Muharram 2020: History and Significance of Islamic New Year

Muharram is considered to be the first month in the Islamic calendar or the Hijri calendar, Muharram is the second holiest month for Muslims around the world. The day is also known as Al Hijri or theIslamic New Year. The day also marks the migration of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina.

Date

Depending on the sighting of the moon, Al Hijri 1442 will fall on August 21 in India, marking the first day of Muharram. The word Muharram means ‘not permitted’ or ‘forbidden’ hence, Muslims are prohibited from taking part in activities like warfare and use it as a period of prayer and reflection. Observing a fast on this day is considered a ‘sunnah’ since Prophet Muhammad to kept a roza on this day after Prophet Musa or Moses as per the Sunni tradition. On the other hand, Shia Muslims refrain from attending and celebrating all joyous events in this period and observe the fast on the tenth day of Muharram, commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain who was the son of Hazrat Ali and the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.

Significance

It was in the month of Muharram that Allah saved the Children of Israel from Pharaoh. As a sign of gratitude to Allah, Prophet Musa fasted on this day that is the 10th of Muharram. In 622 CE, when Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina in the month of Muharram, he learnt from the Jews that they fasted on this day following the ways of Prophet Musa. Wanting his followers to show the same gratitude to Allah, Prophet Muhammad decided to observe a two-day fast - one on the day of Ashura and the day prior that is the 9th and 10th day of Muharram. These are the traditional customs of Sunni Muslims.