Abu Bakrah (RA) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
إِنَّ الزَّمَانَ قَدِ اسْتَدَارَ كَهَيْئَتِهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ السَّنَةُ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ثَلاَثٌ مُتَوَالِيَاتٌ ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ وَ ذُو الْحِجَّةِ وَالْمُحَرَّمُ وَرَجَبُ مُضَرَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ جُمَادَى وَشَعْبَانَ
“The year is twelve months of which four are sacred, the three consecutive months of Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab Mudar which comes between Jumadah and Sha’ban.” [Al-Bukhari]
⚫️ Muharram is so called because it is a sacred (muharram) month and to confirm its sanctity, Allah ﷻ says in Surah At-Tawbah
(فَلا تَظْلِمُوا فِيهنَّ أَنْفُسَكُمْ)
“so wrong not yourselves therein”
which means do not wrong yourselves in these sacred months, because *sin in these months is worse* than in other months. It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbas (RA) said that this phrase referred to all the months, then these four were singled out and made sacred, so that sin in these months is more serious and good deeds bring a greater reward.
🔴 Common sins in Muharram and Aashuraa included a small minority who used to celebrate and rejoice on the 10th day due to their enmity towards Al-Husayn (RA). Equally sinful are those who continue to treat it as a month of mourning and cursing of those who came before them while openly displaying the rituals of jahiliyyah such as wailing, slapping their cheeks and rending their garments. They are not observing the day or the month the way it ought to be observed. Their actions serve no purpose other than the renewal of their grief (over not maintaining their allegiance to Al-Husayn RA) and sectarian feelings, and the stirring up of hatred and hostility among muslims. May Allah ﷻ grant all our communities correct understanding and righteous actions. Allahumma Aameen.