Muharram: Beginiing of Islamic New Year

( The Battle of Karbala & Significance of Yaum-e-Ashura )

1-1-1429; I am not referring to any eventful date in annuls of History but the day is today, 10th January 2008 AD or 1st Muharram 1429 AH (after Hijri); the beginning of the Islamic New Year. Muharram is the 1st month of Hijri calendar which is held in high significance among Muslims for varied reasons. Muharram is renowned for ‘Yaum-e-Ashura’ on the 10th day of this month when the eventful Battle of Karbala took place in 61AH. It marks the remembrance of the sacrifice of Imam Hussein, whence he chose death over acquiescence before the tyrants, to uphold the values of Islam. The Islamic calendar ends with the month of sacrifice (Zul Hijj;
http://fardinq.blogspot.com/2007_12_01_archive.html#4776344024214767109) as well as starts with the month of sacrifice (Muharram) thus epitomizing among the people that it is sacrifice which enthrall the faith of Muslims. Many of us believe that celebrating New Year on 1st Muharram is forbidden in Islam, however the month and Yaum-e-Ashura in particular is of great significance. Muharram which means ‘forbidden’ in Arabic is a month when it is forbidden to wage a fight or war or cause distress to others. The month is also regarded as the one to pay high reverence to one’s parents by being thoroughly obedient and subservient to them if both or either of them is alive. And to pay tributes to those who are dead by reciting the Holy Qur’an and visiting their graves and feeding the poor and giving charity in their name, for their benefit. While many of us party late into nights on the eve of Gregorian New Year and vow resolutions only to be unkempt. The Islamic New Year marks the beginning of another year to bring forth amongst its followers the virtues of good deeds and sacrifice to reap rich rewards in this world and hereafter from Allah.

Historically the month is marked by the beginning of Hijri Calendar, when Prophet Muhammad (SAW) began his journey from Mecca to the city of Medina, when the people of Mecca had conspired against him and opposed his teachings of Islam. However he was openly welcomed by the residents of Medina, which formed the base for the proliferation of the religion of Islam. Some scholars however propose that it was the third month of Hijri calendar (Rabi-ul-Awwal) when he moved to Medina. It was his ‘Hijrat’ meaning journey or migration from Mecca to Medina that the name Hijri was coined for the Islamic Lunar calendar.

Yaum-e-Ashura meaning the ‘10th day’ of Muharram has a marked significance for the Battle of Karbala. As well as it was on this day that Prophet Musa (AS) moved with his followers from Egypt to the promised land of Jerusalem, freeing them from the clutches of the Pharaoh, who had persecuted the Israelis for years. Prophet Musa guided the followers making way through the Red Sea, and when the Pharaoh and his army pursued them, the sea closed upon killing them all. The Jews then settled in Jerusalem under the commandments of Allah guided by Prophet Musa (AS). However what followed was a long period of betrayal and impiety from them in response to the faith reposed in them by Musa and their subsequent punishment at the hands of Allah. The rest we all know is history which resulted in the beginning of conflicts in quest for the Holy city of Jerusalem amongst Jews, Christians and Muslims till date. It was on the 10th Muharram when Prophet Nuh (AS) is said to have docked his ship on Mount Aarat (Judi), after the great floods which wiped out every life form from the face of the earth, excepts for the couples of life forms which were safe on the great ship of Prophet Nuh (AS).

However it is the sacrifice of Imam Hussein, son of Fatima (RA) and Ali and grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), for which the month of Muharram perhaps holds reverence amongst all other months of the Hijri calendar after Ramzan. The eventful day of Yaum-e-Ashura in 61AH, historically was the culmination of a period of treachery by the Umayyad dynasty. The ruler of Umayyad, Muawiya had made a treaty of peace with the Hazrat Ali (RA) and his son Imam Hasan, after they tried to unsettle and attacked the Arab kingdom and opposed the caliphate under the followers of Islam and Prophet Muhammad (SAW). After their death the ruler of Umayyad in Damascus, Yazid son of Muawiya annulled the treaty and claimed his own authority over the region and started persecution of Muslims and followers of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as well as threatened the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Imam Hussein opposed the authority of Yazid and defied him by refusing to submit to the demands of the tyrant. It was at that time when the people of Kufa (present day Iraq) sent a message to Imam Hussein seeking help from the tyranny of Yazid which threatened their faith and their lives. They also promised allegiance and support to Imam Hussein. The message compelled Imam Hussein to seek the people of Kufa in the time of their distress and he along with his family and followers set forth for Kufa. He sent a messenger named Muslim ibn Aqeel, his cousin in advance, who was however murdered by the governor of Basra, ibn Zayd who threatened the people of Kufa with dire consequences if they sided with Imam Hussein. The timid dwellers of Kufa submitted to the commands of ibn Zayd, a wily commander under Yazid.

