Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The best fast after the month of Ramadan is in the month of Allah, al-Muharram, and the best prayer after the obligatory ones is the night prayer (Tahajjud).”
— Sahih Muslim 2755
🌙 Fasting in Muharram: An Invitation from Allah’s Messenger ﷺ
He ﷺ did not say, “a good fast,” or “a blessed fast.” He said,
“The best fast after Ramadan is in the month of Allah – al-Muharram.”
This declaration sets fasting in Muharram apart from all other voluntary fasts.
While Ramadan is obligatory and unmatched in its collective obligation, Muharram shines as a time of pure devotion — a chance to draw closer to Allah with sincerity, when fewer people are striving and the rewards are immense.
🕊️ Why Is Muharram Called the Month of Allah?
The Prophet ﷺ referred to it as “Shahrullah” — the month of Allah.
No other month has been honored with such a title. This is not merely a calendar marker; it’s a spiritual signpost. Allah ﷻ has selected this month to be sacred among all others — a time when believers are invited to elevate themselves spiritually.
“Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve… of them four are sacred.”
— Surah At-Tawbah 9:36
Muharram is the first of these four sacred months. In these months:
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Sins are heavier.
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Good deeds are more beloved.
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Worship carries increased value.
So, when you fast in Muharram, you’re not just fulfilling a Sunnah — you’re honoring a sacred gift from your Lord.
💫 The Night Prayer: A Hidden Gem for the Sincere
And the Prophet ﷺ continued in the same hadith:
“And the best prayer after what is obligatory is the night prayer.”
Just as fasting in the day strengthens the soul, night prayer (Tahajjud) softens the heart.
It is the prayer of the righteous, the weapon of the weak, the comfort of the broken. In the silence of the night, when others sleep, Allah ﷻ descends to the lowest heaven and calls out:
“Is there anyone asking Me, so that I may grant him?”
— Sahih Muslim 758
The pairing in this hadith — fasting in the sacred month and praying in the sacred hours — shows us that Allah invites us to both outer and inner refinement.
✅ How Can We Revive This Sunnah in Our Lives?
Let this sacred month not pass as just another season. Let it be a turning point:
📌 Sunnah Action Plan for Muharram:
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Fast as much as you can during the month.
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Specifically fast on the 9th and 10th of Muharram (Tasu’a and Ashura).
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Begin or restart the habit of praying Tahajjud, even 2 rak’aat.
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Increase in Qur’an, dhikr, and du’a.
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Avoid innovations and only perform acts grounded in Qur’an and Sunnah.
💎 Bonus: Fasting on Ashura within Muharram
Ashura (the 10th of Muharram) carries a reward unlike any other day:
“Fasting on the day of Ashura expiates the sins of the previous year.”
— Sahih Muslim 1162
