Islamic Months

Duties of the Month of Muharram

1. It is the best of months for general voluntary fasts, after Ramadan.
2. It is especially recommended to fast the 10th of Muharram (known as the Day of ‘Ashura), with a day before it or after it. [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, quoting Kasani’s al-Bada`i]
3. It is also virtuous to give in charity on this day.

Extracts from Ibn Rajab’s Lataif al-Ma`arif, regarding the month of Muharram:

The Virtues of Fasting in the Month of Muharram and Its First Ten Days

The Prophet ﷺ said, “The best of fasts after the month of Ramadan are in the Month of Allah, which you call Muharram. And the best of prayer after the obligatory prayer is the night prayer.” [Muslim]

This refers to general voluntary fasts according to Imam Ibn Rajab (Allah have mercy on him): These are best in the month of Muharram, just as the best general voluntary prayer is night prayer.

The virtue and honor of this month can be attested to by the fact that the Prophet ﷺ called it “the Month of Allah” (Shahr Allah). Such ascription is only made by Allah to the most special of His creation, such as the ascription of the Prophets Muhammad, Ibrahim, Ishaq, Ya’qub, and others to his slavehood (Allah’s peace and blessings be on them all), and His ascription of the House (Ka’bah) and the camel to himself.

Given that Allah ascribed fasting, between all spiritual works, to Himself [saying “It is Mine”] it was suitable that this month, which is also ascribed to Allah, be selected for this particular form of worship.

Fasting is a secret between the servant and his Lord. This is why Allah, Mighty and Exalted, says, “Every action of the son of Adam is his, except for fasting. It is Mine, and it is I who reward it.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

The Prophet ﷺ also said, “The fasting person has two joys: one when he breaks his fast, and the other when he meets his Lord.” [Muslim]

Night Prayer

As for voluntary night prayer (qiyaam al-layl), it is superior to voluntary prayer during the day because it is closer to secrecy, and nearer to sincerity (ikhlaas).

Allah, Most High, said, “Lo! the vigil of the night is (a time) when impression is more keen and speech more certain.” [Qur’an 73:9]

This is because the time of the night vigil (tahajjud) is the best of times for voluntary prayer, and the closest a servant gets to his Lord. It is a time when the doors of the skies are opened, supplications answered, and needs fulfilled.

Allah Most High has praised those who wake up at night in His remembrance, supplication, seeking forgiveness, and intimate entreating (munajat), saying, “Who forsake their beds to cry unto their Lord in fear and hope, and spend of that We have bestowed on them. No soul knows what is kept hid for them of joy, as a reward for what they used to do.” [Qur’an 32:16-17]

And, “Or he who pays adoration in the watches of the night, prostrate and standing, bewaring of the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord? Say: Are those who know equal with those who know not? But only those of understanding will pay heed.” [Qur’an 39:9]

And He said to His Prophet ﷺ, “And some part of the night awake for it, as voluntary worship for you. It may be that thy Lord will raise thee to a praised estate.” [Qur’an, 17:79]

It has been said that those who worship at night will enter Paradise without reckoning, and that standing in night prayer shortens the length of one’s standing on the Day of Judgment.

This is why the Prophet ﷺ said, “Stick to night prayer, for it was the way of the righteous before you. Night prayer is a means of closeness to Allah Most High, of expiating for bad deeds, avoiding sins, and keeping away illness from one’s body.” [Tirmidhi]

Similarly, it has been related that fasting is a means for good health. The Prophet ﷺ is reported to have said, “Fast, and you shall have good health.” [Ahmad]

Lovers have no time more joyous than when they are alone in entreating their Beloved. This is the healing for their hearts, and the great thing that they could long for.

This is why Abu Sulayman al-Darani would say, “The people of the night find more joy than the people of distraction (lahw) in their distractions. Were it not for the night, I would not like to remain living.”

The Day of ‘Ashura: The Tenth of Muharram

Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) was asked about fasting the Day of ‘Ashura [10th of Muharram]. He said, “I did not see the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fast a day while more avid to seek its virtue than this day,” [meaning the Day of ‘Ashura]. [Bukhari & Muslim]

The Day of ‘Ashura has great virtue, and tremendous sanctity (hurma). The virtue of fasting was known among the Prophets (peace be upon them all). Both Prophet Nuh and Prophet Musa (peace be upon them both) fasted it.

