Bismillahirrahmaanirrahiim (In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful).
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Oh muslimah… I felt the time passed so quickly, various stories have coloured every page of my days.
And now , we are almost at the end of the year of Hijriyah 1433. After a few days we will enter the first month of new year 1434 Hijriyah, month of Muharram.
We pray to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala to bless us in the coming year and always and keep us on the right path. The time is on a constant motion. It does not stop for a moment. Blessed are the moments that are spent in the service of Allah and for the benefit of His creation.
We hope that we can take a hikmah from hijrah Rasulullah Shalallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. It does not mean moving to Madinah but Hijrah can be in our own hearts and minds as well.
It is reported that Sayyidna ‘Ali – may Allah be pleased with him – said:
“This world is moving out and the Hereafter is moving in. For both of them there are children. Be the children of the Hereafter and be not the children of this world. Today is the time of action not judgment; tomorrow will be the time of judgment not action”. (narrated by Bukhari).
According to islamic calender, the first of Muharram 1434 Hijriyah will be at 15 november 2012.
As Muslims, we do not traditionally celebrate the beginning of a new year, but we do acknowledge the passing of time, and take time to reflect on our own mortality.
The Hijrah refers to the Prophet’s migration from Mekkah to Madinah. This is the beginning of the Muslim calendar which was first introduced by the close companion of the Prophet, Umar bin Khattab. During his leadership of the Muslim community, in approximately 638 A.D.,. It was agreed that the most appropriate reference point for the Islamic calendar was the Hijrah, since it was an important turning point for the Muslim community. After the emigration to Madinah (formerly known as Yathrib), the Muslims were able to organize and establish the first real Muslim “community,” with social, political, and economic independence. The Islamic year has twelve months that are based on a lunar cycle.
Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala says in the Qur’an:
إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا فِيهِنَّ أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَقَاتِلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ كَافَّةً كَمَا كَمَا يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ كَافَّةً وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ
The number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve (in a year)- so ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are sacred: that is the straight usage. So wrong not yourselves therein, and fight the Pagans all together as they fight you all together. But know that Allah is with those who restrain themselves.(At-Tawbah:36)
And Muharram is one of the four sanctified, sacred months in the Islamic calendar (Dzulqa’dah, Dzulhijjah, Muharram and Rajab).
Islamic months begin at sunset of the first day, the day when the lunar crescent is visually sighted. It will be in the evening of Wednesday, November 14, 2012 when we see the moon crest. The lunar year is approximately 354 days long, so the months rotate backward through the seasons and are not fixed to the Gregorian calendar. The months of the Islamic year are:
1. Muharram (“Forbidden” – it is one of the four months during which it is forbidden to wage war or fight)
2. Safar (“Empty” or “Yellow”)
3. Rabia Awal (“First spring”)
4. Rabia Thani (“Second spring”)
5. Jumaada Awal (“First freeze”)
6. Jumaada Thani (“Second freeze”)
7. Rajab (“To respect” – this is another holy month when fighting is prohibited)
8. Sha’ban (“To spread and distribute”)
9. Ramadan (“Parched thirst” – this is the month of daytime fasting)
10. Shawwal (“To be light and vigorous”)
11. Dhul-Qi’dah (“The month of rest” – another month when no warfare or fighting is allowed)
12. Dhul-Hijjah (“The month of Hajj” – this is the month of the annual pilgrimage to Mekkah, again when no warfare or fighting is allowed)
When we enter the new month, recite this du’a.
Du’a to recite upon sighting the New Moon :
“Allahumma ahillahu alaina bil yumni wal iiman was-salaamati wal islam wattaufiiqi lima tuhhibbu wa tardha, rabbi wa rabbukallahu”
(“O’ Allah ! Let this new moon appear unto us with good luck and prosperity, with faith, with safety and with Islam and with hope of success to do deeds which my Lord and your (moon’s) Lord like’s & approves. My Lord and your Lord is Allah.”)
May Allah guide us all upon the Straight Path and save us from every act which brings His displeasure. May year Hijri open up for me, you and all of us more opportunities, lead us onto the path of continued success, happiness and prosperity. Aamiin
Allahumma Shalli ‘ala nabiyyina Muhammad wa ‘ala aalihi wa shahbihi ajma’in..
Alhamdulillahirrabil’alamiin
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