Doa Awal Muharram in English

Praise be to Allah. 

On the first of Muharram, Muslims all over the world celebrate our Islamic New Year, also known as Awal Muharram. The month of Muharram marks the first month of the Islamic calendar and is one of the four sacred months of Allah s.w.t. The Prophet s.a.w. said in a hadith:

الزَّمَانُ قَدِ اسْتَدَارَ كَهَيْئَتِهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ، السَّنَةُ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا، مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ، ثَلاَثَةٌ مُتَوَالِيَاتٌ ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ وَذُو الْحِجَّةِ وَالْمُحَرَّمُ، وَرَجَبُ مُضَرَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ جُمَادَى وَشَعْبَانَ

"The division of time has turned to its original form which was current when Allah created the Heavens and the Earths. The year is made up of twelve months, out of which four months are sacred. Three are in succession: Zulkaedah, Zulhijjah, Muharram, and Rejab of (the tribe of) Mudar which comes between Jumada (Jamadil Awwal and Jamadil Akhir) and Syaaban."

(Sahih Al-Bukhari)

In this blessed month, the rewards of doing good deeds are substantial. Here are 4 simple things that you can do. 

1. Read Doa Akhir Tahun

There is no specific Dua to end or welcome a new year. What is encouraged is for us to make abundance of Dua at any point of time. If you're unsure of what to pray, however, here are some Duas which you can consider. In fact, these Duas are often recited at our local mosques together with the congregation, albiet with some slight differences.

In the Islamic tradition, the time of Maghrib marks the start of the following day.

Hence on 29th Zulhijjah, before Maghrib, you may read the Dua for the end of the Islamic year 3 times. 

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismillāh-hir-rahmāni-rahīm

الحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ العَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَى سَيِّـدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ 

Alhamdulillāhi Rabbil 'ālamīn, wassolatu wassalāmu 'ala sayyidina Muhammad, wa 'alā ālihi wasohbihi ajma’īn

اَللَّهُمَّ مَا عَمِلْنَا مِنْ عَمَلٍ فِيْ هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ مِمَّا نَهَيْتَنَا عَنْهُ فَلَمْ نَتُبْ مِنْهُ وَلَمْ تَرْضَهُ، وَنَسِيْنَاهُ وَلَمْ تَنْسَهُ

Allāhuma ma 'amilnā min 'amalin fi hazihis-sanati mimmā nahaitanā 'anhu falam natub minhu, 
walam tardhohu, wa nasainahu walam tansahu

وَحَلُمْتَ عَنَّا مَعَ قُدْرَتِكَ عَلَى عُقُوْبَتِنَا، وَدَعَوْتَنَا إِلَى التَّوْبَةِ مِنْهُ بَعْدَ جَرَاءَتِنَا عَلَى مَعْصِيَتِكَ، فَإِنَّنَا نَسْتَغْفِرُكَ مِنْهُ فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا

wa-halumta ’anna ma'a qudrotika 'alā uqūbatinā, wa da'autanā ilat-taubati minhu ba’da jarā-atina ‘alā ma’siyatik, fa-innanā nastaghfiruka minhu, faghfirlanā,

وَمَا عَمِلْنَا فِيهَا مِمَّا تَرْضَاهُ، وَوَعَدْتَنَا عَلَيْهِ الثَّوَابَ وَاْلغُفْرَانَ

wa-mā 'amilnā fī-ha mimmā tar-dhohu, wa wa’ad-tanā 'alaihi thawāb,

فَنَسْأَلُكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَنْ تَتَقَبَّـلَهُ مِنَّا وَلا تَقْطَعْ رَجَاءَنَا مِنْكَ

fanas-alukallāhumma an tataqabbalahū minnā wala taqta’ rajā-anā minka

وَارْزُقْنَا أَجْرَ الصَّابِرِيْنَ مِمَّا أَصَابَنَا مِنْ هُمُوْمٍ وَبَلَايَا

Warzuqnā ajras-sābirīna mimmā asōbanā min humūmin wa-balāyā

يَا كَرِيْمُ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِيْنَ

Ya Karim, Ya Arhamar-Rahimin

اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ الأَمْنَ وَالأَمَانَ

Allahumma inna nas-alukal-amna wal-aman

وَالسِّلْمَ وَالسَّلَامَ فِيْ الْعَالَمِ كُلِّهِ وَلِلإِنْسَانِيَّةِ جَمْعَاءٍ

was-silma was-salam fil-'alami kullihi wa lil-insaniyyati jam'a'

