The moon had barely sliced into the velvet sky when Usman stepped out into the evening breeze. It was Muharram. The month of Allah (SWT). A whisper of sacred silence hung in the air, as if the heavens themselves were listening.
He walked slowly toward the masjid, the echo of his shoes lost in reverence. This month wasn’t just the start of a new lunar calendar, it was a time stitched with divine mercy, ancient deliverance, and reminders of trials that turned into triumphs. As he entered, an old man’s voice rose gently in the prayer hall.
“Did you know,” the man began, “that the Prophet (SAW) called this ‘the month of Allah’? Fasting during Muharram is second only to Ramadhan. It’s a month woven into the legacy of Prophets, a month of peace and remembrance.”
Usman closed his eyes. The words wrapped around him, and the tapestry of history began to unfold…
Red Seas and Broken Chains
It was the 10th of Muharram – Ashura. Usman pictured Prophet Musa (AS), standing by the Red Sea, the army of Pharaoh thundering behind, panic gripping Bani Israel. Yet, with firm faith, Prophet Musa (AS) raised his staff and the sea split with divine command.
A chorus of awe filled the masjid as the man recounted this story. “And so,” he continued, “when our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) saw the Jews of Madinah fasting on Ashura in gratitude, he said, ‘We have more right to Musa than they.’ (Sahih Bukhari) He fasted, too, and urged us to fast as an act of gratitude.”
The Ark on Judi
The stories swept on like a current. Usman imagined the ark of Prophet Nuh (AS) rocking gently on the floodwaters until it rested on Mount Judi – also believed to have occurred on Ashura. The water receded, the storm passed, and humanity was given another chance.
This was the essence of Muharram: trials followed by mercy, despair overturned by hope.
The Belly of the Beast
The man’s voice dipped to a hush. “And who can forget Prophet Yunus (AS), swallowed whole by the whale? In that utter darkness, he recited: ‘There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except You. Glory be to You! I have certainly done wrong.’ (The Clear Quran® 21:87) On Ashura, he too was forgiven and freed.”
Usman exhaled slowly. Forgiveness—wasn’t that the gift promised to those who fasted? The Prophet (SAW) had said, “Fast the day of Ashura, for indeed I anticipate that Allah will forgive (the sins of) the year before it.” (Sahih Tirmidhi)
A Day Set Apart
Later that night, Usman sat at his kitchen table, jotting his plans for Ashura. He would fast the 9th and 10th, just as the Prophet (SAW) intended – to distinguish the Muslim practice from others. He would cook a warm meal and be generous to his family, remembering the narration that promised bounty to those who gave on Ashura.
Outside, the night deepened. The moon gleamed brighter now, almost smiling down on the quiet earth.
The Month of Meaning
Muharram was not just history—it was legacy. It was the story of every believer who faced darkness, held firm, and received light. It was a compass pointing toward divine mercy. And for Usman, it was a renewal. A chance to begin again.
In the calm stillness of Muharram’s night, there was no mourning—only majesty. No sorrow—only salvation. As the wind rustled through the trees, it carried whispers of gratitude, resilience, and the timeless truth: Allah’s mercy always comes.
A Dua from the Heart
اللَّهُمَّ يا رَحْمٰنُ يا رَحِيمُ، يا غَفُورُ يا كَرِيمُ
O Allah, O Most Merciful, Most Compassionate, Most Forgiving, Most Generous,
Make this blessed month a beginning of purity, an end to our sins, and a path to Your pleasure.
Just as You saved Prophet Musa (AS) from tyranny, Prophet Nuh (AS) from the flood, and Prophet Yunus (AS) from the depths of darkness—save us from our transgressions and cleanse our hearts from heedlessness.
Grant us the sincerity of Prophet Adam’s (AS) repentance, the patience of Prophet Ayyub (AS), the gratitude of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), and the trust of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
Make us among those who fast on the Day of Ashura, forgive our sins of the past year, and fill our hearts with the light of faith.
Let this month be a key to goodness, a gate to mercy, and a shield from trials. Make us among Your righteous servants.
آمين يا رب العالمين
Ameen, O Lord of the Worlds.