Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and one of the most honored months of the entire year. Its very name comes from ḥarām — "sacred" or "forbidden" — because fighting and wrongdoing in it were prohibited even before Islam.
Allah ﷻ set apart four sacred months in His Book:
"Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve… of which four are sacred." — Qur'an 9:36
Those four are Dhul-Qa'dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab. In these months, good deeds carry greater weight and sins are graver — a reason to be especially mindful of how we spend our days.
The Prophet ﷺ gave Muharram a unique title of honor, calling it "Shahrullāh" — the Month of Allah. Of all twelve months, this is the one the Prophet ﷺ attributed directly to Allah, a sign of its tremendous status.
Muharram is a month of mercy, renewal, and reward. A few of the blessings the Prophet ﷺ taught us about it:
"The best fasting after Ramadan is in the Month of Allah — Muharram; and the best prayer after the obligatory is the night prayer." — Sahih Muslim
Because Muharram is one of the four sacred months, righteous actions are especially beloved to Allah and wrongdoing is especially serious. It is a season to lean into worship and to leave off sin.
As the opening of the new Hijri year, Muharram is a natural moment for repentance, gratitude, and resolve — to turn a new page with Allah and to set the tone for the entire year ahead.
The tenth of Muharram, Ashura, is the most blessed day of the month. On this day Allah ﷻ saved Prophet Musa (Moses) عليه السلام and the Children of Israel from Pharaoh, parting the sea before them.
When the Prophet ﷺ came to Madinah, he found the Jews fasting this day in gratitude. He said:
"We have more right to Musa than you," and he fasted it and ordered that it be fasted. — Sahih al-Bukhari & Muslim
The Prophet ﷺ was asked about fasting the day of Ashura, and he said: "It expiates the sins of the previous year." — Sahih Muslim
To distinguish our fast from others, the Prophet ﷺ taught us to add a day. He said: "If I live to the next year, I will fast the ninth (as well)." (Muslim). So the recommended practice is to fast the 9th and 10th (or the 10th and 11th):
Ashura is also remembered as the day of the martyrdom of Imam Husayn ibn Ali رضي الله عنه, the beloved grandson of the Prophet ﷺ, at Karbala — a profound reminder of sacrifice, justice, and standing for the truth. We honor his memory with the dignity and respect it deserves.