وَأَنْ تُبْعِدَ عَنَّا الْمِحَنَ وَالْفِتَنَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ

wa an tub'id 'annal-mihan wal-fitan ma zahara minha wa ma baton

فِيْ بَلَدِنَا سِنْغَافُوْرَة وَسَائِرِ بِلاَدِ الْعَالَمِ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ

fi baladina Sanghafurah wa sa-iri biladil-alam ya Rabbal-'alamin

اَللَّهُمَّ اصْرِفْ عَنَّا شَرَّ هَذِهِ التَّغَيُّرَاتِ الْمُنَاخِيَّةِ، وَقَرِّبْ إِلَيْنَا خَيْرَهَا

Allahumma-srif 'anna syarra hazihit-taghayyuratil-munakhiyyati, wa qarrib ilaina khairaha

نَسْأَلُكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَنْ تَكُوْنَ تَغَيُّرَاتِ رَحْمَةٍ

Nas-alukallahumma an takuna taghayyurati rahmah

لاَ تَغَيُّرَاتِ عَذَابٍ، يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِيْنَ

la taghayyurati 'azabin ya Arhamar-Rahimin

رَبَّنَا مَنْ لَنَا غَيْرُكَ يَحْمِيْنَا مِنْ شِدَّةِ حَرِّ هَذِهِ الدُّنْيَا

Rabbana man lana ghairuka yahmina min syiddati harri hazihid-dunya

وَمَنْ لَنَا غَيْرُكَ يَحْفَظُنَا مِنْ شِدَّةِ حَرِّ عَذَابِ النَّارِ

wa man lana ghairuka yahfazuna min syiddati harri 'azabin-nar

لَا مَلْجَأَ وَلَا مَنْجَى لَنَا إِلَّا إِلَيْكَ، أَنْتَ وَلِيُّنَا وَمَوْلَانَا

la malja' wa la manji lana illa ilaika, Anta Waliyyuna wa Mawlana

عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ اْلمَصِيْرُ

'alaiKa tawakkalna ilaiKa anabna wa ilaiKal-masir

رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِيْ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِيْ الأَخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّار

Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah wa fil-akhirati hasanah wa qina 'azaban-nar

  وَصَلَّى اللهُ وَسلَّمَ عَلَى سَيـِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ وَالحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ العَالَمِينَ

Wa sallāllahu wasallam ‘alā sayyidinā Muhammad wa ‘alā ālihi wa sohbihi 
ajma’īn walhamdu-lillahi Rbbil ‘ālamīn

(x3)

Meaning:

In the name of Allah The Most Merciful, The Most Compassionate.

All praises be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds. Prayers and salutations be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and all of his companions.

O Allah, whatever we have done this year from the things that You have prohibited and are not pleased with, yet we have not repented from them, even though we have forgotten them, but You have not forgotten them.

Indeed, You still love us even though You have the power to punish us, and You call upon us to repent from them after our audacity to commit sins against You. Indeed, at this moment, we seek true forgiveness from You, so forgive us.

And whatever deeds we have done this year from the things that You are pleased with and have promised reward and forgiveness to us, we ask You to accept our deeds and do not cut off our hope in You, and grant us the reward of those who are patient in the face of sadness and trials that befall us, O Lord, the Most Glorious and Most Merciful of all who show mercy.

O Allah, we ask of You goodness and security, protection and safety in this world for the entire human race. Keep us away from all trials and calamities, whether apparent or hidden, for our country, Singapore and the whole world.

O Allah, protect us from the evil of sudden climate changes and bring us closer to its goodness. O Allah, we ask of You climate changes that bring mercy and not those that bring punishment. O Most Merciful among the merciful.

Our Lord, who else besides You can protect us from the heat of this world's weather! And who else besides You can safeguard us from the heat of the hellfire to come! There is no refuge and safety except in Your protection. You are our Protector and You are also our Leader. We place our trust in You alone and we repent to You alone. And to You, we shall return.

O our Lord, grant us goodness in this world and goodness in the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the hellfire. Blessings and peace upon our noble Prophet Muhammad s.a.w., his family, and his companions, and all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. 

2. Read Doa Awal Muharram

On 29th Zulhijjah after Maghrib, at the eve of 1st Muharram, you may read the Dua for the start of the Islamic year 3 times. 

 الحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ العَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَى سَيِّـدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ

Alhamdulillāhi Rabbil ‘ālamīn, wassolatu wassalāmu 'ala sayyidinā Muhammad, wa ‘alā ālihi wasohbihi ajma’īn

 اَللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الأَبَدِيُّ القَدِيمُ الأَوَّلُ وَعَلَى فَضْلِكَ العَظِيمِ وَجُودِكَ المُعَوَّلِ، وَهَذَا عَامٌ جَدِيدٌ قَدْ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا

Allahumma Antal-Abadiyyul-Qodimul-Awwal, wa 'ala fadhlikal-’azhim wa jūdikal-mu'awwal, wa haza 'āmun jadidun qad aqbala ‘alainā

اللَّهُمَّ أَهِلَّهُ عَلَيْنَا بِالأَمْنِ وَاْلإِيْمَانِ، وَالسَّلاَمَةِ وَاْلإِسْلاَمِ، رَبِّيْ وَرَبُّكَ اللهُ، هِلَالُ رُشْدٍ وَخَيْرٍ

Allāhumma ahillahu 'alainā bil-amni wal-īmān, wassalāmati wal-islām, Rabbī wa-RabbukAllāh, hilālu rusydin wa-khayrin

نَسْألُكَ العِصْمَةَ فِيهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ وَأَوْلِيَاءِهِ وَجُنُودِهِ

Nas-alukal ‘ismata fihi minas-syaitānir-rojīm wa awliyā-ihi wa junūdih,

 وَالعَوْنَ عَلَى هَذِهِ النَّفْسِ الأَمَّارَةِ بِالسُّوءِ، وَالاِشْتِغَالَ بِمَا يُقَرِّبُنَا إِلَيْكَ زُلْفَى، يَا ذَا الجَلاَلِ وَالإِكْرَامِ

wal-‘auna 'alā hazihin-nafsil ammārati bis-sū’, Wal-ishtighala bimā yuqorribunā ilaika zulfa. Ya Zhal-Jalāli Wal-Ikrom

اَللَّهُمَّ انْظُرْ إِلَيْنَا نَظْرَةَ رِضَاكَ الَّتِي تُحْسِنُ بِهَا أَحْوَالَنَا

Allahumma-nzur ilaina nazrata ridhokal-lati tuhsinu biha ahwalana

وَتَهْدِيْ بِهَا قُلُوْبَنَا، وَتَغْفِرُ بِهَا ذُنُوْبَنَا، وَتَرُدُّنَا بِهَا إِلَيْكَ رَدًّا جَمِيْلاً يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ

wa tahdi biha qulubana, wa taghfiru biha zunubana, wa turaddina biha ilaika raddan jamilan, ya Rabbal-'alamin

رَبَّنَا نَحْمَدُكَ وَنَشْكُرُكَ عَلَى نِعَمِكَ الَّتِي لَا تُعَدُّ وَلَا تُحْصَى

Rabbana nahmaduka wa nashkuruka 'ala ni'amikal-lati la tu'ad wala tuhso

وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ وَالشُّكْرُ عِنْدَ رِضَاكَ عَنَّا

wa laKal-hamdu wasy-syukru 'inda ridhaka 'anna

اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَدْعُوْكَ بِالتَّخْفِيْفِ عَنْ عِبَادِكَ مِنْ أَهْوَالِ التَّغَيُّرَاتِ الْمُنَاخِيَّةِ

Allahumma inna nad'uka bittakhfifi 'an 'ibadika min ahwalit-taghayyuratil-munakhiyyah

وَأَنْ تَحْفَظَنَا فِي ظِلِّكَ عِنْدَ قُدُوْمِ الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي لَا ظِلَّ فِيْهِ إِلَّا ظِلُّكَ

wa an tahfazana fi zillika 'inda qudumil-yaum, allazi la zilla fihi illa zilluk

أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِحَالِنَا يَا جَوَّادُ يَا كَرِيْمُ، فَأَنْتَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ

Anta A'lamu bihalina ya Jawwad ya Karim, fa Anta 'ala kulli syai-in qadir

يَا غِيَاثَ الْمُسْتَغِيْثِيْنَ، أَغِثْ إِخْوَانَنَا الْمُسْتَضْعَفِيْنَ فِي غَزَّةَ، وَفِي رَفَحَ، وَفِي فَلَسْطِيْنَ

ya Ghiyathal-mustaghithin, aghith ikhwananal-mustadh'afina fi Ghazza, wa fi Rafah, wa fi Falastin

اَللَّهُمَّ الْطُفْ بِعِبَادِكَ فَوْقَ كُلِّ أَرْضٍ، وَتَحْتَ كُلِّ سَمَاءٍ

Allahummal-tuf bi'ibadika fauqa kulli ardhin, wa tahta kulli sama'in

يَا لَطِيْفُ، يَا لَطِيْفُ، يَا لَطِيْفُ

ya Latif, ya Latif, ya Latif

وَصَلَّى اللهُ وَسلَّمَ عَلَى سَيـِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَالحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ العَالَمِينَ

Wa sollAllāhu wasallam ‘alā sayyidinā Muhammad wa ‘alā ālihi wa sohbihi ‘ajma’īn wal-hamdu lillāhi Rabbil-‘ālamīn

(x3)

Meaning:

In the name of Allah The Most Merciful, The Most Compassionate.