The Prophet ﷺ used to fast this day even in Makkah, though he had not yet ordered others to do so, as mentioned in both Bukhari and Muslim. [Bukhari & Muslim]

When he migrated to Madinah, and found the People of the Book fasting this day and venerating it, he ordered the Muslims to fast it, and encouraged it so much that even the children would fast it.

Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) said that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ reached Madinah, he found the Jews fasting the Day of ‘Ashura, so he asked them, “What is this day you are fasting?” They said, “This is a tremendous day. Allah saved Musa and his people on this day and drowned Pharaoh and his people. Musa fasted it out of thanks, so we fast it too.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “And we are more deserving of Musa than you are.” So he fasted this day, and ordered that it be fasted. [Bukhari & Muslim]

At the end of his life, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ made the determination not to fast this day alone, but with another day [either before or after it], in order to be different from the People of the Book.

Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) said, “When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fasted the Day of ‘Ashura and ordered his companions to fast it, they said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! This is a day that the Jews and Christians venerate.’ So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘When next year comes – if Allah wills – we will fast the Ninth [of Muharram with it].’ But the next year did not come before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed away.” [Muslim & Abu Dawud]

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Fast the Day of ‘Ashura and be different from the Jews by fasting a day before it or a day after it.” [Ahmad]

Giving in Charity on the Day of ‘Ashura

It has been reported from Abd Allah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As (Allah be pleased with him), that “Whoever fasts ‘Ashura, it is as if he has fasted the entire year. And whoever gives charity this day it is like the charity of an entire year.”

Some of the Virtues of the Day of ‘Ashura

It is a day in which Allah forgave an entire people. The Prophet ﷺ said to a man, “If you want to fast a month after Ramadan, then fast Muharram, for it has a day in which Allah forgave an entire people, and He turns to others in repentance in.” [Tirmidhi]

Source: SeekersGuidance

Safar is an Arabic word which translates into “empty.” Empty is referred to the Pre-Islamic era when houses were empty as people would go out to gather food.

The word Safar also translates into “whistling of the wind,” referring to it being the windiest time of the year. Most Islamic months are named after weather conditions. But due to the lunar calendar, the month shift with a day gap of 11 each year; hence why the seasons no longer apply.

The Arabs had two grave objectionable practices with regard to the month of Safar:

1. They used to tamper with it, bringing it forward and putting it back from its place in the calendar.
2. They regarded it as unlucky.

With regard to the first, it is well-known that Allah, may He be exalted, created the year and the number of its months as twelve months, four of which Allah, may He be exalted, made sacred, during which it was prohibited to fight, out of respect for the sanctity of the month. These months are: Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab.

The confirmation of that in the book of Allah is the verse in which He, may He be exalted, says: “Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein.” [Surah At-Tawbah 9:36]

Also, there are some that call for specific naafil (supererogatory) prayers to be offered in the month of Safar. There is no basis for this in both the Qur’an or Sunnah. It is not proven that any one of the early generations of this ummah or the righteous among its later generations did this supererogatory prayer.

Sources:
Islam Q&A
The Islamic Information

Muslims consider Rabi Al-Awwal to be significant because the following events took place during this month:

1. The birth of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the final Messenger to whom the Qur’an was revealed.
2. The Hijrah of the Prophet ﷺ, when he emigrated from Makkah to Madinah. The Islamic calendar is dated from this event.
3. The death of the Prophet ﷺ, on 12th of Rabi Al-Awwal in the eleventh year of Islam.

Does Rabi Al-Awwal have any special blessings or benefits?

Unlike, for example, the months of Ramadan or Dhul Hijjah, there are no special recommendations to fast, pray or make du’aa during Rabi Al-Awwal. However, the events that took place during this month mark it as specifically blessed.

Allah chose Rabi Al-Awwal to send the Prophet ﷺ into the world, and to take His Beloved ﷺ back to Him. Out of the twelve months in the lunar calendar, He chose to bless only Rabi Al-Awwal in this way. Therefore, it is of course a special month and deserves our attention and respect. With that in mind, we should take a more detailed look at the blessed events of this month and what we can learn from them.

The Birth of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Rabi Al-Awwal is one of the most significant months in Islamic history, because humanity was blessed by the birth of the Prophet ﷺ during this month. He ﷺ would eventually lead the world, beginning with the Arabs, Persians and Romans, from the darkness of ignorance and oppression into the light of Tawheed, and true justice and peace. His birth was “a mercy to the worlds’” [Qur’an 21:107], and Allah chose Rabi Al-Awwal to illuminate us with this mercy.

