The Islamic month of Muharram, the first month of the Hijri calendar, is a time of deep spiritual significance and reflection. As one of the four sacred months in Islam, it is a period marked by numerous virtues and blessings.
This article explores the virtues of Muharram and the special supplications to be recited at the end of Zulhijjah and the beginning of Muharram, highlighting the profound spiritual opportunities this sacred month offers.
The Virtues of Muharram
Muharram is one of the four sacred months mentioned in the Qur’an, Surah At-Tawbah verse 36, where Allah says:
Which means: Indeed, the number of months ordained by Allah is twelve—in Allah’s Record since the day He created the heavens and the earth—of which four are sacred. That is the Right Way. So do not wrong one another during these months. And fight the polytheists together as they fight together against you. And know that Allah is with those mindful ˹of Him˺.
These months are periods of increased reverence and worship, and fighting is forbidden. Muharram, being one of these months, carries a heightened spiritual atmosphere, encouraging Muslims to engage in acts of worship, reflection, and devotion.
Duas at the End of Zulhijjah and the Start of Muharram
Dua for the End of Zulhijjah
As the Islamic year draws to a close, Muslims are encouraged to reflect on their deeds over the past year and seek Allah’s forgiveness and guidance for the year ahead. A special dua to recite at the end of Zulhijjah is:
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah The Most Merciful, The Most Compassionate
الحَمْدُ لِلهِ رَبِّ العَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَى سَيِّـدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ
Alhamdulillāhi Rabbil ‘ālamīn, wassolatu wassalāmu ‘ala sayyidinā Muhammad, wa ‘alā ālihi wasohbihi ajma’īn
All praises be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds. Prayers and salutations be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and all of his companions
اَللَّهُمَّ مَا عَمِلْنَا فِى هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ مِمَّا نَهَيْتَنَا عَنْهُ فَلَمْ نَتُبْ مِنْهُ، وَلَمْ تَرْضَهُ وَلَمْ تَنْسَهُ
Allahuma ma ‘amilnaa fi hazihis- sanati mimma nahaitana ‘anhu falam natub minhu, walam tardhohu walam tansahu
O Allah, for (all) the wrongful deeds that we have acted upon this year, of which we have yet to repent from, and of which You do not consent nor forget them
وَحَلُمْتَ عَلَيْنَا بَعْدَ قُدْرَتِك عَلَى عُقُوبَتِنَا، وَدَعَوتَنَا إِلَى التَّوْبَةِ مِنْهُ بَعْدَ جَرَاءَتِنَا عَلَى مَعْصِيَتِكَ، فَإِنَّنَا نَسْتَغْفِرُكَ فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا
wa-halumta ’alaina ba’da qudrotika ‘alā uqūbatinā, wa da’autanā ilat-taubati minhu ba’da jarā-atina ‘alā ma’siyatik, fa-innanā nastaghfiruk, faghfirlanā,
yet You remained Merciful despite Your power to punish us, and even invited us to repent after having committed these sins in insolence, indeed we seek forgiveness from You, so please grant us Your forgiveness.
ومَا عَمِلْنَا فِيهَا مِمَّا تَرْضَاهُ، وَوَعَدْتَنَا عَلَيْهِ الثَّوَاب
wa-mā ‘amilnā fī-ha mimmā tar-dhohu, wa wa’ad-tanā ‘alaihi thawāb,
And for what we have done of which You consent of, and of which You have promised to reward us for –
فَنَسْأَلُكَ اللَّهُمَّ يَا كَرِيمُ يَا ذَا الجَلاَلِ وَالإِكْرَامِ أَنْ تَتَقَبَّـلَهُ مِنَّا وَلا تَقْطَعْ رَجَاءَنَا مِنْكَ يَا كَرِيمُ
fanas-alukallāhumma ya Karīm ya Zhal-Jalāli Wal-Ikrom an tataqabbalahū minnā wala taqta’ rajā-anā minka ya Karīm
we ask You, O Allah The Most Gracious, O The Posessor of Majesty and Honour, to accept our deeds, and do not dash our hopes, O Most Gracious.
وَارْزُقْنَا أَجْرَ الصَّابِرِينَ مِمَّا أَصَابَنَا مِنْ هُمُوْمٍ وَبَلَايَا
Warzuqnā ajras-sābirīna mimmā asōbanā min humūmin wa-balāyā
O Allah grant us the rewards those who are patient for all the grief and trials that we have been through.
رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِى الأَخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Rabbana tinā fid-dunyā hasanah wa fil-akhirati hasanah wa-qinā ‘azāban-nār
O our Lord, grant us goodness in this world and goodness in the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the hellfire.