Imam Hussein by then unknown of the happenings continued upon his journey. He was asked by Yazid to pay allegiance to him as the ruler of the kingdom and submit to his commands, whence he would be spared and provided with a safe passage to Medina or face death over his opposition from the forces of Yazid. But Imam Hussein, the true grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) he was, refused to go back on his promise to the people of Kufa and marched forward with 72 men as his relatives and followers and the women and children, most of them being the descendants of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Unaware was he of the fact that it was the same people for whom he was going, who had betrayed him. It was on the 1st of Muharram 61 AH when Imam Hussein reached the plains of Karbala (presently in central Iraq), with the river Euphrates on one side and vast plains of dry, semi-arid land around. Once here Imam Hussein came to know about the betrayal of inmates of Kufa and the murder of his cousin Muslim ibn Aqeel. Further movement of the descendants of Prophet Muhammad was blocked by Yazids army of over 20,000 strong cavalry and infantry, led by a commander named Hurr, who later joined Imam Hussein against Yazid with 32 of his faithful cavalry to make it 72 men along with the 40 of Imam Hussein and his relatives and followers, who laid down their lives in the Battle of Karbala (some historians however refute this, saying the 72 martyred were the original followers of Imam Hussein who left Medina).

Imam Hussein was forced to pitch camp in this desert area by Yazid who increased the might of his forces with every passing day such that it reached strength of over 40,000 against sparsely armed 72 men from Imam Hussein’s camp on Yaum-e-Ashura. On the 7th day of Muharram, Yazid cut of the access of water for them, when all negotiations, harassment and allurements to deviate Imam Hussein from the path of Islam and force submission failed. For three days the children of Prophet and women, elderly and even infants weren’t spared a drop of water to drink. When on the 9th day the camp was completely surrounded by the army, Imam Hussein knew that battle was inevitable and he dug trenched around the camp and lit fire in it to protect the women and children from the savages. The battle began on the 10th day of Muharram early morning after Imam Hussein and his followers offered the Fajr prayers. Yazids forces fired arrows on to them from all sides as they were aware that face to face confrontation with the believers would inflict heavy losses on them. Imam Hussein’s camp was bejeweled with the most fearsome warriors in Abbas ibn Ali his brother, Zuhair ibn Qain, Habib ibn Muzahir and Imam Hussein himself. They charged the enemy with such brute force that each of Imam Hussein’s followers killed hundreds from Yazids troops before laying down his life. Zuhair ibn Qain is said to have single handedly killed more than 4000 of the enemy fighters and Abbas ibn Ali even many more.

It was towards late afternoon when the women in Imam Hussein’s camp asked him for water for the infants and small children who had not a drop of water for over 3 days. Imam Hussein asked Abbas to get water for the women. Abbas surmounted a horse and tearing through the army build up reached the river to fill the water skin. He however did not drink water himself as he was aware that Imam Hussein and other men were fighting the battle with parched throats. As he was returning to the camp with water, Yazid ordered over 10,000 of his men attack Abbas in unison and prevent him from taking water. Abbas fought courageously and when both his hands were cut off, he still tried to reach the camp with the water bag held with his teeth. The barbarians however foiled his intentions and he was martyred without being able to provide water to the thirsty descendants of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Unable to bear the loss of all his men and the plight of the infants dying of thirst, Imam Hussein took his 6 month (2 months as per some scholars) old son Ali Asghar in his arms and walked towards the enemy to at least have mercy on the innocent. But the tyrant he was, Yazid asked an archer to shoot an arrow towards the baby which pierced his throat and Imam Hussein’s infant son died in his arms, without a drop of water on his lips.

