Dear Brothers and Sisters!

Tomorrow is the 10th of Muharram, 1447. InshAllah, we will have observed the Day of Ashura. The month of Muharram is one of the four sacred months in which fighting is considered forbidden. Additionally, this month was referred to by the Prophet (saw) as “the month of Allah.” This designation points to the virtue of the month of Muharram and the abundance of its divine grace and blessings. As Allah (swt) states in the verse I recited at the beginning of my khutba: “Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [in a year] in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them…”[1] And in the hadith I read, our Prophet (saw) said: “After the month of Ramadan, the most virtuous fast is that observed in the month of Allah, Muharram. And after the obligatory prayers, the most virtuous prayer is the night prayer.”[2] With these words, he presented us with a roadmap.

The month of Muharram represents a period that holds great importance in Islamic history. Its significance stems from major events that occurred during it. One of the most sorrowful events in Islamic history, the tragedy of Karbala, also took place in this month. The Day of Ashura, in this regard, holds a place in our history and memories with deep sorrow. It is the day on which our Prophet’s (saw) beloved grandson, whom he referred to as “my flower, my sweet basil in this world” and presented to us as “the master of the youth of Paradise”, was martyred along with more than seventy Muslims in Karbala. He was the light of the eyes of Ali (ra) and our mother Fatima (ra). Karbala is a shared pain for every believer who carries faith in their heart, regardless of where they are in the world or their school of thought long as they hold love for the Prophet (saw), his companions and his blessed family.

Dear Jama’ah!

The Karbala event that we remember during this blessed month is not merely a painful memory of the past. For even today, Karbalas are deeply experienced in different parts of the world. The hunger and thirst endured by innocent people in Palestine remind us of the thirst and brutal killing of the children of Imam Hussain. The destroyed homes in Syria, abandoned cities and waves of migration revive the pain of the families torn apart in Karbala. The bodies suffering from starvation in Yemen and the oppressed in East Turkestan whose identities and faiths are under threat, bring to mind the helplessness of those subjected to tyranny in Karbala. The ongoing oppressions, wars and injustices across many corners of the world are all bitter reminders that Karbala still continues. As we remember Karbala once again in our hearts today, we must not merely mourn these tragedies, but respond to them with awareness, responsibility and determination. Just as Imam Hussain stood firm in the face of oppression and injustice, we too must remain united and in solidarity against all forms of tyranny and injustice. Our sorrow should never lead us to division, conflict or anger, but rather inspire us to better understand one another and become more sensitive to the issues we face.

To prevent new Karbalas from happening, we must stay away from all forms of division and conflict that damage our bonds of brotherhood. We must take Imam Hussain’s noble character, dignified stance, courage and unwavering pursuit of justice as our guide. We must stand on the side of goodness against evil, justice against injustice and with the oppressed against the oppressor. Let us strive together for peace, tranquillity and justice to prevail on earth. May Allah (swt) make this month of Muharram, the Day of Ashura and our new Hijri year a means for the awakening of the ummah, the salvation of humanity and the restoration of peace in oppressed lands. May Allah have mercy on all our martyrs, from Imam Hussain to all those who have given their lives for truth, justice, and humanity since Karbala, and may their resting place be Paradise. Ameen!

[1] Surah At-Tawbah, 9:36.

[2] Tirmizî, Savm, 40.

The 10th Day of Muharram