Namaz & Dua on 1st Muharram

Imam Reza (a) is reported to have said that the Holy Prophet (s), on the first of Muharram, used to offer a 2 rakat namaz. When he finished, he would raise his hands towards the heavens and recite 3 times Allahumma antal elahul qadimo.

And because on the 10th of this month Imam Hussain Ibn Ali (a) was slain and was mournful during these ten days so the friends and followers of Progeny of Muhammad (a) hold majalis, perform prayers and through grief, sorrow and tears, keep alive the message of the greatest martyrdom in human history and avoid rejoicings.

Imam Reza (a) narrates: “The month of Muharram was a month when the disbelievers avoided war but the hypocrites took it permissible in shedding our blood, they insulted us, made our women and children captives. Burnt our tents, plundered our belongings and did not care the sanctity of the Holy Prophet (s) about us. In fact the sufferings of Imam Hussain (a) has injured the eyelids and made us tearful. They insulted our relatives and it has provided sorrow and grief till the day of resurrection. Hence the mourners should weep on the sufferings of Imam Hussain (a) as this weeping erases the major sins.”

Then he (a) said: “At the start of the month of Muharram nobody ever saw that my honorable father Imam Moosa Kazim (a) laughing. The effects of sorrow and grief were apparent on his face throughout the ten days of Muharram and on the tenth day of Muharram sorrow and grief was at its peak and he used to say: ‘Today is the day of martyrdom of Imam Hussain (a).’”