Doa Awal Muharram and 3 other simple acts for Muharram

Sections: 1. Read Doa Akhir Tahun / End of Hijri Year Dua | 2. Read Doa Awal Muharram / Beginning of Hijri Year Dua | 3. Fasting in the month of Muharram | 4. Fast on the Day of Asyura

Praise be to Allah. 

On the first of Muharram, Muslims all over the world welcome 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 وَذُوالْحِجَّةِ 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 (Jamadilawal and Jamadilakhir) 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 / End of Hijri Year Dua

There is no specific dua to end or welcome a new year. What is encouraged is for us to make an abundance of dua at any point of time. These duas are often recited at our local mosques together with the congregation, albeit 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 following dua for the end of the Islamic year (Source: MUIS). 

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillāh-hir-rahmāni-rahīm

الحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ العَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَى سَيِّـدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ
Alhamdu lillāhi rabbil-'ālamīn, was-salātu was-salāmu 'alā sayyidinā Muhammad, wa 'alā ālihi wa sahbihi ajma'īn

اَللَّهُمَّ مَا عَمِلْنَا مِنْ عَمَلٍ في هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ مِمَّا نَهَيْتَنَا عَنْهُ فَلَمْ نَتُبْ مِنْهُ وَلَمْ تَرْضَهُ، وَنَسِيْنَاهُ وَلَمْ تَنْسَهُ، وَحَلُمْتَ عَنَّا مَعَ قُدْرَتِكَ عَلَى عُقُوْبَتِنَا، وَدَعَوْتَنَا إِلَى التَّوْبَةِ مِنْهُ بَعْدَ جَرَاءَتِنَا عَلَى مَعْصِيَتِكَ، فَإِنَّنَا نَسْتَغْفِرُكَ مِنْهُ فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا
Allāhumma mā 'amilnā min 'amalin fī hādhihis-sanati mimmā nahaytanā 'anhu falam natub minhu wa lam tardahu, wa nasīnāhu wa lam tansahu, wa halumta 'annā ma'a qudratika 'alā 'uqūbatinā, wa da'awtanā ilat-tawbati minhu ba'da jarā'atinā 'alā ma'siyatik, fa'innanā nastaghfiruka minhu faghfir lanā

وَمَا عَمِلْنَا فِيهَا مِمَّا تَرْضَاهُ، وَوَعَدْتَنَا عَلَيْهِ الثَّوَابَ وَاْلغُفْرَانَ، فَنَسْأَلُكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَنْ تَتَقَبَّـلَهُ مِنَّا وَلا تَقْطَعْ رَجَاءَنَا مِنْكَ، وَارْزُقْنَا أَجْرَ الصَّابِرِيْنَ مِمَّا أَصَابَنَا مِنْ هُمُوْمٍ وَبَلَايَا، يَا كَرِيْمُ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِيْنَ
Wa mā 'amilnā fīhā mimmā tardāhu, wa wa'adtanā 'alayhith-thawāba wal-ghufrān, fanas'alukallāhumma an tataqabbalahu minnā wa lā taqta' rajā'anā mink, warzuqnā ajras-sābirīna mimmā asābanā min humūmin wa balāyā, yā Karīmu yā Arhamar-rāhimīn

إِلَهَنَا، كُلُّ فَرَحٍ بِغَيْرِكَ زَائِلٌ، وَكُلُّ شُغْلٍ بِسِوَاكَ بَاطِلٌ، وَالسُّرُورُ بِكَ هُوَ السُّرُورُ، فَنَسْأَلُكَ يَا رَبَّنَا سُرُوْرًا تَـمْلَأُ بِهِ قُلُوبَنَا، وَيَقِيْنًا تُنِيْرُ بِهِ دُرُوْبَنَا، وَطُمَأْنِيْنَةً تَغْمُرُ أَرْوَاحَنَا، يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَـمِينَ
Ilāhanā, kullu farahin bighayrika zā'il, wa kullu shuglin bisiwāka bātil, was-surūru bika huwas-surūr, fanas'aluka yā Rabbanā surūran tamla'u bihī qulūbanā, wa yaqīnan tunīru bihī durūbanā, wa tuma'nīnatan taghmuru arwāhanā, yā Rabbal-'ālamīn

اَللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ كُلَّ أَيَّامِنَا مُبَارَكَةً، وَأَدِمْ يَا رَبَّنَا نَفَحَاتِكَ وَعَطَايَاكَ عَلَيْنَا، وَعَلَى بَلَدِنَا مَا دَامَتْ رَحْمَتُكَ بَاقِيَةً، يَا خَيْرَ الرَّازِقِيْنَ
Allāhummaj'al kulla ayyāminā mubārakah, wa adim yā Rabbanā nafahātika wa 'atāyāka 'alaynā, wa 'alā baladinā mā dāmat rahmatuka bāqiyah, yā Khayrar-rāziqīn

اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ يَا ذَا الْمَعْرُوْفِ الَّذِي لَا يَنْقَطِعُ أَبَدًا، أَنْ تَغْمُرَنَا بِفَيْضِ جُوْدِكَ تَطِيْبُ بِهِ حَيَاتُنَا، وَنَسْأَلُكَ حَنَانًا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ تَطْمَئِنُّ بِهِ قُلُوْبُنَا، وَنَبْتَهِلُ إِلَيْكَ أَنْ تُلْقِيَ عَلَيْنَا مَوَدَّةً مِنْكَ تَـجْعَلُنَا بِـهَا مِنْ أَحْبَابِكَ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِيْنَ
Allāhumma innā nas'aluka yā Dhal-ma'rūfil-ladhī lā yanqati'u abadā, an taghmuraanā bifaydi jūdika tatību bihī hayātunā, wa nas'aluka hanānan min ladunka tatma'innu bihī qulūbunā, wa nabtahilu ilayka an tulqiya 'alaynā mawaddatan minka taj'alunā bihā min ahbābika yā Arhamar-rāhimīn

يَا رَحْمـٰنَ الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ وَرَحِيْمَهُمَا، نَسْأَلُكَ رَحْمَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ تَعْصِمُنَا بِـهَا مِنَ الزَّلَلِ، وَنَسْأَلُكَ رَحْمَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ تُصْلِحُ بِـهَا حَيَاتَنَا مِنْ كُلِّ خَلَلٍ، وَنَسْأَلُكَ رَحْمَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ تُنْقِي بِـهَا قُلُوبَنَا مِنَ الْـحِقْدِ وَالْـحَسَدِ وَالرِّيَاءِ وَالْعُجُبِ يَا أَكْرَمَ الأَكْرَمِينَ
Yā Rahmānad-dunyā wal-ākhirati wa rahīmahumā, nas'aluka rahmatan min 'indika ta'simunā bihā minaz-zalal, wa nas'aluka rahmatan min 'indika tusliu bihā hayātanā min kulli khalal, wa nas'aluka rahmatan min 'indika tunqī bihā qulūbanā minal-hiqdi wal-hasadi war-riyā'i wal-'ujubi yā Akramal-akramīn

رَبَّنَا اجْعَلْنَا لَكَ شَكَّارِيْنَ، لَكَ ذَكَّارِيْنَ، وَإِلَيْكَ أَوَّاهِيْنَ وَمُنِيْبِيْنَ، وَاكْتُبْنَا فِي سِجِلِّ الطَّائِعِينَ، وَرُدَّنَا إِلَيْكَ رَدًّا جَمِيلًا غَيْرَ خَزَايَا وَلَا مَفْتُونِيْنَ يَا مُجِيبَ الطَّائِعِينَ
Rabbanaj'alnā laka shakkārīn, laka dhakkārīn, wa ilayka awwāhīna wa munībīn, waktubna fī sijillat-tā'i'īn, wa rudданā ilayka raddan jamīlan ghayra khazāyā wa lā maftūnīna yā Mujībat-tā'i'īn

اَللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ خَيَْر أَعْمَالِنَا خَوَاتِيْمَهَا، وَخَيْرَ أَعْمَارِنَا أَوَاخِرَهَا، وَخَيْرَ أَيَّامِنَا يَوْمَ نَلْقَاكَ، اَللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَنَا مَا مَضَى، وَأَصْلِحْ لَنَا مَا بَقِيَ يَا خَيْرَ الْحَاكِمِيْنَ
Allāhummaj'al khayra a'mālinā khawātīmahā, wa khayra a'mārinā awākhirahā, wa khayra ayyāminā yawma nalqāk, Allāhummaghfir lanā mā madā, wa aslih lanā mā baqiya yā Khayral-hākimīn

اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ الأَمْنَ وَالأَمَانَ، وَالسِّلْمَ وَالسَّلَامَ فِيْ الْعَالَمِ كُلِّهِ وَلِلإِنْسَانِيَّةِ جَمْعَاء، وَأَنْ تُبْعِدَ عَنَّا الأَذَى وَالْبَلَاءَ، وَالْـحَرْبَ وَالاِعْتِدَاءَ، وَالْـجُورَ وَالظُّلْمَ، والْمِحَنَ وَالْفِتَنَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ فِيْ بَلَدِنَا سِنْغَافُوْرَة وَسَائِرِ بِلاَدِ الْعَالَمِ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ
Allāhumma innā nas'alukal-amna wal-amān, was-silma was-salāma fil-'ālami kullihī wa lil-insāniyyati jamā', wa an tub'ida 'annal-adhā wal-balā', wal-harba wal-i'tidā', wal-jawra waz-zulm, wal-mihana wal-fitana mā zahara minhā wa mā batana fī baladinā Singāfūra wa sā'iri bilādil-'ālami yā Rabbal-'ālamīn
اَللَّهُمَّ بِـحَقِّ أَنَّكَ أَنْتَ اللهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، نَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تُـجِيْرَنَا مِنَ النَّارِ وَمَا يُقَرِّبُ إِلَيْهَا مِنْ قَوْلٍ وَعَمَلٍ، وَنَسْأَلُكَ بِـحَقِّ وَجْهِكَ الْكَرِيْمِ أَنْ تُدْخِلَنَا الْفِرْدَوْسَ الْأَعْلَى مِنَ الْـجَنَّةِ يَا مُجِيْبَ السَّائِلِيْنَ
Allāhumma bihaqqi annaka Antallāhu lā ilāha illā Ant, nas'aluka an tujīranā minan-nāri wa mā yuqarribu ilayhā min qawlin wa 'amal, wa nas'aluka bihaqqi wajhikal-karīmi an tudkhilanal-firdawsal-a'lā minal-jannati yā Mujības-sā'ilīn

رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِيْ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِيْ الأَخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ. وَصَلَّى اللهُ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى سَيـِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِيْنَ، وَالحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ العَالَمِينَ
Rabbanā ātinā fid-dunyā hasanatan wa fil-ākhirati hasanatan wa qinā 'adhāban-nār. Wa sallallāhu wa sallama 'alā sayyidinā Muhammadin wa 'alā ālihi wa sahbihi ajma'īn, walhamdu lillāhi Rabbil-'ālamīn.

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.

Ya Allah, whatever we have done during this year that You have forbidden and with which You are not pleased, and for which we have not repented, even though we may have forgotten it, You have not forgotten it. Yet You continued to show us mercy despite having full power to punish us, and You continue to call us to repentance despite our audacity in disobeying You. At this moment, we seek from You sincere forgiveness, so forgive us. 

As for whatever deeds we have performed during this year that are pleasing to You, and for which You have promised reward and forgiveness, we ask You to accept them from us. Do not cut off our hope in You, and grant us the reward of those who remain patient through the sorrows and trials that have befallen us, O Most Generous and Most Merciful of those who show mercy.

Ya Allah, our Lord, every joy that is not rooted in You will eventually fade away, and every preoccupation that distracts us from You is ultimately in vain. True happiness is the happiness found through You. Therefore, O Most Merciful, grant us a happiness that fills our hearts, a certainty that illuminates our path, and a tranquillity that envelops our souls. Ya Allah, Lord of all the worlds.

Ya Allah, make each of our days a day filled with blessings. Continue, O our Lord, to shower us and our nation with Your mercy, bounty, and generosity for as long as Your mercy encompasses us, O Best of Providers.

Ya Allah, we ask You, whose goodness and benevolence never cease, to grant us from the vastness of Your generosity a life filled with well-being. We ask for Your mercy that brings peace to our hearts. We also beseech You to instil within us a love that comes from You, so that we may be among the servants whom You love, O Most Merciful of those who show mercy. 

O Most Compassionate and Most Merciful in this world and the Hereafter, we ask for a mercy from You through which You protect us from falling into error. We ask for a mercy through which You rectify all shortcomings in our lives. We ask for a mercy through which You purify our hearts from resentment, envy, showing off, and self-admiration, O Most Generous Lord.

Ya Allah, make us among Your servants who are constantly grateful to You, who constantly remember You, and record our names among the obedient. Return us to You in the best of returns, free from humiliation and free from misleading trials, O Lord who answers prayers. 

Ya Allah, make the best of our deeds their ending, the best of our lives its final years, and the best of our days the day we meet You. Ya Allah, forgive our past sins and rectify what remains of our affairs, O Best of Judges. 

Ya Allah, we ask You for peace and security, safety and well being throughout the world and for all humanity. We ask You to protect us from every harm and calamity, from war and aggression, oppression and injustice, and from every trial and tribulation, whether apparent or hidden, in our nation of Singapore and throughout the world. O Lord of all the worlds. 

Ya Allah, by virtue of the fact that You are Allah, and there is no deity worthy of worship except You, we ask You to protect us from the Fire and from every word and deed that brings us closer to it.

We also ask, by Your Noble Countenance, that You admit us into the highest level of Jannatul Firdaus, O Lord who answers the prayers of those who call upon You. Our Lord, grant us goodness in this world and goodness in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire. 

May blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad s.a.w, his family and his companions. And all praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.Ameen.

 

2. Read Doa Awal Muharram / Beginning of Hijri Year Dua

On 29th Zulhijjah after Maghrib, at the eve of 1st Muharram, you may read the dua for the start of the Islamic year (Source: MUIS). 

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 sayyidinā Muhammad, wa ‘alā ālihi wasohbihi ajma’īn.

