On the occasion
of New Year’s Day, may it be 1st Muharram (Hizri), 1st Boishakh (Bangla) or 1st
January (English); having better meals on the occasion of such New Year's Day
has nothing to do with the Muslims. No specialty or blessings in that and this
is not a day to express joy or delight rather those fire worshippers do
celebrate that day exclusively and along with them do the Hindus and Buddhists
for Muslims, it is the 10th day of the month of Muharram, the 'day of
‘Aashoora', to have better meals and this day is the day of honor and
remembrance for the whole universe or for all creations.
On the occasion
of New Year’s Day, may it be 1st Muharram (Hijri), 1st Boishakh (Bangla) or 1st
January (English); having better meals on the occasion of such New Year’s Day
has nothing to do with the Muslims. No specialty or blessings in that. And this
is not a day to express joy or delight. Rather those fire worshippers do
celebrate that day exclusively and along with them do the Hindus and Buddhists.
For Muslims, it is the 10th day of the month of Muharram, the 'Day of
‘Aashoora, to have better meal and this day is the day of honour and
remembrance for the whole universe or for all creations.
Muharram is the first month of
the Arabic calendar. Muharram is one of those four special months which have
been declared as month of honour. From the beginning of creation, this month
has been specially regarded.
A’khiri Rasul, Habibullah Huzur-i-Pak Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam said that,
“Honour the month of Muharram and the 10th instant that is the ‘Day of
‘Aashoora’. One who shall honour the month of Muharram and the 'Day of
‘Aashoora' (10th Muharram), Allah shall dignify him by rewarding Jannat
(Heaven) to him and save him from Jahannam (Hell).
The 10th instant of this month (‘Aashoora in Arabic meaning 10th instant) is a
specially discussed day in the Universe. The creation started on this day and
would end up on this very day. Some special creations were done on this day and
some significant incidents also occurred on this day.
Starting from the Akhiri Rasul, Habibullah, Huzur-i-Pak Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa
Sallam up to the first Nabi Hazrat Aadam ‘Alaihis Salam, every Nabi and Rasul
‘Alaihimus Salam had some significant happenings on this day. Naturally, this
day is a day of great celebration and a day of achieving Allah’s blessings,
mercy, sakina and salvation.
Hadis Sharif narrates about some practices (‘Aamal) on the occasion of this day
– (1) Perform ‘Saom’ for two days; either on the 9th and 10th or on the 10th
and 11th of Muharram. Saom only on the 10th day is Makruh. If possible,
offering Iftar to one or more persons performing saom on this day. (2) Offering
good food to family members as per one’s ability. (3) Have a shower or a bath.
(4) Using ‘Shurma’ (Ismid Shurma – Shurma mixed with Meshk-e-Ambar) in the
eyes. (5) Feeding the poor. (6) Affectionate touch on the heads of orphans. All
of these are ‘Sunnati’ practices and are reasons for rewards of Jannat.
Hadis Sharif has it that, on being asked about the fazilat (rewards) of having
saom during ‘Aashoora, Huzur-i-Pak Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam remarked that,
“This is like a ‘kaffara’ (payment) for past sins. (Muslim Sharif).
Huzur-i-Pak Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam further added that, “If someone would
offer good food to his family members on the 'Day of ‘Aashoora', Allah shall
bestow upon him a solvency for next one year.” (Twabarani Sharif)
There is a story in this regard of a gentleman who was poor and an ‘Aalim
(Wise). At some stage of his day to day life, he was sick and could not go to
work for three days. The fourth day was the day of ‘Aashoora and he knew about
the significance of having good food on this day. Then it was the age of the
Quazi (Judge) and the Quazi responsible for his area was a rich man. The man
approached the Quazi, explaining the significance of the 'Day of ‘Aashoora'. On
the plea of his illness and starving condition of his family, he asked the
Quazi for some ten kilograms of flour, ten kilograms of meat and two dirhams to
be given to him as Hadia or loan. The Quazi asked him to come later during Zohr
time (afternoon). At the time of Zohr, Quazi asked him to come during Asr (late
afternoon). But then at Asr, Quazi asked the man to come during Maghrib
(evening) and at Maghrib, to come during ‘Ishaa (late evening). Lastly during
‘Ishaa, Quazi finally refused the man to give anything. The poor ‘Aalim
reacted, “O Honourable Quazi! If you did not wish to make it for me, you could
have told me in the beginning. I would look for some other arrangements. Now
that the whole day is gone and you are refusing me at this time!” The Quazi did
not pay any heed to it and closed his doors.
The man went back sobbing. On his way, there was the residence of a Christian
man who was surprised to see an old man crying. He tried to inquire into the
matter. But being a non-Muslim, he was not initially confided upon. However, on
his insistence the man narrated his story of refusal from the Quazi and
expressed his concern about the 'Day of ‘Aashoora'. The Christian man was moved
and provided him the food stuff and the two dirhams that the man required. He
further paid him an additional twenty dirhams and promised that in honour of the
'Day of ‘Aashoora', he would pay him equal amount of money every month. The
poor ‘Aalim took the stuff, went home and treated his family with those in full
satisfaction. Then he prayed, “O Allah! One who brought peace and smiles for me
and my family members, please make him happy too.”
