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Muharram ul Haram ( محرم)
 
 
 
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  Muharram-ul-Haram ( محرم) is the one of those four months which are called Hurmat walay maheenay (the months in which jidal-o-Qital (fighting) was prohibited and they are Muharram, Rajab, Zeeqa’ad and Zilhajj) is the beginning of Islamic calendar. Since the Islamic calendar is lunar, Muharram moves from year to year when compared with the Gregorian calendar. Muharram is so called because it was unlawful to fight during this month; the word is derived from the word ‘haram’ meaning forbidden. It is held to be the most sacred of all the months, excluding Ramadan. Some Muslims fast during these days. The tenth day of Muharram is called Yaumu-l 'Ashurah, meaning, ‘the tenth day’, and it is a day of voluntary fasting. Fasting differs among the Muslim groupings; mainstream Shia Muslims stop eating and drinking during sunlight hours but do not eat until the evening. Sunni Muslims also fast during Muharram and on either the ninth or the eleventh day, the choice of which additional day being at the discretion of the individual.

Muharram and Ashura

The word "Muharram" is often considered synonymous with Ashura. Ashura, which literally means "tenth" in Arabic, refers to the tenth day of Muharram.
See also: Day of Ashura


Timing

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the Islamic lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year, Muharram migrates throughout the solar years. The estimated start and end dates for Muharram are as follows (all future dates are estimates):
1429 AH – First day: January 10, 2008; last day: February 8, 2008


Islamic Event

On 1 Muharram, the Islamic New Year is observed by some Muslims.
On 1 Muharram, Shi'ite Muslims begin the observance of the Commemoration of Muharram which marks the anniversary of the Battle of Karbala and the day that Husayn bin Ali entered Karbala.
On 7 Muharram, access to water was banned on Husayn by Yazid's order.
On 10 Muharram, the Day of ‘Āshūrā' is commemorated by Muslims as the anniversary of the death of Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of Muhammad. But the Shi'ite Muslims attach much greater importance to this day.
On 25 Muharram, Alī Zayn al-‘Ābidīn died after being poisoned.
On 27 Muharram, Mesum was killed.

  
     
 
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