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Muharram

Muharram is the month in which the Muslims begin their lunar year according to the Hijrah Calendar and it is also a sacred month in which all unlawful acts are forbidden – especially the shedding of blood.

Keep fast either, on the ninth and tenth, or the tenth and eleventh of Muharram. At least, fast on the tenth if not both days. Abu Qataada Radiyallahu Anhu narrated that the Holy Prophet Salallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam has said:

“It is my thought that, by fasting on the 10^th of Muharram, Allah Ta’ala will pardon the sins of the past year.” [Tirmidhi]

Although the fasts of the month of Muharram are NOT obligatory, the person who fasts during this month is entitled to great reward from Allah Ta’ala.

TAKBIR-UT-TASHRIQ

As from Fajr on the 9^th day of Dhu-al Hijjah, up until Asr on the 13^th day of Dhu-al Hijjah, it is Waajib upon each Muslim to recite the Takbir of Tashriq in the following words:

“Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa ilaha illallahu wallahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar wa Lillahil Hamd.”

“Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. There is no god but Allah and Allah is the greatest and to Allah belong all praise.”

It is obligatory that this Takbir should be recited after every Fardh Salaah during the abovementioned period. It is irrelevant whether you are performing Salaah with Jama’ah or on your own. The Takbir should be recited either way. However, male Muslims should recite it in a loud voice, while female Muslims should recite it softly.

For South Africa: Takbir starts on Thurs Fajr (25 Oct) and ends on Mon Asr.

The Ramadhaan of Ml Rashid Ahmed Gangohi (ra)

(Extracted from Haz Sheik's Ramadhan of the Pious (Akaabir Ka Ramadhan)

I have written in AAP BETI No 6 under the heading of spiritual exertion, that while dictating the practices of Hazrat Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi in Ramadan, I wanted to note it down because of its relevance to the subject. There I wrote:

“His extreme exertion in spiritual exercises were such that onlookers felt pity for him. Such was he that in Ramadan, even when his age had advanced beyond seventy, he fasted the whole day and then in Owabeen, instead of six rakats, he used to perform twenty rakats, during which he never recited less than approximately two paras. So long did he stay in ruku and sujood that onlookers thought that he had forgotten himself. On finishing this salaah, he proceeded homeward to partake of the evening meal. Even during this time too he would not remain idle, but en route and waiting for the food etc, he also finished reciting several paras.

Soon he would commence Esha salaah and taraweeh, which did not take less than an hour or an hour and a quarter at least. Thereafter he would lie down at about half past ten only to rise again at about two O’clock or half past two for tahajjud. At times his attendants and assistants found him performing wudoo at one O’clock. At this time of the night he used to spend 2-1/2 hours to three hours in tahajjud. Sometimes it happened that an attendant would go to him at five O’clock to join him for sehri and would find him in salaah.

After Fajr he remained busy reciting wazeefas, wirds and engrossed in meditation until eight O’clock or half past eight. Then it was time for Ishraq salaah. Thereafter for a few hours he would rest.

During this time the mail would arrive and he would begin answering letters and writing fatwas or dictate them. Thereafter it was time for Salatul-Duhaa (Chasht), and on performing this salaah, he would have his daytime sleep.

An Anecdote: Haz Sheikh's Ramadhan

One can imagine the amount of time Ĥađrat devoted to worship during the month of Ramadan by the following incident, as narrated by Ĥađrat in his Āp Bītī:

My close friend, Ĥakīm Ţayyib Rāmpūrī [the father of another of my close friends Shaikh ‘Āmir] came to visit me frequently in those days. He came for a very short time and was good at providing quick rundowns of the latest news, so he was allowed to visit whenever he wished.
Once, in Ramadan he came at 8 or 9 a.m. He said to Maulwī Naśīr,

“Open the door.”

Maulwī Naśīr responded, “It is Ramadan.”

He decided to knock on the door himself, but Maulwī Naśīr stopped him. Maulwī Naśīr explained, “If he is sleeping, you will ruin his sleep, and if he is awake, he is probably praying voluntary śalāt. So knock if you want, but you’re probably not going to get a response.”

Ĥakīm Śāĥib got angry and walked on to the school.20 On the way, he met Shaikh Manżūr Aĥmad Śāĥib who said, “Ĥakīm Śāĥib, what are you doing here? Don’t you know the Shaikh is in Ramadan?” Hearing this, Ĥakīm Śāĥib felt his anger towards Maulwī Naśīr cool. After this, he entered
upon Nāżim Śāĥib [the dean of the school] who was dictating letters at the time. Nāżim Śāĥib was surprised and said, “Ĥakīm Jī, what are you doing here? The Shaikh is in Ramadan.”

The virtues of the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah

Rasulullah Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam has said: “There is no better time to perform Ibaadah (devotion) of Allah Ta’ala than on the (first) ten days of Dhul Hijjah. A day’s fasting in it equals the fasting of one year and a night’s Ibaadah in it equals the Ibaadah of Laylatul Qadr.” [Tirmidhi/ Ibn Majah]

Allah Ta’ala has taken an oath on the ten nights of the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. The ninth night (i.e. the night preceding the day of Arafah) and the night preceding Eid Day are especially significant. All these days are filled with special virtues. The observance of fasting on the ninth of Dhul Hijjah (day of Arafah) is a kaffaarah (atonement) of the sins of the past and coming year. Remaining awake on the night of Eid, while performing Ibaadah, is a source of great virtue and Thawaab (reward).

The takbeeraat of Tashriq

It is Wajib to recite the following takbeer audibly after every Fardh Salaah from the morning of the ninth of Dhul Hijjah (Day of Arafah) until the Asr Salaah on the thirteenth of Dhul Hijjah:

“Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa ilaha illallahu wallahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar wa Lillahil Hamd.”