THE VIRTUES OF THE SACRED MONTHS IN ISLAM By Ibrahim Teslim, Abdullahi. Introduction The Islamic calendar (or hijri calendar) is based on lunar months, which begin when a thin new crescent Moon is actually sighted in the sky after sunset within a day or so after the New Moon. Hence, the month is either 29 days or 30 days. There are 12 months in an Islamic year, which is either 354 days long or 355 days long, compared to Gregorian calendar year of 365 or 366 days. Since the Islamic calendar is purely lunar, as opposed to solar or luni-solar, the Muslim (hijri) year is shorter than the Gregorian year by about 11 days, and months in the Islamic (hijri) year are not related to seasons, which are fundamentally determined by the solar cycle. This means that important Muslim festivals, which always fall in the same hijri month, may occur in different seasons. For example, the hajj and Ramadan can take place in the summer as well as the winter. It is only over a 33 year cycle that lunar months take a complete turn and fall during the same season. It was during Allah's Messenger Muhammad's last pilgrimage in the 10th year of hijrah (10th year of his migration from Mecca to Medina), that the decision to introduce a purely lunar Islamic Calendar was made. The Islamic Calendar was first introduced in 638 CE by the close companion of the Prophet (SAAS) and the second Caliph, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (RAA) (592-644 CE). He did it in an attempt to rationalize the various, at times conflicting, dating systems used during his time. However, the era between 1st year to 10th year of the hijrah was not following this Islamic Calendar; instead the prevailing practices of various kinds of intercalation was followed in Arabia at that time. Different tribes were following different intercalations, so there was no uniform calendar. 'Umar (RAA) consulted with his advisors on the starting date of the new Muslim chronology. It was finally agreed that the most appropriate reference point for the Islamic calendar was the hijrah. The hijrah, which chronicles the migration of the Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) from Mecca to Medina in September 622 CE, is the central historical event of early Islam. It led to the foundation of the first Muslim city-state, a turning point in Islamic and world history. The actual starting date for the Calendar was chosen (on the basis of purely lunar years, counting backwards) to be the first day of the first month (1st of Muharram) of the year of the hijrah. Muharram 1, 1 A.H. corresponds to July 16, 622 CE. The earliest date of Islamic calendar for which a Julian calendar date is exactly known is 9th Dhul-Hijjah, 10 A.H., which corresponds to March 6, 632 CE (Friday), when the Messenger Muhammad (SAAS) performed his last and farewell pilgrimage to Mecca. The hijri calendar year is usually abbreviated A.H. in Western languages from the latinized "Anno Hegirae" or more commonly known as "After hijrah". The 12 months of the Islamic calendar are: Muharram Safar Rabii' al-Awwal Rabii' al-Aakhir Jumaadaa al-Uulaa Jumaadaa al-Aakhirah Rajab Sha'baan Ramadan Shawwaal Dhul-Qi'dah Dhul-Hijjah Among these twelve months there are four which are sanctified. These four months, according to the authentic traditions, are Dhul-Qi'dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab. The month of Muharram or the "sacred month" has been blessed with certain virtues, and the tenth day of this sacred month is known as 'Aashuuraa‘ and it is one of the most important and blessed days of Allah in the Islamic calendar. Some scholars are of the opinion that before the fasts of Ramadan were made compulsory, the fast of the day of 'Aashuuraa‘ was compulsory upon the Muslims. This is stated in a hadiith reported by 'Aisha (RAA), who said: "The people used to fast on 'Aashuuraa‘ (the tenth day of the month of Muharram) before the fasting of Ramadan was made obligatory. And on that day the Ka'bah used to be covered with a cover. When Allah made the fasting of the month of Ramadan compulsory, Allah's Messenger (SAAS) said: 'Whoever wishes to fast (on the day of 'Aashuuraa‘) may do so; and whoever wishes to leave it can do so.'" (Al-Bukhari) Nevertheless the Prophet (SAAS) continued to fast this day and encouraged his companions to do the same. However, a number of innovations and acts of the days of ignorance (pre-Islamic customs) based on false beliefs, extremism and ignorance, have been added to the day of 'Aashuuraa‘. Some of the innovators (Shia) take this day as an occasion of mourning, tearing one's garments, striking the cheeks, and afflicting oneself with cuts for the sake of commemorating the death of al-Hussain ibn 'Ali (RAA) [the grandson of the Prophet (SAAS)]. And others (an-Nawaaseb) have fabricated reports in favour of making 'Aashuuraa‘ a day of celebration in order to indicate their stance. Also, from the innovations are the acts of some ignorant people who do ghosl (take a bath), put kohl in their eyes, wear new clothes, are generous to their families and so on in this day. These aspects are dealt with in this article especially since the day of 'Aashuuraa‘ is at hand. Some rulings concerning the hijri calendar Sheikh Muhammad ibn Saaleh al-'Utheimeen rahimahullaah was asked: What is the ruling on congratulating people on the occasion of the hijri new year, and how should one reply to a person who offers congratulations? He replied: If someone offers you congratulations, then respond to him, but do not initiate such greetings. This is the correct view concerning this matter. So if a person says to you, for example, "Happy New Year", then you can say, "May Allah make it a good and blessed year for you." But you should not initiate such a greeting, because I do not know of any report that the Salaf (early generations of Islam) congratulated one another on the occasion of the new year, rather the Salaf did not regard the first of Muharram as the first day of the new year until the caliphate of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (RAA). (Taken from: islam-qa.com, question #21290) The Virtues of the Sacred Months Allah (SWT) stipulated in the Qur'an thus: إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِى كِتَٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ ۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا۟ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ وَقَٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ كَآفَّةً كَمَا يُقَٰتِلُونَكُمْ كَآفَّةً ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ 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, (i.e. the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein, and fight against the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) collectively, as they fight against you collectively. But know that Allah is with those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious - see V. 2:2). 9:36. From the above quotation of the Qur'an, one can easily deduce that Muharram, Rajab, Dhul-Qaddah and Dhul-Hijjah are the four sacred months out of the 12 calendar months in Islam. The responsibilities of every Muslim is to be very cautious of their actions in these sacred months, because in it we don't wage war, we guard our utterances, we increase in Ibadah vis-a-vis recitation of the Qur'an, observing Tahajjud, giving of Sadaqah and above all restrain all forms of provocation is the symbol of sanctifying these sacred months. Currently as I write, we are in the month of Dhul-Qaddah the 11th month of the Islamic calendar. All the principles and ethics that surround all other sacred months should be applied in this month as well. Similarly, it is in this month that intending muslim pilgrims get ready to perform Hajj in Saudi Arabia. As today is Yaomul-Ahad 9th Dhul-Qaddah, 1436 equivalent Sunday 22nd August, 2015 prospective pilgrims all around the globe will any moment travel for the fifth pillar of Islam Hajj-for those who have the wherewithal to perform. The last in the list is Dhul-Hijjah which is the 12th month of Islamic calendar. This is the month of muslim festival all over the world. Where the prospective pilgrims must have traveled for Hajj. And they follow all Hajj rites till the say of 'Eid-ul-Adha in some other climes they call it 'Eid-ul-Kabir where we slaughter animals. For the Muslims at home who do not engage in pilgrimage to Makkah they fast on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah which is also known as Yaomu-'Arafah while all pilgrims in Makkah must be on this mount 'Arafah. As the authentic narration of the Prophet (SAW) says Hajj is 'Arafah! So any pilgrims who missed the activity of this Day, has no Hajj. May Allah (SWT) grant us sublime understanding of this message and Soften our hearts to love obeying His commandments, amin.