The last man surviving he was, Imam Hussein charged the enemy with all his might and defeated anyone who came before him. Finally Yazid’s men attacked him from back and showered arrows at him, one of which struck right into his heart and he fell from his horse. Imam Hussein pulled out the arrow as a fountain of blood sprang out. But he still continued to fight when a large spear hit him into his abdomen and with the name of Allah on his lips and blessings from his grandfather, Imam Hussein was treacherously martyred. The savage Yazid cut of Imam Hussein’s head trampled his severed body with horses and captured all the women and children who were tortured and imprisoned and taken to Damascus. On the way to the prison, Zainab, sister of Imam Hussein preached the people of the cities from wherever they passed through telling them about the atrocities of Yazid, his false claim to rule over the kingdom and the teachings of Islam and Prophet Muhammad (SAW). The effect was a growing resent from the people and he was forced to release the prisoners after a year.

The Battle of Karbala tragically ended in physical defeat for Muslims where 72 truest men of Allah lost their lives fighting for the cause of Islam. They chose death over submission before a tyrant and showed us the path to sacrifice for the sake of safeguarding their promise for the suppressed. The valiant men also showed courage in the face of adversity as was evident that more than 10.000 of the enemy camp were killed at the hands of 72 valiant descendants of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

One distasteful tradition been followed by some Muslims and Shia’s in particular, around the world is the taking out of processions in the form of Taziya (replicas of tombs and other monuments) and men beating their bodies with hands, chains and knives, inflicting pain and injury upon themselves to relive the memories of the atrocities faced by Imam Hussein and his followers on that eventful day. Though the intentions of these people might be an act of reverence for the 72 martyrs, the methodology of expression is clearly uncalled for. The teachings of Islam clearly despises such acts of violence and carrying out of replicas and monuments; instead the day should be passed in remembrance of the events, narrating others about it as well as learning from their sacrifice. It is also recommended that a fast be kept on Yaum-e-Ashura as well as on either the 9th or the 11th day of Muharram in commemoration and seek blessings from Allah. It is said the rewards of keeping this fast is second only to the fasts kept in Ramzan. It is also advised to read the Dua-e-Ashura on the day of 10th Muharram, which has immense benefits. The Dua-e-Ashura can be accessed at the following link.
http://fardinq.blogspot.com/search/label/Dua%20e%20Ashura

More details about the prayers and significance of Yaum-e-Ashura can be read at:
http://fardinq.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html#8100681240090322405

The detailed events of the Battle of Karbala can be read by downloading the pdf version of the book: The Karbala @ the following link:
http://www.ezsoftech.com/ebooks/TheKarbala.pdf

The Front Cover of the Book

Sania Mirza: Unforced Errors

(Women inside Mosque)

It seems controversy accompanies Sania Mirza whether she is on court or off it. She was rebuked by Muslim scholars and many others for shooting in the premises of the Mecca Masjid near Charminar, in Hyderabad on 11th December. Whether she was shooting for a commercial or was just out to spread heritage awareness of the monuments is still unclear. She tendered an apology to everyone, the very next day, after it snowballed into turmoil. However what caught my attention was one of her statements, in which she said, “I am fully aware that a woman must not enter the sanctity of the mosque”. This statement must have let those chatterbox tongues wagging again, who posses, but little knowledge about Islam and the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and The Prophet. What I wish to bring forth for Sania Mirza in general and all those who think on the same lines in particular, is that, there is no such decree proclaimed in Holy Qur’an or the teachings of Islam which prohibits women from entering the sanctity of the mosque. Though I am unaware whether shooting a commercial is allowed or not.

