THE DAILY ISLAMIC REMINDERS. Yaum Ath-thalaathah, 1st day of Muharram 1440, (Tuesday 11th September, 2018). VIRTUES of Muharram. Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem. Muharram is the first month of our new year 1440. Let's avoid argument about wishing, celebrating etc as the kuffar does. It's unnecessary as argument only creates hatred and division which is forbidden and serious. The word "Muharram" means "Forbidden from the root word Haraam."  Even before Islam, this month was always known as a scared month (al ashhur-al-hurum) in which all unlawful acts were forbidden, prominently the shedding of blood. Muharram can also mean “sacred”,concerning which it is mentioned in the Holy 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. That is the correct religion [i.e., way], so do not wrong yourselves during them …” [At-Tawbah 9:36]. Our first Imam after the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam, Abu Bakr (RA) reported that the Prophet (S.A.W) said: “The year consists of twelve months, of which four are sacred; the three consecutive months of Dhu’l-Qai’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab, which comes between Jumaada and Sha’baan.” (Saheeh Bukhari). Of the four sacred months, this month has been blessed with great reward and specific virtues. Abu Hurayrah, (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “The best of fasting after Ramadan is fasting during Allah’s (SWT) month of Muharram.” (Saheeh Muslim). 10th MUHARRAM; The tenth day of this sacred month is known as Aashura and is considered to be one of the most important and blessed days of Allah in the Islamic calendar. The word "Aashura" is derived from Ashara, which means ten. The observation of this day dates back to Prophet Muusa, Moses (AS). In a Hadith related by Ibn Abbas (RA) when the Messenger of Allah (SAW) came to Madina, he found the Jews fasting on the day of Aashura. He inquired why they were doing so. They replied that it was a good day, the day on which Allah delivered Prophet Muusa (AS) and the children of Israel from Pharaoh. As gratitude Muusa (AS) fasted that day. The Holy Prophet (SAW) responded “I have more right to Muusa than you.” He fasted the day and commanded the believers to fast. [Bukhari and Muslim]. The idea underlying this event is to stress the affinity amongst the messengers of Allah and to show that religious devotion is a constant flow from one generation to another. The Prophet (S.A.W) came not to abrogate all the earlier religious practices but to codify and preserve them for all times to come in ideal forms. Abu Qataada (RA) has related that the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is reported to have said: “It is my thought that by fasting on the 10th of Muharram Allah (SWT) will pardon the sins of the past year”. (Imam Tirmidhi). Ibn Abbas related when Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) observed the day of Aashura and commanded his followers to observe it, they asked him “O Messenger of Allah (SAW) this is the day the Jews, and Christians respect and honor.” The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) promised them that “Next year Allah willing, we shall fast the 9th of the month, along with the 10th.” By the following Muharram, the Prophet had already passed away. It is therefore, recommended that one observes the fast of the 9th or 11th of Muharram together with that of the 10th to safeguard this deed from resemblance with the non-Muslims who fasted only on the 10th of the month. May Allah aid us to fast as much as we can in an attempt to getting closer to HIM. Aameen.