The 365 · Sunnah · Day 354 · Special Days
Voluntary Fasting in Muḥarram
The hadith
«أفضل الصّيام بعد رمضان: شهر اللّه المحرّم».
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'The best fasting after Ramadan is in the month of Allah, Muḥarram.' (Muslim 1163)
Svenska: Profeten ﷺ sade: 'Den bästa fastan efter Ramadan är i Allahs månad, Muḥarram.' (Muslim 1163)
Muslim 1163
The story
The Sahaba called Muḥarram al-Muḥarram (the doubly sanctified). They concentrated worship in it as a re-launching of the spiritual year.
Why it's here
Muḥarram is one of the four sacred months and Allah named it 'shahr Allāh' (the month of Allah). Voluntary fasting in it is the most rewarded after Ramadan. Beyond ʿĀshūrāʾ and Tāsūʿāʾ, additional days are loved.
Try it today
Fast Mondays and Thursdays in Muḥarram if you can; fast the White Days; fast 9 and 10; fast as much as possible. The month is a special spiritual investment window.
In your day
Muḥarram opens the Hijri year. Use it to set a year-long spiritual plan. The Sunnah's emphasis on this month signals: this is your starting line.
A reflection to carry
Beyond Ramadan, Muḥarram is the most rewarded month for fasting. Plan accordingly.
Read the longer reflection
Muḥarram's sanctity is unique. The Prophet ﷺ named it shahr Allāh. The Sahaba intensified worship in it. May Allah grant us many Muḥarrams, fasted and prayed, as resets of our spiritual year.
Sources: Sahih Muslim. The Qur'an and its translation are verified; the scholarship is retold faithfully in our own words and credited to its sources, never reproduced verbatim.
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