Muhharram is the first and one of the holy months of the Islamic calendar. It moves from year to year because Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar. The word Muharram is derived from the word Haram which means sinful. People do fast in these days and it is treated as the most holy month of all months, excluding Ramadan. Muslims treat the tenth day of the month as the day of Mourning of Muharram and named as Day of ASHURA. Some Muslims keep fast on 10th day or 9th day of Muharram or both, they do not eat or drink in the day time and late in the evening.

It is believed that if one expenses lavishly for their family then Allah Ta’aalaa will bless them for the next year. Allah Ta’aalaa endues remission for the sins of the past year by fasting on the 10th day of Muharram as per Abu Qataada.

Another belief for the celebration of Muharram is the records in the Hadith that Egyptian Pharaoh were defeated by Musa and his people on 10th day of Muharram. They suggested people to fast on 10th day or the day of Ashura as well as on 9th day of Muharram.
Islamic New Year and Muharram Timings

Muharram is celebrated and started with the indication of moon. In the financial year 2013, Muharram (Al-Hijra) will start on 5th November i.e. Tuesday evening. It will be perfecting on 4th December. The whole month will be of 30 days. It is celebrated on the evening before the commencement of New Year i.e. on 5th November. From this evening, the Islamic New Year will be getting commenced.

The celebration on 5th November is caused due to the mismatch happening between different calendars. The Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar and Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar. Gregorian calendar has variations in year to year system. Islamic calendar is 11 to 12 days shorter than Solar Year, which means, Muharram or Al-Hijra moves 11days early in Gregorian calendar. This also depends on the sighting of moon in different regions and countries.

Significance of Tazia (Ta’zieh)

Tazia is a procession or march organized by Islamic people. It is actually a replica of the Imam Hussein’s mausoleum. Imam Hussein was the grandson of Muhammad who died in the battle of Karbala. The Shrine of Hussein Ibn Ali was constructed on Imam Hussein’s grave and it is one of the oldest mosques present in the world. Tazia is decorated in traditional way and customs. Lots of Tazias were organized and carried in order to take it along to bury in the Karbala at the end of Ashura.

Tazia which was presented by the Nawab of Awadh was made up of green-glass, with or-molu (brass), ivory, sandalwood, cedar and wrought filigree silver. In current times, many people create it with many precious and royal touches. But the trend of disposable items is on swing for its construction. Manufacturers use bamboo sticks and wood pieces for the frame and tin foil, paper, glass and mica for the ornamental exterior and non supporting parts. It is celebrated by both the Islam communities as well as some Hindus also.

When is Muharram in 2013

We are very pleased to announce that all countries around the world can start Muharram 1435 / Islamic New Year 1435 on the same day of Wednesday, 6th November 2013. This is because the new moon visibility is expected in most of the world on 5th November 2013.  15th November 2013  is the date of Muharram/Ashura in India.