Muharram is a special month in the Islamic calendar that kicks off the new year. It’s one of four holy months in the Islamic calendar, along with Dhul-Qaadah, Dhul-Hijjah, and Rajab. The date of Muharram changes each year because the Islamic calendar is lunar, making it shorter than the solar year by about 11 to 12 days.
The name “Muharram” comes from the word “Haram,” which means forbidden. This means it’s a no-go to get into any fights during this month. Muharram is a mix of celebration and mourning. It’s a time to remember and mourn the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad.
The whole month is considered sacred, but the most important day is the Tenth day, which marks the end of the mourning period. So, during these 10 days, it’s a time to reflect and pay respects.
History
Many centuries ago, in 61 AH (approximately October 20th, 680 A.D.), during the pre-Islamic period in the Arabian Peninsula, there were numerous warring tribes due to the absence of strong leadership. This led to frequent conflicts and battles over even minor issues. However, fighting was prohibited during four sacred months of the year, with Muharram being one of them. The tribes along the Euphrates and Tigris rivers were traditional rivals, but Prophet Muhammad helped contain their animosity.
When Hazrat Ali, the Caliph and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad, came into power, the old enmity resurfaced. Hazrat Ali had two descendants, Hazrat Imam Hussain and Hazrat Imam Hassan. Hussain ruled part of Iran, while the Umayyads ruled modern-day Iraq.
The Shiahs of Kufa, a town in the Umayyad kingdom, called upon Hussain to lead the Islamic community, against the wishes of the ruler, Yazid. This led to a tragic event when Hussain, along with his family, was surrounded and killed by the forces of the governor of Kufa, Ibn-e-Ziad, in Karbala. Despite the call for help, the Shiahs of Kufa did not come to their aid. This event, known as the martyrdom of Hussain on the tenth day of Muharram, is considered a day of sorrow by Shia Muslims.
Hussain’s sacrifice at Karbala symbolizes a brave resistance against anti-Islamic forces for a sacred cause. It is for this reason that the death of Imam Hussain is mourned annually in the Muslim world.
