Hijri Year Begins With Muharram

Hyderabad: Islamic New Year (1 Muharram 1448 AH) started on 16 June in Hyderabad. Muharram, the first month of the Hijri calendar, is also one of the four holy months of the Hijri calendar. Scholars explained that the word ‘Muharram’ literally means “forbidden” or “forbidden”, indicating that war and fighting were traditionally forbidden during this period.

Gulam Muhammad Irfan from the Sunni community said, “We make special prayers and ask for forgiveness. Some people fast on the 9th, 10th or 10th and 11th of this month.”

Scholar Junaid Quadri explained: “Although this is the new year month, there will be no celebrations. For Shia Muslims, the 10th day of Muharram is a day of great mourning and remembrance, commemorating the tragic martyrdom of Imam Hussain bin Ali (the grandson of the Prophet) in the Battle of Karbala, marked by solemn gatherings, ceremonies and the distribution of free water to honor the martyrs of thirst.”

“We have a fairly large Shia Muslim population in Hyderabad. The community will perform congregational prayers throughout the month, these prayers will continue for 68 days,” he said.

In Hyderabad, a large-scale, traditional mourning procession (Ashura procession) is held, passing through historical areas such as the Old City.

Shiite Muslim Ali Riza said, “The 10th of Muharram is the most important day of the month. There is mourning on this day, there are no celebrations. Believers wear black clothes on that day. We participate in prayers with the congregation.”