Few days left to start New Islamic Year which is also called the “Hijri New Year”.
Globally all Muslims celebrate their events/occasions as per the Islamic calendar. Islamic new year starts with holy moth “Muharam-ul-Haram” (month of grief) the first month in new Islamic year. To mark the beginning of New Islamic Year, some Islamic countries like Kuwait, U.A.E. also announces holiday but in Pakistan 1st Muharram-ul-Haram is a regular working day and no holiday observe by government of Pakistan.
In the entire world, mostly people following Gregorian calendar and starts their new year from the month of January and celebrate it through arranging events, parties on the eve of new year and greet their family members, friend’s and relatives.
Islamic New Year not starts with celebrations and happiness, as globally all Muslims starts this year, through grief and tears because it is the month of mourn and associated with Imam Hussain (a.s) and his companions Martyrdom / Shahadat.
In this month on 10th Muharram 61 Hijri, battle of Karbala was took place between truth and falsehood. Imam Hussain (a.s) faced all the difficulties and even sacrifice his own and his companions life, but did not accept yazid as khalifah and not take oath of yazid allegiance.
In this battle, the grandson of our holy prophet Hazrat Muhammad (s.a.w.w), with his family and closed friends embraced shahadat / martyrdom in Karbala (a city in Iraq).
Although in whole month of Muharram, Majalis and processions are organize in remembrance of Imam Hussain (a.s) sacrifice but especially in first 10 days of Muharram-ul-Haram Majalis Ashra’s are arrange in all over the world, and people attends the Majalis to remember the hardships and sacrifice of Imam Hussain (a.s) and his companions and to present condolence to the mother of Imam Hussain (a.s) Bibi Fatima Zehra (s.a).
Some People also defines Muharram-ul-Haram as an identity of Shia community, but Imam Hussain (a.s) is Imam of all and not only the Imam of Shia’s. In this month all Shia’s and Sunni’s and even people from non-Muslim communities, including Hindu’s, Sikh etc attends the religious events / Majalis / processions / Juloos to honor the great sacrifice of Imam Hussain (a.s), his family and friends, and also distributes free food / Niaz in remembrance of Imam Hussain (a.s) and his companions hunger and thirst as in Karbala, access to water was cut off for Imam Hussain (a.s) and his companions.
In the month of Muharram-ul-Haram, People also not arrange or celebrate any happy events like marriage, parties etc and mostly people also avoid to purchase any new things/ new items, although it’s not forbidden to purchase new things but people avoid and prefer to buy new things after Muharram-ul-Haram when grief period ends.
The Battle of Karbala and sacrifice of Imam Hussain (a.s) and his companions, clearly given us the message that always stand against evil and never hesitate to give any sacrifice for the sake of truth and justice, as without giving sacrifice nothing can be achieve.
