The First Day of Muharram (Muḥarram)
Being the first day in the new year, there are two acts that are advisably practiced on the first of Muharram:
First: It is recommended to observe fasting on this day. Rayyan ibn Shabib has reported that Imam al-Rida(a.s.) said, “Just as He responded to the prayer of Prophet Zachariah, Almighty Allah shall respond the prayer of one who observes fasting on this day and prays Him.”
Second: Imam al-Rida(a.s.) is reported to have said that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), on the first of Muharram, used to offer a two unit prayer. When he finished, he would raise his hands towards the heavens and repeat the following supplicatory prayer three times:
اَللّٰھُمَّ ٲَنْتَ الْاِلٰہُ الْقَدِیْمُ، وَھٰذِہٖ سَنَۃٌ جَدِیْدَۃٌ، فاَسْئَلُکَ فِیْھَا الْعِصْمَۃَ مِنَ الشَّیْطَانِ وَالْقُوَّۃَ عَلٰی ھٰذِہِ النَّفْسِ الْاَمَّارَۃِ بِالسُّوْٓءٍ وَالْاِشْتِغَالَ بِمَا یُقَرِّبُنِیْٓ اِلَیْکَ یَا کَرِیْمُ، یَاذَ الْجَلَالِ وَالْاِکْرَامِ یَا عِمَادَ مَنْ لَّا عِمَادَ لَہُ یَا ذَخِیْرَۃَ مَنْ لَّا ذَخِیْرَۃَ لَہُ یَا حِرْزَ مَنْ لَّا حِرْزَ لَہُ یَا غِیَاثَ مَنْ لَّا غِیَاثَ لَہُ یَا سَنَدَ مَنْ لَّا سَنَدَ لَہُ یَا کَنْزَ مَنْ لَّا کَنْزَ لَہُ یَا حَسَنَ الْبَلَاءِ یَا عَظِیْمَ الرَّجَآءِ یَا عِزَّ الضُّعَفَآءِ یَا مُنْقِذَ الْغَرْقٰی یَا مُنْجِیَ الْھَلْکٰی یَا مُنْعِمُ یَا مُجْمِلُ یَا مُفْضِلُ یَا مُحْسِنُ اَنْتَ الَّذِیْ سَجَدَ لَکَ سَوَادُ اللَّیْلِ وَنُوْرُ النَّھَارِ وَضَوْئُ الْقَمَرِ، وَشُعَاعُ الشَّمْسِ وَدَوِیُّ الْمَآئِ، وَحَفِیْفُ الشَّجَرِ یَآ اللّٰهُ لَا شَرِیْکَ لَکَ اَللّٰھُمَّ اجْعَلْنَا خَیْرًا مِمَّا یَظُنُّوْنَ وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا مَا لَا یَعْلَمُوْنَ وَلَا تُؤٰخِذْنَا بِمَا یَقُوْلُوْنَ حَسْبِیَ اللّٰهُ لَآ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ھُوَ عَلَیْہِ تَوَکَّلْتُ، وَھُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِیْمِ آمَنَّا بِہٖ کُلٌّ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّنَا وَمَا یَذَّکَّرُ اِلَّآ اُوْلُوا الْاَلْبَابِ، رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوْبَنَا بَعْدَ اِذْ ھَدَیْتَنَا وَھَبْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْکَ رَحْمَۃًاِنَّکَ اَنْتَ الْوَھَّابُ ۔
Transliteration:
Allaahumma antal ilaahul qadeem wa haad'ihi sanatun jadeedatun fa-as-aluka feehal i's'mata minash shayt'aan wal quwwata a'laa haad'ihin nafsil ammaarati bis sooo - i wal ishtighaal bimaa yuqarribunee ilayka yaa kareem yaa d'al jalaali wal ikraam yaa i'maada man laa i'maada lahoo yaa d'akheerata man laa d'akheerata lahoo yaa h'irza man laa h'irza lahoo Yaa ghiyaatha man laa ghiyaatha lahoo yaa sanada man laa sanada lahoo yaa kanza man laa kanza lahoo yaa h'asanal balaaa-i yaa a'z'eemar rajaaa-i yaa i'zzaz"z"u-a'faaa-i yaa munqid'al gharqaa yaa munjiyal halkaa yaa mun-i'mu yaa mujmilu yaa mufz"ilu yaa muh'sinu antallad'ee sajada laka sawaadul layliwa noorun nahaar wa z"aw-ul qamar wa shu-a'a-u'sh shams wa dawiyyul maaa-i wa h'afeefush shajar yaa allaahu laa shareeka laka allaahummaj-a'lnaa khayran mimmaa yaz'unnoon Waghfirlanaa ma'a laa yaa'-lamoon wa laa tu-aakhid'naa bimaa yaqooloon h'asbiyallaahu laa ilaaha illaa huw a'layhi tawakkaltu wa huwa rabbul a'rshil a'z'eem aamannaa bihee kullun min i'ndi rabbinaa wa maa yad'd'akkaru illaa ulul albaab rabbanaa laa tuzigh quloobanaa baa'-da id' hadaytanaa wa hab lanaa mil ladunka rah'mah innaka antal wahhaab
Translation:
O Allah, You are the Eternal God and this is a new year; I therefore request Your safety from Satan, control over my self, which is inclined to sinning, engagement in all that which draws me near You, O All-generous! O Lord of majesty and honor! O Supporter of him who has no supporter! O Provider of him who has no provisions! O Shelter of him who has no shelter! O He who comes to help him who has no hope of help! O Reliance for him who has no one to lean upon! O Treasure of him who has nothing in the purse! O He who knows well how to put to test and trial! O Ultimate Hope! O Strength of the weak! O Rescuer of the drowning! O He who saves from destruction! O All-benefactor! O All-munificent! O All-favorer! O All-benevolent! You are He before Whom prostrate in adoration the blackness of the night and the brightness of the day, the moonlight, the sunlight, the ripple of the water, and the rustling of the trees! O Allah! There is no associate with You! O Allah! (Please do) cause us to be better than what they think of us! Forgive us that which they do not know! Do not blame us for what they say! Sufficient is Allah (for me). There is no god save Him, On Him do I rely, and He is the Lord of the Great Throne. We believe in it! It is all from our Lord! None do mind except those having understanding. Our Lord, make not our hearts deviate after You have guided us aright, and grant us mercy from You; surely, You are the most liberal Giver.
Explanation / Details::
Shaykh al-Tusi says: It is recommended to observe fasting on the first nine days of Muharram. Sayyid Ibn Tawus has mentioned the merits of observing fasting during the whole month of Muharram adding that such a deed protects against committing any sin.