By: Justice Marandey Katju (Former Justice, Supreme Court of India)
27th June, 2025, the first solemn day of Moharram, which will last for 10 days, and end on Ashura, which will be on 6th or 7th July. Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, holds deep significance for Muslims, marking the beginning of the Islamic New Year and commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, Prophet Muhammad’s grandson.
For Shia Muslims, it is a period of intense mourning, particularly the tenth day, Ashura, which marks Hussain’s death in the Battle of Karbala. Sunni Muslims also observe Muharram, with a focus on fasting on Ashura to seek forgiveness and blessings.
For Sunni Muslims, Muharram is one of the four sacred months in Islam, and it is a time for increased devotion and reflection. Sunni Muslims often observe voluntary fasting on Ashura, believing it to be a way to seek forgiveness for past sins. The month is an opportunity for Muslims to reflect on their faith, renew their commitment to Islam, and strive for spiritual growth.
In Urdu poetry a distinct style called marsiya arose, whose foremost exponent was Mir Anis, to commemorate the martyrdom of Husain, the grandson of the Prophet, who refused to surrender before the usurper Yazid who demanded Husain’s submission, though Yazid had departed from the principles of Islam.
Two lines from Anis’ Marsiya are given below :
” Farzand-e-Paighambar ka Madine se safar hai
Saadaat ki basti ke ujadne ki khabar hai ”
To conclude, let me narrate a historically recorded event, which shows the communal harmony prevailing in India at one time.
This happened in about 1850, when Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was the King of Awadh, whose capital was Lucknow. The Nawabs of Awadh were totally secular. They celebrated Hindu festivals like Holi, Diwali, Dussehra, and regularly, organized Ramlilas, etc ( apart from celebrating Muslim festivals like Eid, Bakrid, etc )
It so happened that in that particular year ( about 1850 ) Holi and Muharram coincidentally fell on the same day. Now Holi is a festival of joy, but Muharram is an occasion of sorrow. The Hindus of Lucknow got together and decided that that year they would not celebrate Holi out of respect for the religious sentiments of their Muslim brethren.
In the morning the Nawab took out the Tazia procession from Bada Imambara to Karbala ( in Lucknow ) and buried it there. He then enquired why Holi was not being played. He was told the reason. The Nawab then declared that since Hindus had respected the sentiments of their Muslim brethren, it was also the duty of Muslims to respect the sentiments of their Hindu brethren. Hence he declared that Holi would be played the same day, and he himself was the first to start playing Holi, and then it was played all over Awadh, though it was Muharram day.
