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Muharram (the first month, one of the sacred months, and the fast of 'Ashura)

شهر محرم

Muharram is the first month of the lunar year and one of the four sacred months. The Prophet called it the month of God, and the best fasting after Ramadan is in God's month of Muharram. In it falls 'Ashura, the tenth day, which is fasted, with the ninth recommended beside it, and its fast expiates the past year. 1 2

Depth

At a glance

Era
The Prophetic Era
Region
Global / Diaspora

Sacred timeWorship and the pillars

Name and definition

Muharram is the first month of the lunar year, named for the prohibition of fighting in it among the Arabs before and after Islam; it is one of the four sacred months named in the verse: of them four are sacred. 2

Its excellence

It is called in the hadith the month of God, and the best fasting after Ramadan is the month of God, Muharram, making it the best month for fasting after Ramadan. 1

'Ashura

'Ashura is the tenth of Muharram. The Prophet fasted it and ordered its fast in distinction from the Jews; when told that the Jews and Christians honour it he said: if I live until next year I shall fast the ninth as well. Fasting it expiates the past year. 1

People and things also explored

Adhan (the call to prayer: its ruling, wording, conditions, recommended features and the muezzin)· Yawm al-Jumu'a (Friday, fiqh)· I'tikaf (retreat)· The ruling on one who abandons prayer· The people of the bench (ahl al-suffa)· The sacred months· The good deeds (al-hasanat)· Spending in the way of God (infaq)

Sources

  1. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3)
  2. The Remaining Traces of Past Centuries (Maktabat al-Thaqafa al-Diniyya, Cairo, 1st ed. 2008, digital copy)
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Muharram (the first month, one of the sacred months, and the fast of 'Ashura)”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/muharram-month/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-11-12.

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Ideas

Beliefs, concepts, sciences and schools, explained in plain words. Related

Adhan (the call to prayer: its ruling, wording, conditions, recommended features and the muezzin)

In law, the adhan is announcing the time of an obligatory prayer in set, transmitted words. The jurists differ on its ruling, between a communal obligation and a strongly recommended practice, and on its wording, tarjia, tathwib, the conditions of order, continuity and raised voice, and the qualities of the muezzin: Islam, manhood, sanity and discernment.