Salam Ma'al Hijrah

Assalamualaikum

Salam Ma'al Hijrah everyone!! Alhamdulillah Allah let us live long enough to celebrate this new Hijrah year. May we become closer to Allah in this new year. May we become better muslims/muslimahs than the year before in this new year. Amin

As you can see. I've changed my template. It's new year...hence the need to revamp my blog. Hehe. I'm feeling rather girlie today...so pink it is! Pink is not exactly my favourite colour so we'll just wait and see how long I can put up with this new look.

New Hijrah year also means that this is the month of Muharram. Muharram is one of the four sacred months of the year. Abu Bakar (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said:

“The year is twelve months of which four are sacred, the three consecutive months of Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab Mudar which comes between Jumaada and Sha’baan.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 2958).

An ayah in the Quran also mentions the four sacred months.

"Sesungguhnya bilangan bulan-bulan di sisi (hukum) Allah ialah dua belas bulan, (yang telah ditetapkan) dalam Kitab Allah semasa Dia menciptakan langit dan bumi, di antaranya empat bulan yang dihormati. Ketetapan yang demikian itu ialah agama yang betul lurus, maka janganlah kamu menganiaya diri kamu dalam bulan-bulan yang dihormati itu (dengan melanggar laranganNya)..." [At Taubah 9:36]

“Verily, the number of months with Allaah is twelve months (in a year), so it was ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them, four are sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein…” [al-Tawbah 9:36]

Fasting in the month of Muharram is highly recommended, and should be observed religiously by all of us, especially on the tenth day, Asyura.
It is reported that when asked which prayer is better after the obligatory prayer (sembahyang lima waktu) the Prophet (SAW) said:

" Prayer in the middle of the night" and when asked again which fast is better after Ramadan, he said: "In the month that is called Muharam."

Rasulullah (SAW) said, regarding fasting on the day of Asyra:

"I hope that Allaah will accept it as expiation for the year that went before.” (Reported by Muslim )

" Semoga Allah menerimanya sebagai penghapus dosa tahun yang lalu". (Sahih Muslim)

As Jews and Christians also fast on the day of Asyura, we are also highly recommended to fast on the day of Tasu'a, which is on the 9th of Muharram, the day before Asyura. This is to differentiate us from both the Jews and the Christians.

Sadakah should also be observed on this day. Let us not miss this opportunity to heighten our iman in the hope to bring us closer to Allah.

...Hayatilah....Fahamilah....Renungilah...