Islamic Months
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Islamic Months
MONTH OF MUHARRAM
Muharram being the first month of the Islamic New Year holds great importance in Islam.
It is one of the four sacred months in the Islamic calendar. Muharram in its literal sense means “forbidden”. Similar to the other sacred months, waging war during this month is forbidden.
“The year is of twelve months, out of which four months are sacred: Three are in succession Dhul-Qa’ da, Dhul-Hijja and Muharram, and (the fourth is) Rajab…” (Bukhari 3197)
Ashura holds special significance due to which Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to fast on this day. Earlier on it was obligatory to fast on the 10th of Muharram. However later, fasting was made obligatory in the month of Ramadan only.
Narrated by Hazrat Aisha (RA):
“The people used to fast on ‘Ashura (the tenth day of the month of Muharram) before the fasting of Ramadan was made obligatory. And on that day the Ka’ba used to be covered with a cover. When Allah made the fasting of the month of Ramadan compulsory, Allah’s Apostle said, “Whoever wishes to fast (on the day of ‘Ashura’) may do so; and whoever wishes to leave it can do so.” (Bukhari 1592)
But why did he fast on this day? On this day, Prophet Musa (AS) performed the miracle with the help of Allah (SWT) whereby he was able to save his people from the Pharaoh by dividing the sea into two parts creating a pathway for his people to safely cross the sea, while the Pharaoh’s army drowned. Hence, the Jews used to fast on Ashura i.e. the10th of Muharram.
The Prophet (PBUH) himself fasted on this day and also ordered the Muslims to do so as he said that:
“I am closer to Moses than they.” (Bukhari 3397)
The Companions observed that Jews and Christians also consider the day as special, fasting on the day. So Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) announced that from next year they will fast on the 9th of Muharram so as to distinguish themselves from the Jews and Christians. Unfortunately, Prophet (PBUH) did not live to see the next year. Therefore, Muslims consider the 9th and 10th of Muharram, Ashura, as significant days in the Islamic calendar and observe fast on these days.
According to a tradition, when the Prophet (PBUH) was asked about fasting on the day of ‘Ashura (10th of Muharram), he said:
“It expiates the sins of the preceding year.” (Muslim 6: 2603). It is advisable to fast either the 9th or 10th or the 10th and 11th Muharram
May Allah continue to shower his blessing on all of us.. Click here to read more
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MONTH OF RAJAB
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) used to welcome this month by saying:
اللّهمّ بارك لنا في رجب و شعبان وبلّغنا رمضان
Allhumma barik lana fi Rajab wa Sha’ban wa ballighna Ramadan
“O Allah, make the months of Rajab and Sha’ban blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadan.
Rajab (Arabic: رَجَب) is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. The lexical definition of the classical Arabic verb rajaba is “to respect” which could also mean “be awe or be in fear”, of which Rajab is a derivative.
This month is regarded as one of the four sacred months (including Muharram, Dhu al-Qadah and Dhu al-Hijjah) in Islam in which battles are prohibited. The pre-Islamic Arabs also considered warfare blasphemous during the four months.
Muslims believe Rajab is the month in which ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib fourth Caliph of Sunni Muslims, was born.
Rajab is also the month during which Isra’ Mi’raj (journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and then through the 7 Heavens to meet Allah) of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, took place.
Rajab and Shaʿbān are a prelude to the holy month of Ramaḍān.
The word “Rajab” came from “rajūb (رجوب)”, the sense of veneration or glorification, and Rajab was also formerly called “Mudhar” because the tribe of Mudhar did not change it but rather expected in its time other than the rest of the Arabs, who changed and altered in the months according to the state of war.
The name of Rajab literally means respected, regarded, and admired. Also, during Rajab, war is forbidden. There are other names for the month, such as Rajab Al-Morrajjab, Rajab Al-Asab and Rajab Sharif.Click here to read more
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MONTH OF SHABAAN 
Shaʽban (Arabic: شَعْبَان, Šaʿbān) is the eighth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the month of “separation”, so called because the pagan Arabs used to disperse in search of water.
Why is this month named Sha’ban?
It is said that historically “the people” (sha‘b in Arabic) used to ‘scatter’ or ‘disperse’ (tasha‘aba) in this month in search of water or provision. It may also be that this month ‘branches’ out, or ‘extends’ (sha‘aba) to bridge two significant months in the calendar, from the sacred month of Rajab to the month of Divine Revelation, Ramadan. When referring to multiple months of Sha‘ban, one says Sha‘banat or Sha‘abin.
The fifteenth night of this month is known as the “Night of Records” (Laylat al-Bara’at).
Sha’ban is the last lunar month before Ramadan, and so Muslims determine in it when the first day of Ramadan fasting will be. Read more
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MONTH OF RAMADAN
Ramadan is a month of fasting, reflection, devotion, generosity and sacrifice observed by Muslims around the world. Over the centuries Ramadan has retained its passionate spiritual meaning. The word “Ramadan” comes from the Arabic word for “Parched Thirst” and “Sun-Baked Ground.” It is meaningful of the hunger and thirst felt by those who spend the month in fasting and get benefits of fasting in the month of Ramadan. Ramadan is by nature a time of sacrifice.
Each year Muslims spend the ninth month of the Islamic calendar observing a community wide fast. The fast of the month of Ramadan considered one of the five pillars of Islam. Muslims who are physically able to required to fast each day of the entire month from sunrise to sunset. The month of Ramadan lasts 29 to 30 days depending on moon sighting and according to narration. Read more
Need to know more on the FIQH of fasting (the dos and don’t) for the Month of Ramadan. CLICK HERE
The Book of Zakaat (precepts Dealing with Poor Dues)….by Muhammad Iqbal Kailani Click here
The Fiqh Al Zakat: A Comparative study of Zakat,Regulation and Philosophy in the light of Quran and Sunnah (Vol 1). Click here
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