The Prophet ﷺ was born in Makkah on a Monday in Rabi Al-Awwal, though narrations differ on the exact date. Many narrations say the 12th, but others have mentioned different dates between the 8th and the 17th. Nevertheless, he ﷺ was definitely born on a Monday:

His birth had been anticipated for a long time. Isa (as) had mentioned it to his people five centuries earlier:

“And remember when Isa, the son of Maryam, said, ‘O Children of Israel! I am the messenger of Allah [sent] to you, confirming the Torah (Law) [which came] before me, and giving glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad.'” [Qur’an 61:6]

Ibrahim (as) and Isma’il (as) had also prayed for the Prophet’s ﷺ birth when they were rebuilding the Ka’bah:

“Our Lord, send among them a messenger from themselves who will recite to them Your verses and teach them the Book and wisdom and purify them. Indeed, You are the Exalted in Might, the Wise.” [Qur’an 2:129]

There were many miracles surrounding his birth. The Prophet’s ﷺ mother, Aminah, was conscious of a light within her when she was pregnant with him, which one day shone from her so intensely that she could see the castles and palaces of Syria. (Ibn Ishaq)

There were also the miracles witnessed by his foster mother, Halimah, who had been hoping for a rich child to nurse, because her family was suffering from drought. Nevertheless, she took fatherless Muhammad ﷺ as her foster child, and her family were blessed for years afterwards:

It is clear the Muhammad’s ﷺ arrival was much-anticipated and it was widely recognized that he was a blessed and special child. Even his name was unique; it means “one who is praised,” and no one else used that name at the time. His mother, grandfather (‘Abdul-Muttalib) and foster-parents all knew that great things lay in his future.

The Importance of Loving the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

“The Prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves.” [Qur’an 33:6]

The month of Rabi Al-Awwal is a good time to remind ourselves of the place of the Prophet ﷺ in our lives. He is the best of creation, and he should be dearer to us than any place or person, including ourselves.

If we do not feel this closeness to the Prophet ﷺ, the solution is simple: learn more about his character and his life, and naturally our love for him will grow.

Source: Muslim Hands

There are no specific virtues associated with this month.

There are no specific virtues associated with this month.

There are no specific virtues associated with this month.

The month of Rajab is one of the four sacred months, as Allah mentions in the Qur’an:

“Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred …” [Qur’an 9:36]

These four sacred months were mentioned by the Prophet ﷺ during his farewell pilgrimage: “O People! Time has gone back to how it was at the time Allah created the Heavens and the Earth. A year has twelve months, four of which are sacred, three consecutive, Dhul Qa’dah, Dhul Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab.” [Bukhari]

It has been mentioned by Abul Fath ibn Abil-Fawaris in his Amali (dictations and transmissions) and Allama Suyuti has also mentioned in his Jami Saghir from Hasan Basri that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Rajab is the month of Allah. Sha’ban is my month. Ramadan is the month of my ummah (followers).”

From the above hadith, it shows that it is preferable to make du’aa, to remain in the coming and following months, in order to perform good actions in them, because a true believer increases in his age with goodness. The best of people is the one who lives long and performs good actions.

Source: SeekersGuidance

There are many narrations about the virtues of the month of Sha’ban.

Usamah bin Zaid narrated that he said: “Oh Messenger of God, I do not see you fasting any month as much as Sha’ban.” The Prophet ﷺ responded: “This is a month that people neglect between Rajab and Ramadan, although it is a month in which the actions are presented to the Lord of the Worlds, and I love that my deeds be presented to the Lord of the Worlds while I am in a state of fasting.” [Nasa’i]

Aisha (ra) narrated that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ used to fast till one would say that he would never stop fasting, and he would abandon fasting till one would say that he would never fast. I never saw Allah’s Messenger ﷺ fasting for a whole month except the month of Ramadan, and did not see him fasting in any month more than in the month of Sha’ban. [Bukhari]

Although all the days of Sha’ban are blessed, narrations pay special attention to the night of the 15th of this month. While most of these narrations are weak, one authentic hadith mentions that the Prophet ﷺ said: “God looks at His creation on the middle night of Sha’ban (the 15th), and forgives the entirety of His creation except for the idolater, or someone whose heart is holding malice.” [Ibn Majah & Ibn Hibban]

Sources:
Yaqeen Institute
Sunnah.com

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection. It is a month where Muslims fulfill the obligation of abstaining from food, water, and intimate relations from dawn to sunset. It is a month where Muslims engage in the recitation, reading, and reflection of the Qur’an … both individually and as a community. It is a month in which the purpose of life is both pondered upon and manifested in many ways, while increasing in one’s consciousness of God and working to reform one’s thoughts and actions to be in accordance with the purpose of our creation … to worship our Creator.

