Re: Muharram from Sunni perspective
I think both versions of the event are pretty much the same... though Sunni's dont tend to do the mathum to the same level... some Sunni orders do however self harm themselves in a simmilar master.
Re: Muharram from Sunni perspective
[Pickthal 37:101] So We gave him tidings of a gentle son.
[Pickthal 37:102] And when (his son) was old enough to walk with him, (Abraham) said: O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice thee. So look, what thinkest thou? He said: O my father! Do that which thou art commanded. Allah willing, thou shalt find me of the steadfast.
[Pickthal 37:103] Then, when they had both surrendered (to Allah), and he had flung him down upon his face,
[Pickthal 37:104] We called unto him: O Abraham!
[Pickthal 37:105] Thou hast already fulfilled the vision. Lo! thus do We reward the good.
[Pickthal 37:106] Lo! that verily was a clear test.
[Pickthal 37:107] Then We ransomed him with a tremendous victim.
[Pickthal 37:108] And We left for him among the later folk (the salutation)
Shah Wali-ullah, in Sirrush Shahadaytan, and many other well known authors of traditions and history have accepted the fact that dhibhin azim (verses 107) refers to the sacrifice of Imam Husayn.
Re: Muharram from Sunni perspective
We all know that this month holds a very high pirority in Shi'is. But as a Sunni what is required from us by Allah. I am kind of confused about this. I have Shi'is friends who are really respecting this month but i have Sunni friends who just think of this as a first month of islamic calendar.
I am Sunni and i have asked couple of people about the significiant of this month. but i did not get any valid answer. Since we believe in the sunna of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), what He(PBUUH) has ordered us to do. Can a sunni tell me what they usually do in this month in detail? In my family we fast on the ninth and tenth of muharram.
I have tired googling this question but did not get the answer.
Peace koolcheme!
Allah SWT Said in the Holy Qur'an:
Surah Al Baqarah 2:194
[quote]
[Fighting in] the sacred month is for [aggression committed in] the sacred month, and for [all] violations is legal retribution. So whoever has assaulted you, then assault him in the same way that he has assaulted you. And fear Allah and know that Allah is with those who fear Him.
*ادب کا مہینہ ادب کے مہینے کے مقابل ہے اور ادب کی چیزیں ایک دوسرے کا بدلہ ہیں۔ پس اگر کوئی تم پر زیادتی کرے تو جیسی زیادتی وہ تم پر کرے ویسی ہی تم اس پر کرو۔ اور خدا سے ڈرتے رہو اور جان رکھو کہ خدا ڈرنے والوں کے ساتھ ہے *
[/quote]
*Haram *= prohibited, sacred. The month of Pilgrimage (Zul-hajj) was a sacred month, in which warfare was prohibited by Arab custom. The month preceding (Zul-qa'da) and the month following (Muharram) was included in the prohbition, and Muharram was especially called "Al-Haram". Possibly Muharram is meant in the first line, and other months and other prohibited things in 'all the things prohibited'. In Rajab, also, war was prohibited. If the pagan enemies of Islam broke the custom and made war in the prohibited months, the Muslims were free also to break that custom but only to the same extent as the other broke it. Similarly the territory of Mecca was sacred, in which war was prohibited. If the enemies of Islam broke that custom, the Muslims were free to do so that extent. Any convention is useless if one party does not respect it. There must be a law of equality. Or perhaps the word reciprocity may express it better.
At the same time the Muslims are commanded to exercise self-restraint as much as possible. Force is a dangerous weapon. It may have to be used for self-defence or self-preservation, but we must always remember that self-restraint is pleasing in the eyes of Allah SWT!. Even when we are fighting it should be for a principle, not our of passion.
Surah Al Tawbah 9:2 & 36
[quote]
So travel freely, [O disbelievers], throughout the land [during] four months but know that you cannot cause failure to Allah and that Allah will disgrace the disbelievers.
*تو (مشرکو تم) زمین میں چار مہینے چل پھر لو اور جان رکھو کہ تم خدا کو عاجز نہ کرسکو گے۔ اور یہ بھی کہ خدا کافروں کو رسوا کرنے والا ہے *
[/quote]
Four months, some commentators understand by this the four forbidden months is which warfare by ancient Arabian custom was unlawful, viz, Rajab, Zul-qa'd, Zul-hajj, and Muharram. But it is better to take the signification of the four months immediately following the Declaration. Assuming that the Sura was promulgated early in Shawwal, the four months would be Shawwal, Zul-qa'd, Zul-hajj and Muharram, of which the last three would be also be the customary prohibited Months.
[quote]
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, so do not wrong yourselves during them. And fight against the disbelievers collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that Allah is with the righteous [who fear Him].
*خدا کے نزدیک مہینے گنتی میں (بارہ ہیں یعنی) اس روز (سے) کہ اس نے آسمانوں اور زمین کو پیدا کیا۔ کتاب خدا میں (برس کے) بارہ مہینے (لکھے ہوئے) ہیں۔ ان میں سے چار مہینے ادب کے ہیں۔ یہی دین (کا) سیدھا راستہ ہے۔ تو ان (مہینوں) میں (قتال ناحق سے) اپنے آپ پر ظلم نہ کرنا۔ اور تم سب کے سب مشرکوں سے لڑو جیسے وہ سب کے سب تم سے لڑتے ہیں۔ اور جان رکھو کہ خدا پرہیز گاروں کے ساتھ ہے *
[/quote]
The question of a solar astronomical year as against the lunar-ecclesiastical year does not arise here. But it may be noted that the Arab year was roughly luni-solar like the Hindu year, the months being lunar and the intercalation of a month every three years brought the year nearly but not accurately up to the solar rekoning. From the year of the Farewell Pilgrimage (A.H. 10) the ecclesiastical year was definitely fixed as purely lunar year of roughly 354 days, the months being calculated by the actual appearance of the moon. After that, every month of the ecclesiastical year come about 11 days earlier in the solar year, and thus the ecclesiastical months travelled all round the seasons and the solar year. The lunar year remains the exxlesiastical year.