During the time prior to the advent of Islam, the world as a whole and the Arabian peninsula in particular, the prosecution and subdue of women was widespread. It was the advent of Islam that brought women at par with men, allowing them equality in terms of status, respect, education and share in ancestral property. They were given right to have a say in public meetings and while taking financial or social decisions for the family or individual. As far as entering a mosque is concerned, women were not only allowed but the Prophet gave them permission to pray Namaz in congregation with the men folk (although in a separate enclosure). The Namaz was performed with men behind the Imaam, followed by children and women either at the end or an adjoining area, segregated from the main congregation with curtain or wooden partition. The same however is not true in case of the major mosques of Masjid Al-Haram (The Holy Kaba in Mecca) or Masjid-e-Nabvi in Madina, Saudi Arabia, where men and women pray alongside without any bias or distinction on the basis of gender, at the time of Hajj. Infact Masjid-e-Aaesha in Madina is especially dedicated to women for offering Namaz, where even the Imam is a female leading the women congregation. During the Hajj pilgrimage millions of men and women from every part of the world pray Namaz and perform Tawaaf (circumnavigation of the Kaba) , Sai and many other rituals side by side. Many of my relatives who reside in cities of US, Canada, UK and other parts of the world, proclaim that there is no distinction as such for not allowing women in the mosque and instead they have special arrangements for allowing women to pray in congregation behind a common Imaam. Why then is the case that there are restrictions in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other countries around Indian peninsula?

The women used to pray regularly in mosque during the time of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Some people attribute the later Caliphate or rulers of Arabian kingdom, especially Hazrat Umar, for passing a law disallowing women an entry in the mosque. The same however is partially true. It was during the era when the newly built Arab kingdom was increasing its influence and was also facing threat from the neighboring tribes and Roman invaders, who resisted their growing power resulting in constant conflicts on the borders of the kingdom. It was for the safety of women and children that they were asked to pray within the confines of their houses, while the men would pray in mosques. This would not only ensure safety of women but also have them to guard the children, ailing elders, houses and properties.

There is also a misconception which says that it is the Hanafi school of thought which disallows Muslim women to pray in mosques. I belong to the Hanafi sect, which is followed by more than 90% Sunni Muslims in the Indian subcontinent, but have never come across such a thought or edict in the Hanafi School. Rather it was the influence of the social and environmental factors surrounding the early Muslim settlers or the newly converts which mutated the thinking and adaptation of the Muslims in India. The effect was also due the culture of myriad religions and sects prevalent during the medieval India which influenced the social norms from what was being practiced in the Middle Eastern civilization during that era. The prohibition of women to pray in mosques most likely arose from this, when purda system and a patriarchal society was the norm in India and women did not enjoy as much freedom as men. In fact such was the state of women not only in India but other civilizations across the world at a time which has been described by historians as ‘The Dark Ages’. Islam in those times came as a soothing influence on the evils of the social system in largely semi-barbaric tribes of Arabian Peninsula, providing equality for women, emphasis on education and dignity in culture and social factors which drew the masses towards accepting the invitation of Islam from Prophet Muhammad (SAW) resulting in a rapid advent of Islam in far and near civilizations.

The social or rather unsocial persecution of women regarding their freedom and rights to equality continued for a long time in many parts of the world, with women activists having to come on streets of England in 1920’s to get voting rights, the US still awaiting its first woman president and gender bias still conspicuous in Eastern European countries. Though the Western World and other developing nations have evolved out of this, we in south Asia still adhere to some of our ancestral social practices. Who would deny that just 50 years back untouchability and casteism was widespread in India and still is in some of the remotest places of the country. Denial of women to pray inside mosques hence is, but a social stigma. Although it is not compulsory for women to pray in mosques, unlike men who have to compulsorily pray in congregation in mosques if it is within considerable walking distance from their abode. For men praying in a mosque is more than 27 times rewarding than praying in house. For women however, they get that benefit even if they pray at home. Even in India famous mosques and shrines like the Khwaja Garib Nawaz in Ajmer, Hazratbal in Srinagar, Fatehpur Sikri in Agra, to name a few have special arrangements for women to pray in the mosques behind a single Imam. The same is also true in scores of mosques and Idgah’s for the special Namaz’s like Juma (Friday prayer), and on the occasion of two Eid’s when temporary arrangements are made to facilitate women praying Namaz.

Qur’an however advocates both men and women to be decently dressed and maintain the sanctity of the mosque which is regarded as the house of Allah. It even discourages people to engage in personal talks while in mosques. How justified is a jeans and tight T-shirt clad Sania Mirza entering the premises of Mecca Masjid for shooting a commercial is best left for imagination.