Muharram
It’s not just a gazetted holiday
Muharram is a month in which it is unlawful to fight
The tenth day of Muharram (the day of Ashura) is a day of fasting for Sunni Muslims, who remember the victory that Musa (Moses) and his people obtained over the Egyptian Pharaoh.
But do you know what this victory signifies and means to us?
Shias too fast during Muharram in remembrance of the suffering of Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who was killed during the Battle of Karbala.
But do you know that we need not suffer?
The Israelites under the leadership of Moses crossed from Egyptian bondage through the Red Sea into freedom.
The Bible says, “For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea” (1 Corinthians 10:2)
To better understand its significance we need to look at what Moses himself said.
This same Moses also said: “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you – from your fellow Israelites; you must listen to him.” (Deuteronomy 18:15)
Isa Al Masih (Jesus Christ) said in the Injil: “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” (Luke 24:44)
“Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He interpreted to them the things written about Himself in all the scriptures.” (Luke 24:27)
What does the scripture and the law says?
“Indeed according to the law almost everything was purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22)
“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4)
“But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8)
“the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7-9)
“everyone who believes in Him (Jesus) will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16)
The victory of Moses and the Israelites over the Egyptian Pharaoh signifies our victory over sin, by believing in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection.
As Quran and the Bible says Jesus is coming back to this earth to judge the world.
Isa says in the Injil, “I tell you the solemn truth, a time is coming – and is now here – when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, thus he has granted the Son to have life in himself, and he has granted the Son authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out – the ones who have done what is good to the resurrection resulting in life, and the ones who have done what is evil to the resurrection resulting in condemnation.” (John 5:25-29)
You need not suffer or mourn, because Isa Al Masih (Jesus Christ) has suffered for your sins. When Jesus was being take to be crucified, “A great number of the people followed him, among them women who were mourning and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.”” (Luke 23:27, 28)
Cry (confess) for your sins to Christ.
This Muharram offers you a beautiful opportunity to receive this forgiveness from your sins that Isa Al Masih offers.