Ramadan is a month anticipated more than any other time in the year, because it is a month in which our souls feel rejuvenated and a time when we come together as a community. It is a month filled with countless virtues and rewards. It is a month in which the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet ﷺ.

“It was in the month of Ramadan that the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for mankind, clear messages giving guidance and distinguishing between right and wrong. So any one of you who is present that month should fast, and anyone who is ill or on a journey should make up for the lost days by fasting on other days later. God wants ease for you, not hardship. He wants you to complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him for having guided you, so that you may be thankful.” [Qur’an 2:185]

The Virtues of Ramadan

The Prophet ﷺ said, “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained.” [Bukhari]

The Prophet ﷺ said, regarding Ramadan, “Whoever prayed at night in it (the month of Ramadan) out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Bukhari]

The Prophet ﷺ said, “The five (daily) Salat (prayers), and from one Jumu’ah prayer to the (next) Jumu’ah prayer, and from Ramadan to Ramadan, are expiations for the sins committed in between (their intervals); provided the major sins are not committed.” [Muslim]

Fasting

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Allah (the Mighty and Majestic) has said, ‘Fasting is for Me, and I [alone] reward for it.'” [Bukhari]

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, he will be forgiven his previous sins.” [Nasa’i]

The Prophet ﷺ said, “No servant fasts one day in the way of Allah but that Allah puts between his face and the Hellfire a distance of seventy years.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Fasting and the Qur’an intercede for a servant on the Day of Resurrection. The fast says, ‘O my Lord, I prevented him from food and desires by day, so let me intercede.’ And the Qur’an says, ‘I prevented him from sleep by night, so let me intercede.’ So they are allowed to intercede.” [Ahmad]

The Prophet ﷺ said, “By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, the breath of a fasting person is sweeter to Allah on the Day of Resurrection than the smell of musk. And the fasting person has two joys: when he breaks his fast he rejoices for that and when he meets his Lord he rejoices for his fasting.” [Ahmad & Muslim]

The Prophet ﷺ said, Paradise has a door called ar-Rayyaan. On the Day of Resurrection it will be said, ‘Where are those who fasted?’ And when the last of them has entered the door will be closed.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ broke his fast, he would say: “Dhahabath-thama’u wabtalatil-‘urooqu wa thabatal-ajru in sha’ Allah.” (Thirst has gone, the veins are refreshed and the reward is assured, if Allah wills) [Abu Dawud]

Charity

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar (ra) said: “The Messenger of Allah enjoined the Zakah of Ramadan on everyone, young and old, free and slave, male and female, a Sa of dates or a Sa of barley.” [Nasa’i]

Ibn ‘Abbas (ra) said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was the most generous of people, and he was the most generous ever during Ramadan when [the angel] Jibreel would meet him. He would meet him every night of Ramadan and review the Qur’an with him. Then he was more generous than a swift, far-reaching breeze.” [Bukhari]

Nightly Prayers

The Prophet ﷺ encouraged the nightly prayers, saying, “Whoever performs night prayers in Ramadan out of faith and expecting reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

Laylatul Qadr (The Night of Decree)

Laylatul Qadr, the Night of Decree or Night of Power, is one of the most sacred nights in the Islamic calendar. It takes place in the last ten days of Ramadan and was the night in which the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

It is also believed to be the night in which Allah ﷻ shows great mercy to His creation and the night in which one’s fate is decreed.

Allah says in the Qur’an, “The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.” [Qur’an, 97:3] The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever prays on Laylatul Qadr out of faith and sincerity, shall have all their past sins forgiven.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

Sincerely praying for forgiveness, reciting the holy Qur’an, sending salawat (blessings upon the Prophet) and offering optional (nafl) prayers are examples of beneficial acts of worship on these nights.

