Is Muharram holy because of Karbala?

Another question despite two unanswered postings: ‘Hazart Ali (RA) as I do not know’ (Sunday, 3 July 2016) & ‘God is Hazrat Ali (RA)’ (wed 6^th July 2016).

I venture to answer the question and welcome its rebuttal

July 2016

(There was no ill intention on my part when I shared my understanding of the month of Muharram (through text): Month of Muharram does not derive its sanctity from the tragic event of Karbala.

I shared my understanding so to be either reinforced (through endorsement) or proven wrong (through logical rebuttal). I had a text from one student of mine:  ‘Only the tragic event of Karbala invests the month of Muharram with sanctity.  Muharram minus Karbala is indistinguishable from other months; if you think otherwise so prove it’. I suggested in response a certain material, but to my surprise I received a text: ‘I don’t need to read anything as I have my beliefs’. I wondered why a boy had asked me to prove, while for him the things had already been decided; and I believe_ as I got the impression from boy’s response) _without reading anything. The attitude of a boy was classically dogmatic; and what could be more telling of it than the import of a reply: ‘It is true because I believe it to be true’.

Thing can only be true if it is true in itself (veracity is established through rational assessment). Blind faith needs no logical justification; therefore, its holder neither can prove it logically nor feel the need to do so and trots out clichés such as ‘I cannot enter into debate or discussion with you as I respect you’ because he feels deep down that beliefs of his cannot withstand logical scrutiny.

Indoctrination is achieved through hammering into individual one opinion as the only opinion (he is exposed only to one possibility out of many). Comparing notes works toward de-indoctrination as it helps to understand that different is not necessarily wrong and one cannot be necessarily be right if other possibilities (those he is never exposed to) are more rational.

Intellectual combat can never be at the expense of relations as it is more of an attempt to probe the strength and weakness of possible approaches to one thing. If one claims to love someone who happens to have different beliefs; one must justify his claim of love by reforming the beliefs of a person he loves. One must prove his practices rationally and logically so that person he loves or respect can follow them.

Beliefs are the logical conclusion (barring the beliefs regarding transcendental realties). Beliefs are the best logical choice from various possibilities. One should believe he is right but as long as he not proven wrong. Belief in the strength of one’s own ideas is important for self image (as it induces confidence), but one should as well be skeptical of one’s beliefs as it is healthy attitude and acts as a safeguard against fossilization.)

I insist my understanding is right as long as it is not proven wrong.

Is Muharram holy because of Karbala?

My answer is emphatic No.

I paste below a brief passage of a scholar to establish the validity of my ‘emphatic No’ 

‘Muharram itself means `sacred' and is from those months which have been mentioned as sacred in the Holy Quraan. 
 Almighty Allah states in the Holy Quraan:

"Four of them ( Zil-Qadah, Zil-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab) are sacred."

(Surah At-Tawbah:36)

From out of the four sacred months, Muharram has been blessed with certain specific virtues:- 
 The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) said:

"The best of fasts besides the month of Ramadhan is the fasting of Allah's month of Muharram."

(Muslim)

My understanding therefore: Muharram had already been declared sacred by the Quran and Hadith long before Kerbal.

‘The Day of Aashora (10th Muharram)

Although the month of Muharram is a sacred month as a whole, the 10 th of Muharram is the most sacred among all its days. The day is named ‘Ashurah'.  It is one of the most important and blessed days of Allah in the Islamic calendar. 

According to the Holy companion, Ibn Abbas Radhiallaho Anhu, when the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam migrated to Madinah, he found that the Jews of Madinah used to fast on the 10 th day of Muharram. They said that it was the day on which the Holy Prophet Musa Alayhis Salaam and his followers crossed the Red Sea miraculously, and the Pharaoh was drowned in its water. On hearing this from the Jews, the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam said, “We are more closely related to Musa than you.” So the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam directed the Muslims to fast on the day of Ashura. (Abu Dawood)

According to another Hadith, it is more advisable that the fast of Ashura should be either preceeded or suceded by an additional fast. It means that one should fast two days: the 9 th and 10 th of Muharram or the 10 th and 11 th . The reason of this additional fast as mentioned by the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam is that the Jews used to fast on the day of Ashura alone, and the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam wanted to distinguish the Islmaic-way of fasting from that of the Jews. Therefore, he advised the Muslims to add another fast to the day of Ashura.

Some Ulama (scholars) are of the opinion that before the fasts of Ramadhan were made compulsory, the fast of the day of Aashora was compulsory upon the Ummah.

This is stated in a Hadeeth reported by Hazrat Aisha (Radhiyallahu-Anha):

"that the Holy Prophet Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) ordered the observance of the fast of Aashora.  However, when the fast of Ramadhan became compulsory, then whosoever wished, kept this fast and whosoever desired did not observe this fast."

(Bukhari)

  But, nevertheless the Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) continued to fast this day and encouraged his Companions to do the same.

 Hazrat Ibn Abbas (Radhiyallahu-Anhu) said:

"When Rasulullah (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) observed the fast of the day of Aashora and ordered (his Companions) to fast, they said: `O Rasulullah! It is a day revered (glorified) by the Jews and Christians.'    Thereupon Rasulullah said: "The coming year, if Allah wills (I remain alive), I will for surely fast on the ninth (also)."

(Muslim)

My understanding therefore: Aashora was a day ‘revered (glorified) by the Jews and Christians’ and Holy Prophet P.B.U.H as well underscored its sanctity by ordering the observance of the fast of Aashora; therefore, Aashora was already sacred long before Karbala.
‘The significance of the Day of Aashora is from the time of our Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam).  Thus, to attribute the significance of Aashora to the martyrdom of Hazrat Husayn (Radhiyallahu-Anhu) is baseless.  Therefore, the host of baseless customs with regard to his martyrdom must be discarded.
The martyrdom of Hazrat Husayn (Radhiyallahu-Anhu) was indeed a great tragedy but Islam is not a religion of perpetual mourning.  Having love for Hazrat Husayn (Radhiyallahu-Anhu) does not necessarily mean that his blessed name should be lamented upon especially when he gained the status of a Shaheed (Martyr), but instead one should convey Thawaab (reward) to him and donate on his behalf for the pleasure of Allah (on Allah's name).
Lamenting, mourning, displaying grief and beating heads are forbidden in Islam.  To carry out these acts especially on this Day of Aashora is a Bid'ah (an bad innovation in Islam).  To take part in them or to look at them with respect is not permissible.
Dirges (songs of mourning) should be abstained from as they have been clearly prohibited in the Hadeeth.’

Prophet (P.B.U.H) and Prophet (P.B.U.H) only can associate holiness or un holiness to an act or event; the death of prophet pre-dates the tragic event of Karbala so how can it be declared holy?