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It is narrated from Imam al-Ridha (peace be upon him): “When the month of Muharram would enter, my father would not be seen laughing, and gloom would overwhelm him until ten days had passed. When the tenth day arrived, it was the day of his tragedy, sorrow, and weeping.”
### Etiquette and Recommended Acts for the Month of Muharram
*“Humiliation is far from us.”*
The crescent moon of Muharram and sorrows are inseparable. A sunrise with the color of a sunset, bringing with it shedding tears—a harbinger of the revival and eternity of religion, and a reminder of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his pure progeny). It is a season for loyalty, love, closeness, forgiveness, and consciousness; a Ghadir that quenches the thirst of the Mujahideen for martyrdom and victory. We have been commanded to observe these days with etiquette and traditions, including:
**1. Weeping for the Master of Martyrs (peace be upon him):**
From the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his progeny): “O Fatimah, every eye will be weeping on the Day of Resurrection, except for the eye that wept over the tragedy of al-Husayn (peace be upon him), for it will be laughing and rejoicing at the blessings of Paradise.”
And from the Noble Messenger (peace be upon him and his progeny): “O Fatimah, the women of my Ummah will weep for the women of my Ahl al-Bayt, and their men will weep for the men of my Ahl al-Bayt. They will renew the mourning generation after generation every year. When the Day of Resurrection comes, you will intercede for the women, and I will intercede for the men. Whoever among them has wept over the tragedy of al-Husayn (peace be upon him), we will take them by the hand and lead them into Paradise.”
**2. Wearing black (men, women, and children) and raising black flags (in homes and streets):**
This is the most common manifestation of grief and empathy, an expression of belonging to the Husseini-Ashura line that has persisted through such blessed rituals.
**3. Ziyarah (Pilgrimage) of the Master of Martyrs (peace be upon him) throughout the months of Muharram and Safar:**
Especially during the first ten days of Muharram. In the narration of Imam al-Ridha (peace be upon him): “O son of Shabib, if it pleases you to meet Allah the Almighty without any sin, then visit al-Husayn (peace be upon him).”
**4. Recommended (Mustahabb) Fasting:**
On the 1st, 3rd, and 9th of Muharram, and abstaining from food and drink on the 10th until after the afternoon (*Asr*).
**5. Wishing for martyrdom with Imam al-Husayn (peace be upon him):**
It is narrated from Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha (peace be upon him) to Ibn Shabib: “O son of Shabib, if it pleases you to have the same reward as those who were martyred with al-Husayn (peace be upon him), then say whenever you remember him: ‘I wish I had been with them, so I could have achieved a great victory.’”
**6. Remembering the thirst of al-Husayn (peace be upon him) when drinking water:**
Dawud al-Raqqi relates from the truthful one of the Imams (peace be upon him): “I was with Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him) when he asked for water. When he drank it, I saw him choke up, and his eyes filled with tears. He then said: ‘O Dawud, may God curse the killer of al-Husayn! How bitter the remembrance of al-Husayn makes life! I have never drunk cold water without remembering al-Husayn. No servant drinks water, remembers al-Husayn, and curses his killer, except that God writes for him one hundred thousand good deeds, erases one hundred thousand bad deeds, raises him one hundred thousand degrees, and it is as if he has set free one hundred thousand souls. God will resurrect him on the Day of Resurrection with a bright [radiant] face.’”
**7. Condoling the believers:**
From Imam Abu Ja’far al-Baqir (peace be upon him): “Let them offer condolences to one another for their grief over al-Husayn (peace be upon him).” And you say: “May God increase our rewards and yours for our grief over al-Husayn (peace be upon him), and may He make us among those who seek his revenge alongside his protector, Imam Mahdi (may God hasten his honorable reappearance) from the progeny of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family).”
**8. Cursing the killers of al-Husayn (peace be upon him):**
In the hadith of al-Ridha (peace be upon him) to Ibn Shabib: “O son of Shabib, if it pleases you to dwell in the built rooms in Paradise with the Prophet and his progeny (peace be upon them), then curse the killers of al-Husayn (peace be upon him).”
**9. The recommendation to keep the night of the 10th of Muharram alive (with worship) and performing his Ziyarah:**
This is following the example of al-Husayn (peace be upon him) and his companions, for they spent that night in vigil (*tahajjud*), reciting the Quran. It has been narrated from the Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny): “Whoever keeps the night of Ashura alive [in worship], it is as if they worshipped God with the worship of all the angels, and the reward of the one who works in it equals seventy years.”
**10. Refraining from worldly pursuits on the day of Ashura:**
It is narrated from our master Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha (peace be upon him) that he said: “Whoever refrains from seeking their worldly needs on the day of Ashura, God will fulfill their needs of this world and the Hereafter.”
**11. Preparing the soul to wait for Imam Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance) and making sacrifices in the path of preparing for him:**
From the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him): “Wait for the relief and do not despair of the mercy of God, for the most beloved of deeds to Allah the Almighty is waiting for the relief. And the one who waits for our command is like one who is drenched in his blood in the path of God.”
**12. Honoring the supporters of al-Husayn (peace be upon him) in this era and offering them support:**
Perhaps the best that can be offered on the path of loyalty to our master Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him) is to honor his true supporters in this era, who are the courageous soldiers of the Islamic Resistance. We renew our pledge to continue on this path which they paved with pure blood, seeking the pleasure of God Almighty and raising His word. Imam Ruhollah Khomeini (may his secret be sanctified) says: “We must express our appreciation for those dear fighters… who, with their pure blood, ignited the torches of the path of freedom for all oppressed peoples.”
