AAMAL FOR THE 1ST DAY & NIGHT OF THE MONTH OF MUHARRAM
AAMAL FOR THE 1ST DAY & NIGHT OF THE MONTH OF MUHARRAM
The month of Muharram is the month of sadness for the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.) and their followers. In this respect, Imam al-Rida(a.s.) is reported to have said, “With the beginning of Muharram, my father (a.s.) would never smile at all. He would be dominated by depression for ten days. The tenth of this month would be the day of his misfortune, sadness, and weeping. He used to say that on this day Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) was slain.”
THE FIRST NIGHT OF MUHARRAM
Sayyid Ibn Tawus, in Iqbal al-A’mal, has mentioned that a number of prayers should be advisably offered at this night:
First Prayer: A one hundred unit prayer with Surahs al-Faatehah and al-Tawheed.
Second Prayer: A two unit prayer at the first of which Surahs al-Faatehah and al-An’am (No. 6) are recited and at the second unit Surahs al-Faatehah and Yasin (No. 36).
Third Prayer: A two unit prayer at each of which Surah al-Faatehah is recited once and Surah al-Tawheed is repeated eleven times is offered.
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is reported to have said that whoever offers this prayer at this night and observes fasting the next day, which is the first day in the new year, the new year will be wholly good for him, and he will be saved throughout the year, and if he dies, he will be allowed Paradise.
Sayyid Ibn Tawus has also mentioned a lengthy supplicatory prayer to be said at the sight of the new moon of Muharram.
THE FIRST DAY OF MUHARRAM
Being the first day in the new year, there are two acts that are advisably practiced on the first of Muharram:
First: It is recommended to observe fasting on this day. Rayyan ibn Shabib has reported that Imam al-Rida(a.s.) said, “Just as He responded to the prayer of Prophet Zachariah, Almighty
Allah shall respond the prayer of one who observes fasting on this day and prays Him.”
Second: Imam al-Rida(a.s.) is reported to have said that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), on the first of Muharram, used to offer a two unit prayer. When he finished, he would raise his hands towards the heavens and repeat the following supplicatory prayer three times:
اللّٰهُمَّ اَنْتَ الْاِلَهُ الْقَدِيمُ وَ هَذِهِ سَنَةٌ جَدِيدَةٌ فَاَسْاَلُكَ فِيهَا الْعِصْمَةَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ وَ الْقُوَّةَ عَلَى هَذِهِ النَّفْسِ الْاَمَّارَةِ بِالسُّوءِ وَ الاشْتِغَالَ بِمَا يُقَرِّبُنِي اِلَيْكَ يَا كَرِيمُ يَا ذَا الْجَلالِ وَ الْاِكْرَامِ يَا عِمَادَ مَنْ لا عِمَادَ لَهُ يَا ذَخِيرَةَ مَنْ لا ذَخِيرَةَ لَهُ يَا حِرْزَ مَنْ لا حِرْزَ لَهُ يَا غِيَاثَ مَنْ لا غِيَاثَ لَهُ يَا سَنَدَ مَنْ لا سَنَدَ لَهُ يَا كَنْزَ مَنْ لا كَنْزَ لَهُ يَا حَسَنَ الْبَلاءِ يَا عَظِيمَ الرَّجَاءِ يَا عِزَّ الضُّعَفَاءِ يَا مُنْقِذَ الْغَرْقَى يَا مُنْجِيَ الْهَلْكَى يَا مُنْعِمُ يَا مُجْمِلُ يَا مُفْضِلُ يَا مُحْسِنُ، اَنْتَ الَّذِي سَجَدَ لَكَ سَوَادُ اللَّيْلِ وَ نُورُ النَّهَارِ وَ ضَوْءُ الْقَمَرِ وَ شُعَاعُ الشَّمْسِ وَ دَوِيُّ الْمَاءِ وَ حَفِيفُ الشَّجَرِ يَا اللّٰهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْنَا خَيْرا مِمَّا يَظُنُّونَ وَ اغْفِرْ لَنَا مَا لا يَعْلَمُونَ وَ لا تُؤَاخِذْنَا بِمَا يَقُولُونَ حَسْبِيَ اللّٰهُ لا اِلَهَ اِلا هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَ هُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ آمَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّنَا وَ مَا يَذَّكَّرُ اِلا اُولُوا الْاَلْبَابِ رَبَّنَا لا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ اِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَ هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ
THE THIRD OF MUHARRAM
On this day, Prophet Joseph (a.s.) was freed from his prison. Hence, if one observes fasting on this day, Almighty
Allah will make easy any difficulty he may face and will relieve any trouble that may face him. According to a Hadith reported from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), Almighty
Allah will respond to the prayer of him who observes fasting on this day.
THE NINTH OF MUHARRAM
The ninth of Muharram is called Tasu’a’. Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) is reported to have said, “On the ninth of Muharram, Imam al-Husayn, along with his companions, was besieged in Karbala’ when the Syrian horsemen surrounded him leaving for him but a narrow area. The son of Marjanah (i.e. ‘Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad) and ‘Umar ibn Sa’d were delighted due to the great numbers of the horsemen who participated in that encounter against Imam al-Husayn (a.s.). Thus, the enemy became sure that no supporter would join the army of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) and the people of Iraq, in particular, would not back him.” Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) then added, “May I sacrifice my father for the weak and the stranger (i.e. Imam al-Husayn).”