All praises be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds. Prayers and salutations be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and all of his companions.

O Allah, You are the Eternal, the Everlasting, the First, with great excellence and abundant mercy. This is the new year that has come to us. O Allah, make this month bring peace, faith, safety, and Islam.

Our Lord and your Lord is Allah. Make this month a guide and a source of goodness. We seek protection from Syaitan and all his helpers and soldiers. We seek Your help against the soul that often leads to evil. And we ask You to keep us busy with matters that bring us closer to You. O Allah, the Greatest and the Most Glorious.

O Allah, look upon us with Your approving gaze, a gaze that can improve our condition, guide our hearts, forgive our sins, and return us to Your embrace in the best way—O Lord of the worlds. 

O our Lord, we praise You and thank You for all Your countless and immeasurable blessings. All praise and thanks to You, at all times when You are pleased with us. O Allah, we pray to You to grant Your servants relief from the hardship of unpredictable weather changes. Protect us when the day comes, for there is no protection except Your protection. You know our condition well. O Lord, the Most Glorious, the Most Merciful, and You have power over all things.

O Helper of those who seek help, help the weak in Gaza, Rafah, and Palestine. O Allah, bestow Your gentleness upon Your servants on the earth and under the sky. O Most Compassionate. O Most Compassionate. O Most Compassionate.

And may Allah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and all his companions. And all praises be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.

3. Fasting in The Month of Muharram

It is part of the Sunnah to fast on the Asyhurul Hurum (the four sacred months of Allah s.w.t.) Amongst which is the Month of Muharram. Prophet Muhammad s.a.w has mentioned specifically the virtue of fasting in the month of Muharram:

وَأَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ صِيَامُ شَهْرِ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمِ

"The most virtuous of fasting after the month of Ramadan is Allah's month of Al-Muharram."

(Sahih Muslim)

4. Fast on The Day of Ashura

When Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. migrated to Madinah, he met some Jews who were fasting on the tenth of Muharram, which is the Day of Ashura. He asked them why they were fasting and they explained that it was the day that Prophet Musa a.s. successfully saved the children of Israel from the Pharoah, thus, Prophet Musa a.s. fast in its commemoration. Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. then replied,

‏ ‏"فَأَنَا أَحَقُّ بِمُوسَى مِنْكُمْ"‏‏.‏ فَصَامَهُ وَأَمَرَ بِصِيَامِهِ

"We have more claim over (Prophet) Musa than you (Jews)," So he fasted and ordered that Muslims should also fast on that day.

(Sahih Al-Bukhari)

The Prophet has also encouraged us to fast on the days before and after the Day of Ashura. This means that it is encouraged to fast on the ninth and the eleventh day of Muharram.

صُومُوا يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ، وَخَالِفُوا فِيهِ الْيَهُودَ، صُومُوا قَبْلَهُ يَوْمًا، أَوْ بَعْدَهُ يَوْمًا

"All of you should (encouraged) fast on the day of Ashura and be distinct from the fasting of the Jews. Fast on the day before and the day after of Ashura."

(Musnad Ahmad)

In regards to its virtues, Ibn Abbas r.a. was asked about fasting on the day of Ashura, and he said:

مَا عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَامَ يَوْمًا يَطْلُبُ فَضْلَهُ عَلَى الأَيَّامِ إِلاَّ هَذَا الْيَوْمَ وَلاَ شَهْرًا إِلاَّ هَذَا الشَّهْرَ يَعْنِي رَمَضَانَ

"I do not know Allah's Messenger s.a.w. singling out any day's fast and considering it more excellent than another, except this day (the day of Ashura) and this month, meaning the month of Ramadan."

(Sahih Muslim)

The virtues of fasting on the day of Ashura are indeed immense. Abu Qatadah r.a narrated:

صِيامُ يومِ عاشُوراءَ، إِنِّي أحْتَسِبُ على اللهِ أنْ يُكَفِّرَ السنَةَ التِي قَبْلَهُ

"Fasting on the day of Ashura, I hope, will expiate for the sins of the previous year"

(Sahih Muslim)

What better way to start a new journey than to start on a clean slate. Indeed repentance opens up the doors of His mercy. May Allah s.w.t. bless us with a wonderful year, Amin. Happy New Hijri Year!

And Allah knows best.