According to the various Hadithes (also narrated in Sunan Abu-Dawud & Malik's Muwatta):
Sahih Bukhari Book Beginning of Creation
Hadith No. 419
Narrated Abu Bakra: The Prophet said. "(The division of time has turned to its original form which was current when Allah created the Heavens and the Earths. The year is of twelve months, out of which four months are sacred: Three are in succession Dhul-Qa' da, Dhul-Hijja and Muharram, and (the fourth is) Rajab of (the tribe of) Mudar which comes between Jumadi-ath-Thaniyah and Sha ban."
Book Prophets
Hadit No. 609
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: When the Prophet came to Medina, he found (the Jews) fasting on the day of 'Ashura' (i.e. 10th of Muharram). They used to say: "This is a great day on which Allah saved Moses and drowned the folk of Pharaoh. Moses observed the fast on this day, as a sign of gratitude to Allah." The Prophet said, "I am closer to Moses than they." So, he observed the fast (on that day) and ordered the Muslims to fast on it.
Book Pilgrimmage (Hajj)
Hadit No. 662
Narrated 'Aisha: The people used to fast on 'Ashura (the tenth day of the month of Muharram) before the fasting of Ramadan was made obligatory. And on that day the Ka'ba used to be covered with a cover. When Allah made the fasting of the month of Ramadan compulsory, Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever wishes to fast (on the day of 'Ashura') may do so; and whoever wishes to leave it can do so."
Hadit No. 688
Narrated Abu Bakra: The Prophet said, "Time has taken its original shape which it had when Allah created the Heavens and the Earth. The year is of twelve months, four of which are sacred, and out of these (four) three are in succession, i.e. Dhul-Qa'da, Dhul-Hijja and Al-Muharram, and the fourth is Rajab which is named after the Mudar tribe, between (the month of) Jumaida (ath-thania) and Sha'ban." Then the Prophet asked, "Which is this month?" We said, "Allah and His Apostle know better." On that the Prophet kept quiet so long that we thought that he might name it with another name. Then the Prophet said, "Isn't it the month of Dhul-Hijja?" We replied, "Yes." Then he said, "Which town is this?" "We replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better." On that he kept quiet so long that we thought that he might name it with another name. Then he said, "Isn't it the town of Mecca?" We replied, "Yes, " Then he said, "Which day is today?" We replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better." He kept quiet so long that we thought that he might name it with another name. Then he said, "Isn't it the day of An-Nahr (i.e. sacrifice)?" We replied, "Yes." He said, "So your blood, your properties, (The sub-narrator Muhammad said, 'I think the Prophet also said: And your honor..) are sacred to one another like the sanctity of this day of yours, in this city of yours, in this month of yours; and surely, you will meet your Lord, and He will ask you about your deeds. Beware! Do not become infidels after me, cutting the throats of one another. It is incumbent on those who are present to convey this message (of mine) to those who are absent. May be that some of those to whom it will be conveyed will understand it better than those who have actually heard it." (The sub-narrator, Muhammad, on remembering that narration, used to say, "Muhammad spoke the truth!") He (i.e. Prophet) then added twice, "No doubt! Haven't I conveyed (Allah's Message) to you?"
Sahih Muslim The Book of Fasting (Kitab Al-Sawm)
Hadit No. 2611
Abu Haraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The most excellent fast after Ramadan is God's month. al-Muharram, and the most excellent prayer after what is prescribed is prayer during the night.
rest Allah SWT! knows best.
Re: Muharram from Sunni perspective
The Eide'in are the two days that have annual commemoration significance. So is Ramadhan. On Ashura, Prophet SAW used to fast in first few years of his Medinah life and then he let it on people to fast or not fast on that day. The significance of this day is well documented in the books of His sayings. I don't think something special happens on the day of birth or death of anyone (annually), unless told by Prophet SAW (the source of our Imaan).
It is more important to practice the traditions of Prophet SAW and understand the ideology of truth and pureness his Grand son has left for us than celebrations. When we pray we send darood on the family of Prophet SAW, we also should remember all the Shuhada of Badr, Uhad and other gazwat along with Karbala every day of the year and not just on a specific day. If it was important Prophet SAW would have celebrated Badr or Uhad (when his beloved Uncle was martyred and was the saddest day of his Medinah life). We don't see him or later companions commemorating those days in the following years. Instead we see them remembering their sacrifices in conversations, visiting graveyards on different occasions as recorded in ahadeeth. Underground Shia movement needed it for political reasons and we should leave them do what they like to do as it provides steam to their cause. But Muslims in general don't need such celebration annually, instead remember the great souls in every prayers and practice their ideology of righteous and purest path. This is what Imam Hussain R.A wanted to guard: his Nana's religion and legacy despite of the most unfavorable conditions (Yazid's tyranny). So lets focus on his sacrifice and message instead of useless rituals. Thats what him and Prophet SAW would have told us to do instead of annual celebration of grievance. IMO.
Re: Muharram from Sunni perspective