Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is set to begin in 2024 with a significant observance for Muslims around the world. This sacred month, which marks the commencement of the Islamic New Year, is a period of reflection, prayer, and remembrance. One of the most notable events during Muharram is Ashura, the tenth day, which holds special importance for Muslims. It is a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, at the Battle of Karbala.
Abu Hurairah narrated that :
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي بِشْرٍ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْحِمْيَرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ صِيَامِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ ” . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ .
The Messenger of Allah said: “The most virtuous fasting after the month of Ramadan is Allah’s month Al-Muharram.”
– Jami` at-Tirmidhi
Al-Hakam b. al-A’raj said:
I came to Ibn ‘Abbas who was leaning against his sheet of cloth in the Sacred Mosque (al-Masjid al-Haram). I asked him about fasting on the day of ‘Ashurah. He said: When you sight the moon of al-Muharram, count (the days). When the 9th of Muharram comes, fast from the morning. I said: Would Muhammad (ﷺ) observe this fast ? He replied: Thus Muhammad (ﷺ) used to fast.
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، – يَعْنِي ابْنَ سَعِيدٍ – عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ غَلاَبٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، أَخْبَرَنِي حَاجِبُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، – جَمِيعًا الْمَعْنَى – عَنِ الْحَكَمِ بْنِ الأَعْرَجِ، قَالَ أَتَيْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ وَهُوَ مُتَوَسِّدٌ رِدَاءَهُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ فَقَالَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَ هِلاَلَ الْمُحَرَّمِ فَاعْدُدْ فَإِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ التَّاسِعِ فَأَصْبِحْ صَائِمًا . فَقُلْتُ كَذَا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَصُومُ فَقَالَ كَذَلِكَ كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَصُومُ .
– Sunan Abi Dawud
It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“If I live until next year, I will fast the ninth day (of Muharram) too.”
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ عَبَّاسِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، مَوْلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ “ لَئِنْ بَقِيتُ إِلَى قَابِلٍ لأَصُومَنَّ الْيَوْمَ التَّاسِعَ ” .
– Sunan Ibn Majah
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:
“A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: ‘Which fasting is better after the month of Ramadan?’ He said: ‘The month of Allah which is called Muharram.’”
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ زَائِدَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْتَشِرِ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْحِمْيَرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَقَالَ أَىُّ الصِّيَامِ أَفْضَلُ بَعْدَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ قَالَ “ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الَّذِي تَدْعُونَهُ الْمُحَرَّمَ ” .
– Sunan Ibn Majah
The Islamic month of Muharram in the year 2024 is anticipated to begin on the evening of Sunday, July 7th, and continue until the evening of Tuesday, August 6th. The exact dates may vary based on moon sightings, marking the start of the Islamic lunar calendar’s first month.