The exact date of Laylatul Qadr is unknown, although it is thought to occur on an odd night in the last ten days of Ramadan – the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th night. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “Seek it in the last ten days, on the odd nights.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

Aisha (ra) reported that she asked: “O Messenger of Allah, if I know which night is the Night of Decree, what should I say during it?” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied, “Say: O Allah, you are pardoning and generous. You love to forgive, so forgive me.” [Tirmidhī]

Source: Islamic Relief

The Virtues of Fasting Six Days in the Month of Shawwal

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan and then follows it with six days of fasting in the month of Shawwal, it will be as if he fasted for the entire year.” [Muslim]

This is because the reward of actions is multiplied (at least) ten-fold. So Ramadan is like fasting 300 days, and the six days of Shawwal like fasting 60 days. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) himself stated this explictly: “Fasting Ramadan is like fasting ten months, and fasting six days [of Shawwal] is like fasting two months. That is like fasting a full year.” [Ahmad & Nasa’i]

Source: SeekersGuidance

The month of Dhul Qa’dah is one of the four sacred months, as Allah mentions in the Qur’an:

“Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred …” [Qur’an 9:36]

These four sacred months were mentioned by the Prophet ﷺ during his farewell pilgrimage: “O People! Time has gone back to how it was at the time Allah created the Heavens and the Earth. A year has twelve months, four of which are sacred, three consecutive, Dhul Qa’dah, Dhul Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab.” [Bukhari]

Source: SeekersGuidance

Dhul Hijjah is the twelfth and final month in the Islamic calendar. It is a very sacred month in the Islamic calendar, one in which the Ḥajj (Pilgrimage) takes place as well as the latter of the two Eids.

The Prophet ﷺ said, “There is no deed that is better in the sight of Allah or more greatly rewarded than a good deed done in the (first) ten days of Al-Adha”. It was asked, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah?” The Prophet ﷺ replied, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah, unless a man goes out himself for Jihad taking his wealth with him and does not come back with anything.” [Bukhari]

Just like the last ten nights of Ramadan are the best ten nights out of the year, these first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the best days of the year and the most beloved to Allah as they combine acts of worship in a way unlike any other time. There are a number of deeds we can perform during this most of the blessed days, including:

1. Perform Hajj
2. Fast the first nine days, especially the Day of ‘Arafah
   The Prophet ﷺ said: “Anyone who fasts for one day for Allah’s pleasure, Allah will keep his face away from the (Hell) fire for (a distance covered by a journey of) seventy years.” [Bukhari & Muslim]
   The Prophet ﷺ used to fast on the ninth day of Dhul Hijjah and he said, “Fasting the Day of ‘Arafah (ninth Dhul Hijjah) is an expiation for (all the sins of) the previous year and expiation for (all the sins of) the coming year.” [Muslim]
3. Perform Dhikr and Takbeer
   The Prophet ﷺ said, “There are no days on which good deeds are greater or more beloved to Allah than on these ten days, so recite much Tahleel (saying Laa ilaaha illallah), Takbeer (saying Allahu Akbar) and Tahmeed (saying Alhamdulillah).” [Ahmad]
   Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah used to go out in the marketplace during the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, reciting Takbeer, and the people would recite Takbeer when they heard them. [Bukhari]
4. Stand the Night in Prayer
   Seeking Allah’s forgiveness and humbling ourselves in front of Him in supplication and prayers during the latter part of the night is an act of worship that is very beloved to Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He.
   Allah Almighty calls out to His servants in the latter part of the night: “Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to his invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?” [Bukhari & Muslim]
5. Make Sincere Repentance
   Allah loves those who repent to Him in complete submission. The act of sincere repentance to Allah with intention to never return to His disobedience and sin, is very dear to Him. Return to Allah by giving up all the deeds, open and secret, that He dislikes. Be regretful of your sins and disobedience and resolve to never return to sin and to firmly adhere to the path which Allah loves.
   Allah ﷻ says: “But as for him who repented, believed and did righteous deeds, then he will be among those who are successful.” [Al-Qasas 28:67]
6. Slaughter an Animal and Distribute the Meat
   Ibn Umar said, “The Prophet ﷺ lived in Madinah for ten years and every year he slaughtered an animal.” [Ahmad]
7. Attend Eid prayers
   Attending Eid prayers is from the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet ﷺ. We should be keen on practicing this Sunnah and performing it according to the teachings of our Prophet ﷺ. Eid is a time of joy and happiness and we should be inclusive of all of our brothers and sisters who may not be as fortunate to have enough to enjoy on this blessed occasion.
8. Thank Allah
   One of the biggest forms of worshiping Allah ﷻ is to thank Him deeply, sincerely, and continuously. After all, it is He who blessed you with all that you have. Thank Him for ALL that He gave you: the blessing of Islam, the blessing of life, the blessing of intellect, and every other blessing you possess (far beyond we could every quanitfy). Thank Him for the opportunity to experience these blessed ten days. Ask Him for His mercy, forgiveness, and guidance.

Source: ICNA