English

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:

اَللّٰهُمَّ اَنْتَ الْاِلٰهُ الْقَدِيْمُ

وَ هٰذِهِ سَنَةٌ جَدِيْدَةٌ

فَاَسْاَلُكَ فِيْهَا الْعِصْمَةَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ

وَ الْقُوَّةَ عَلٰى هٰذِهِ النَّفْسِ الْاَمَّارَةِ بِالسُّوْۤءِ

وَ الْاِشْتِغَالَ بِمَا يُقَرِّبُنِيْۤ اِلَيْكَ يَا كَرِيْمُ

يَا ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَ الْاِكْرَامِ

يَا عِمَادَ مَنْ لَا عِمَادَ لَهُ

يَا ذَخِيْرَةَ مَنْ لَا ذَخِيْرَةَ لَهُ

يَا حِرْزَ مَنْ لَا حِرْزَ لَهُ

يَا غِيَاثَ مَنْ لَا غِيَاثَ لَهُ

يَا سَنَدَ مَنْ لَا سَنَدَ لَهُ

يَا كَنْزَ مَنْ لَا كَنْزَ لَهُ

يَا حَسَنَ الْبَلَاۤءِ

يَا عَظِيْمَ الرَّجَاۤءِ

يَا عِزَّ الضُّعَفَاۤءِ

يَا مُنْقِذَ الْغَرْقٰى

يَا مُنْجِيَ الْهَلْكٰى

يَا مُنْعِمُ يَا مُجْمِلُ

يَا مُفْضِلُ يَا مُحْسِنُ،

اَنْتَ الَّذِيْ سَجَدَ لَكَ سَوَادُ اللَّيْلِ وَ نُوْرُ النَّهَارِ

وَ ضَوْءُ الْقَمَرِ وَ شُعَاعُ الشَّمْسِ

وَ دَوِيُّ الْمَاۤءِ وَ حَفِيْفُ الشَّجَرِ

يَاۤ اَللّٰهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَكَ

اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْنَا خَيْرًا مِمَّا يَظُنُّوْنَ

وَ اغْفِرْ لَنَا مَا لَا يَعْلَمُوْنَ

وَ لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا بِمَا يَقُوْلُوْنَ

حَسْبِيَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ

عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَ هُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيْمِ

اٰمَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّنَا

وَ مَا يَذَّكَّرُ اِلَّاۤ اُوْلُوْا الْاَلْبَابِ

رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوْبَنَا بَعْدَ اِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا

وَ هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ۔

Shaykh al-Tusi says: It is recommended to observe fasting on the first nine days of Muharram. On the tenth of Muharram, it is recommended to abstain from eating and drinking up to afternoon. After that, one may eat a little of the soil of Imam al-Husayn’s tomb (turbat al-husayn; soil taken from the area around the holy tomb of Imam al-Husayn).

Sayyid Ibn Tawus has mentioned the merits of observing fasting during the whole month of Muharram adding that such a deed protects against committing any sin.