The Quazi dreamt that night that he was being told, “O Quazi! Rise up and
look.” Quazi rose and saw two castles in Jannat. One is of gold and the other
is of silver. Quazi questioned, “O Allah! What is this? There was a ‘gayewi’
sound (sound from unseen sources), “These two castles belonged to you but are
no more yours. Because, that poor ‘Aalim came to you for help on the occasion
of the 'Day of ‘Aashoora'. You did not help. So the two castles have now gone
to the possession of a Christian man.”
With this the Quazi woke up from sleep. Having necessary ablution etc. offered
his Swalat and started for the home of that Christian man. The Christian man
was thoroughly surprised to see the Quazi at his place. Since his birth, he had
never seen the Quazi visiting him as a next door neighbour.
He asked the Quazi about his reason for such visit at this early hours of the
day. Quazi replied, “O Man! Did you do some especially virtuous job last
night?” The man replied, “I hardly remember, I have done anything of that sort.
But well, if you are aware, you could please tell me.” Then the Quazi
continued, “Last evening you paid some flour, meat and some money to one poor
‘Aalim and further promised him to pay a monthly remuneration on the occasion
of the ‘Day of ‘Aashoora, right?” The man replied in affirmative. Then the
Quazi proposed, “Why don’t you sell that good deed of yours to me in exchange
of 100 thousand dirhams. I shall also pay that man the monthly remuneration you
promised him.” The Christian man felt curious, “Your Honour! Would you please
tell me what leads you to pay me that large sum of money in exchange of that
small job.” In reply, the Quazi narrated his dreams of last night. “That poor
‘Aalim asked for that help from me on the occasion of the ‘Day of ‘Aashoora,
but I refused to do that. Therefore, last night in my dreams, I was shown two
heavenly castles of gold and silver and was told that those were mine but now
they no more belonged to me. Those have gone to the possession of one Christian
man.” The Quazi continues, “If you are not a Muslim, you won’t get those.
Because after the advent of Islam, all previous religions and other
proclamations have been void. Therefore, those clinging to the old religions
shall not get that.” “What if I convert to Islam and become a Muslim, shall I
get it?” The reply was, “Yes, in that case, it is possible.” Then the Christian
man remarked, “Your honour! You be the witness, I am reciting the Kalema Sharif
right now and becoming a Muslim just before you. (SubhanAllah!)
Now you need to think deeply about this instance of honouring the ‘Day of
‘Aashoora, leading to the conversion of that Christian man including an ultimate
achievement of Jannat.
If someone offers Iftar (breaking of saom) to somebody performing saom on this
day, it will be treated like offering Iftar to the whole of the Ummah.
Akhiri Rasul Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam declared that, “If someone uses ismid
shurma (shurma mixed with fragrance of musk) in his eyes on the ‘Day of
‘Aashoora, he shall have no eye-ailment for next one year.” (Maqasid-e-Hasanah,
Shua’bul Iman, Dailami Sharif, Masabata bis-Sunnah)
Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam declares that, “If one takes a shower
or a bath on this day, Allah Bari Ta’ala shall cure him from illness. Except
death, he shall have no difficult diseases and be free from laziness and
sufferings.
It has been described in the book named ‘M’umin-ke-Mah wasal’ that “If one
would feed a poor member of Ahle Bait on this day, he shall cross the pulsirat
with the speed of light.
Huzur-i-Pak Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam declares that, “If on this day, a
Muslim touches the head of an orphan, feed a hungry man and offer water to a
thirsty person, then Allah Pak shall entertain him with food on the heavenly
‘Dostorkhan (tablemat) of Jannat and provide him with drinks from the stream
called ‘Salsabil’.
These days people in many countries including Bangladesh arrange better meals
on the occasion of new year’s day i.e., 1st Muharram (Hizri), 1st Baishakh
(Bangla), 1st January (English) which has no significance for the Muslims from
religious point of view. These days have no Fazilat (blessings). On the
occasion of New Year’s Day, may it be 1st Muharram (Hizri), 1st Baishakh
(Bangla) or 1st January (English), having better meals on the occasion of such
new year's day has nothing to do with the Muslims. No specialty or blessings in
that. And this is no day to express joy or delight. Rather those fire
worshippers do celebrate it exclusively and along with them do the Hindus and
Buddhists. For Muslims, it is the 10th day of the month of Muharram, the 'Day
of ‘Aashoora', to have good food and this day is the day of honour and
remembrance for the whole of the universe or creation.
Celebrating the New Year’s Day is exclusively a non-Muslim ritual. So, it is
na-zayij (not allowed).
It has been described that a highly respectable Wali Allah named Hazrat Imam
Abu Hafs Kabir Rahmatullahi ‘alaihi remarked, “Spending even an egg on the
occasion of a New Year’s Day, would nullify one’s ‘aamal of his whole life.
Rejecting all the rituals, practiced by the Kaafirs and Mushriks, the Muslims
should maintain the sanctity of the month of Muharram which is a Fard for them.
(Ameen)
