Happy New Year!!!
The Muslim World celebrated
its New Year on the first of Moharram 1412, which happened to fall on July
12, 1991. More importantly, however, it is a time to give thanks to God for
blessing us with our health and our families. It is also extremely important
at this time to realize that since a year from our lives has just passed,
we are a step closer to our graves. We must prepare ourselves for the hereafter.
In 622 A.D. the Prophet
was ordered by God to migrate to Yathrib, a city north of Makkah. He followed
the Divine Command and left his followers for that city which is henceforth
was known as 'The City of the Prophet' (Madinat al-nabi) or simply Madinah.
This event was so momentous that the Islamic calendar begins with this migration
(hijrah).
The literal meaning of
Moharram is sacred, prohibited, and unlawful. The month is considered among
the four sacred months in the Holy Quran. The Quran states in Surah Al-Tawbah
(Repentance) about the 4 sacred months, the following:
"The number of
months in the sight of God is twelve (in a year) - So ordained by Him the
day He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are sacred: that
is the straight usage. So wrong not yourselves therein..." (Quran
9:36)
The four months referred
in this Ayah were explained by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to be: Zul-Qi'dah,
Zul-Hijjah, Moharram, and Rajab. During these sacred months Muslims are to
observe their sacredness. The Quran demanded that Muslims are not to start
the fight, not to kill animals, not to hunt birds, and not to get involved
in trivial things.
The Editors, along with
the Directors of the Islamic Center of San Francisco, wish you a happy and
prosperous year.
The Islamic Bulletin
P.O. Box 410186, San Francisco, CA 94141-0186
info@islamicbulletin.org