وَصَلَّى اللهُ وَسلَّمَ عَلَى سَيـِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ وَالحَمْدُ لِلهِ رَبِّ العَالَمِينَ
Wa sallāllahu wasallam ‘alā sayyidinā Muhammad wa ‘alā ālihi wa sohbihi
ajma’īn walhamdu-lillahi Rabbil ‘ālamīn
And may Allah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and all his companions. And all praises be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.”
Dua for the Start of Muharram
Welcoming the new Islamic year with supplication is a way to seek blessings and protection from Allah. The following dua is recommended at the start of Muharram:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah The Most Merciful, The Most Compassionate
الحَمْدُ لِلهِ رَبِّ العَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَى سَيِّـدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ
Alhamdulillāhi Rabbil ‘ālamīn, wassolatu wassalāmu ‘ala sayyidinā Muhammad, wa ‘alā ālihi wasohbihi ajma’īn
All praises be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds. Prayers and salutations be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and all of his companions
اَللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الأَبَدِيُّ القَدِيمُ الأَوَّلُ وَعَلَى فَضْلِكَ العَظِيمِ وَجُودِكَ المُعَوَّلِ، وَهَذَا عَامٌ جَدِيدٌ قَدْ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا
Allahumma Antal-Abadiyyul-Qodimul-Awwal, wa ‘ala fadhlikal-’azhim wa jūdikal-mu’awwal, wa haza ‘āmun jadidun qad aqbala ‘alainā.
O Allah, You are The Everlasting, The Eternal and The First, and by Your great blessings and generosity as this new year has dawned upon us
نَسْألُكَ العِصْمَةَ فِيهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ وَأَوْلِيَاءِهِ وَجُنُودِهِ
Nas-alukal ‘ismata fihi minas-syaitānir-rojīm wa awliyā-ihi wa junūdih,
we ask You for protection from the devil, his allies and forces
وَالعَوْنَ عَلَى هَذِهِ النَّفْسِ الأَمَّارَةِ بِالسُّوءِ، وَالاِشْتِغَالَ بِمَا يُقَرِّبُنَا إِلَيْكَ زُلْفَى، يَا ذَا الجَلاَلِ وَالإِكْرَامِ
wal-‘auna ‘alā hazihin-nafsil ammārati bis-sū’, Wal-ishtighala bimā yuqorribunā ilaika zulfa. Ya Zhal-Jalāli Wal-Ikrom.
And we seek from You assistance to repel against our own urges to sin, and to immerse us with that which brings us closer to You, O The Posessor of Majesty and Honour.
اللَّهُمَّ أَهِلَّهُ عَلَيْنَا بِالأَمْنِ وَاْلإِيْمَانِ، وَالسَّلاَمَةِ وَاْلإِسْلاَمِ، رَبِّيْ وَرَبُّكَ اللهُ، هِلَالُ رُشْدٍ وَخَيْرٍ
Allāhumma ahillahu ‘alainā bil-amni wal-īmān, wassalāmati wal-islām, Rabbī wa-RabbukAllāh, hilālu rusydin wa-khayrin
O Allah, let this moon appear before us with security and faith, with safety and Islam. My lord and your lord is Allah. May this moon bring guidance and goodness.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسأَلُكَ اْلعَافِيَةَ وَالشِّفَاءَ مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ وَوَبَاءٍ، وَاجْعَلْ لَنَا مِنَ السَّالِمِيْنَ وَاْلمُعاَفِيْنَ مِنْهَا
Allāhumma innā nas-alukal-‘āfiyata wasy-syifā-a min kulli dā-in wa-wabā-in, waj-‘al lanā minas-sālimīna wal-mu’āfīna minhā,
O Allah we ask you for well-being and cure from all sickness and diseases. And make us amongst those who are safe and have recovered from it.
وَأَعِدْ عَلَيْنَا لَذَّةَ التَّحَنُّثِ وَاْلاِعتِكَافِ فِيْ بَيْتٍ مِنْ بُيُوْتِكَ يَا أَكْرَمَ اْلأَكْرَمِينَ
wa-a’id ‘alainā lazzatat-tahannuthi wal-i’tikāfi fī baytin min buyūtika yā Akramal-Akramīn
Restore to us the sweetness of performing acts of worship and i’tikaf at Your house (of worship), O Allah the Most Honourable.
وَصَلَّى اللهُ وَسلَّمَ عَلَى سَيـِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَالحَمْدُ لِلهِ رَبِّ العَالَمِينَ
Wa sollAllāhu wasallam ‘alā sayyidinā Muhammad wa ‘alā ālihi wa sohbihi ‘ajma’īn wal-hamdu lillāhi Rabbil-‘ālamīn
And may Allah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and all his companions. And all praises be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
These duas reflect a heart full of hope, seeking Allah’s mercy and guidance for the days to come.
