ihya Ulum al-Din that “the changing of time is not a mere shift in dates, but a chance to transform the heart.” Muharram, then, is more than the first page of a new calendar; it is an invitation to realign ourselves with the divine.

Why is Muharram so important?

Muharram is one of the four sacred months mentioned in the Qur’an:

“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.” (Qur’an 9:36)

The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) referred to Muharram as “the month of Allah” (Shahrullah), a rare honour not given to any other month. This attribution alone signifies its status.

Imam al-Nawawi commented that this title indicates the month’s immense spiritual value and that deeds performed within it carry added weight. Sins are more serious, and good deeds are multiplied. It is a time of sacredness, where the believer is invited to guard their actions and elevate their intentions.

In a world that often feels spiritually empty or distracted, Muharram offers a powerful moment to re-centre our focus. By honouring this sacred month, we participate in a tradition that stretches back to the earliest believers.

Key events that took place in Muharram

Numerous significant events occurred in the month of Muharram, particularly on the 10th day, known as Ashura. Among the most prominent:

• The victory of Prophet Musa (Moses) over Pharaoh: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) narrated that on this day, Allah saved Prophet Musa and his people from the tyranny of Pharaoh by parting the Red Sea. To commemorate this, the Prophet fasted on Ashura and encouraged others to do the same.
  
• The martyrdom of Imam Husain (may Allah be pleased with him): On the plains of Karbala in 61 AH, the beloved grandson of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Imam Husain ibn Ali, stood against a corrupt and tyrannical regime and was martyred, along with his family and companions. This event etched itself into the heart of the ummah as a symbol of unwavering courage and principled resistance.
  

These two stories from vastly different times and contexts share a common thread: the triumph of divine truth over falsehood and oppression.

Hijrah and its significance

The Islamic calendar begins with the Hijrah: the migration of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions from Makkah to Madinah. Though the actual event did not take place in Muharram, the decision to mark the calendar from this point was made during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him).

The Hijrah was not simply a geographical move. It marked the transition from persecution to community, from marginalisation to institution. It was the moment the Muslims could establish justice, worship freely, and live by the laws of Allah without fear.

Imam al-Ghazzali wrote, “The Hijrah is not merely a journey of steps, but a journey of the soul, from darkness to light, from fear to faith.”

Each new year, we are reminded that transformation is possible. That starting anew is not just allowed, but encouraged. This is a month of intention, purpose, and renewal.

What happened to Imam Husain

The events of Karbala must be remembered with solemnity and deep reflection. Imam Husain’s refusal to pledge allegiance to Yazid was a moral stance. It was a declaration that tyranny, corruption, and injustice could never be legitimised by silence.

Imam Husain’s stand is one that echoes through generations. He died not for worldly gain, but to preserve the essence of Islam. His sacrifice forces us to ask: What am I willing to stand for? What will I remain silent about? Do I seek comfort or truth?

Our response to Karbala must be neither sectarian nor superficial. It should be deeply Islamic: to honour the martyrdom, to speak the truth, and to continue resisting tyranny wherever it emerges.

Fighting tyranny: the enduring lesson

Imam Husain’s courage teaches us that standing for truth is not an optional virtue. It is a duty. In an age where injustice prevails in so many forms, from occupied lands to corrupt leadership, from domestic abuse to racial inequality. Muharram calls upon us to be brave.

The companions of Imam Husain knew they would not survive. Yet they stood, and died, for what is right. That spirit must live on in us.

Let our remembrance of the events of Ashura fuel our activism, our courage, and our sense of accountability. Whether through speaking out, educating ourselves, or supporting those on the frontlines of justice, each one of us has a role to play.

Muharram does not ask us to merely mourn. It asks us to act. To honour the legacy of the Prophet’s family with our commitment to truth in our own lives.

Fasting in Muharram: the reward of Ashura

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“The best of fasting after Ramadan is in the month of Allah, Muharram.” (Sahih Muslim)

And specifically, about the day of Ashura:

“Fasting the day of Ashura, I hope Allah will expiate thereby for the year that came before it.” (Sahih Muslim)

The scholars explain that fasting on the 10th of Muharram, ideally alongside the 9th or 11th to distinguish from Jewish tradition, carries immense reward. It reflects gratitude for Allah’s saving of Prophet Musa and a desire for forgiveness.

In al-Majmu’, Imam al-Nawawi wrote that the fasting of Ashura remains a strongly recommended sunnah and has continued throughout generations of the ummah.

This is an easy, powerful way to earn the mercy of Allah and connect with the legacy of the prophets. And in a world filled with distraction and indulgence, an act of self-restraint for the sake of Allah holds immeasurable value.

Final reflections

Muharram is not simply a historical month. It is a living chapter in our spiritual story.

It reminds us of the sanctity of time, of the bravery of the prophets and of the moral line that must never be crossed. Of the beauty of worship and the virtue of starting anew.

It invites us to fast, to pray, to reflect, and to act. To revisit the stand of Imam Husain not as a distant event, but as a living challenge. To remember that we, too, are capable of standing firm.

As Imam al-Ghazzali said, “The start of the year is like the birth of the soul: pure, full of hope, and close to Allah.”

May we use this month to draw near to Him. To seek forgiveness. To honour the sacrifices of our predecessors. To recommit to justice and integrity. To start again, with clearer hearts and stronger faith.

And may Allah grant us all the strength to carry forward the lessons of Muharram throughout the year ahead.

Ameen.