اَللّٰهُمَّ أَنْتَ الْأَبَدِيُّ الْقَدِيمُ الْأَوَّلُ وَعَلَى فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ وَجُودِكَ الْمُعَوَّلِ
Allāhumma anta al-abadiyyul qadīmul awwal, wa 'alā faḍlikal 'aẓīmi wa jūdikal mu'awwal,

وَهَذَا عَامٌ جَدِيدٌ قَدْ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا، اللّٰهُمَّ أَهِلَّهُ عَلَيْنَا بِالْأَمْنِ وَالْإِيمَانِ، وَالسَّلَامَةِ وَالْإِسْلَامِ
wa hādhā 'āmun jadīdun qad aqbala 'alaynā, Allāhumma ahillahu 'alaynā bil-amni wal-īmān, was-salāmati wal-islām,

رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّكَ اللّٰهُ، هِلَالُ رُشْدٍ وَخَيْرٍ. نَسْأَلُكَ الْعِصْمَةَ فِيهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ وَأَوْلِيَائِهِ وَجُنُودِهِ
Robbuna wa robbukAllah, hilalu rushdin wa khairin. Nas-alukal ‘ismata fihi minas-syaitānir-rojīm wa awliyā-ihi wa junūdih,

وَالْعَوْنَ عَلَى هَذِهِ النَّفْسِ الْأَمَّارَةِ بِالسُّوءِ، وَالِاشْتِغَالَ بِمَا يُقَرِّبُنَا إِلَيْكَ زُلْفَى، يَا ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ
wal-'awna 'alā hādhihin-nafsil ammārati bis-sū', wal-išhtighāla bimā yuqarribunā ilayka zulfā, yā dhal-jalāli wal-ikrām.

اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْ عَامَنَا هَذَا عَامًا فِيهِ يُغَاثُ النَّاسُ، اَللّٰهُمَّ غَيْثًا مِنَ الْخَيْرَاتِ وَالْبَرَكَاتِ، وَغَيْثًا مِنَ النَّفَحَاتِ وَالرَّحَمَاتِ
Allāhumma aj'al 'āmanā hādhā 'āman fīhi yughāthan-nās, Allāhumma ghaithan minal khayrāti wal-barakāt, wa ghaithan minan-nafaḥāti war-raḥamāt.

اَللّٰهُمَّ انْظُرْ إِلَيْنَا نَظْرَةَ رِضَاكَ الَّتِي تُحْسِنُ بِهَا أَحْوَالَنَا، وَتَهْدِي بِهَا قُلُوبَنَا، وَتَغْفِرُ بِهَا ذُنُوبَنَا، وَتَرُدُّنَا بِهَا إِلَيْكَ رَدًّا جَمِيلًا يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ

Allāhumma unẓur ilaynā naẓrata riḍākal latī tuḥsinu bihā aḥwālanā, wa tahdī bihā qulūbanā, wa taghfiru bihā dhunūbanā, wa taruddunā bihā ilayka raddan jamīlā yā rabbal 'ālamīn.

رَبَّنَا نَحْمَدُكَ وَنَشْكُرُكَ عَلَى نِعَمِكَ الَّتِي لَا تُعَدُّ وَلَا تُحْصَى، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ وَالشُّكْرُ عِنْدَ رِضَاكَ عَنَّا
Rabbanā naḥmaduka wa nashkuruka 'alā ni'amikal latī lā tu'addu wa lā tuḥṣā, wa lakal ḥamdu wash-shukru 'inda riḍāka 'annā.

اَللّٰهُمَّ احْرُسْنَا بِعَيْنِكَ الَّتِي لَا تَنَامُ، وَاكْنُفْنَا بِكَنَفِكَ الَّذِي لَا يُضَامُ، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَهْلِكُ مَنْ أَنْتَ رَجَاؤُهُ
Allāhumma uḥrusnā bi'aynikal latī lā tanām, waknufnā bikamafikal ladhī lā yuḍām, fa'innahū lā yahliku man anta rajā'uh,

فَكَمْ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ أَنْعَمْتَ بِهَا عَلَيْنَا قَلَّ عِنْدَهَا شُكْرُنَا، فَيَا رَبَّنَا لَا تَحْرِمْنَا مِنْ نِعَمِكَ بِسَبَبِ تَقْصِيرِنَا فِي شُكْرِكَ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ
fakam min ni'matin an'amta bihā 'alaynā qalla 'indahā shuкrunā, fa yā rabbanā lā taḥrimnā min ni'amika bisababi taqṣīrinā fī shukrika yā rabbal 'ālamīn.

يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ نَسْتَغِيثُ، يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ نَسْتَغِيثُ، يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ نَسْتَغِيثُ
Yā Ḥayyu yā Qayyūmu biraḥmatika nastaghīth, yā Ḥayyu yā Qayyūmu biraḥmatika nastaghīth, yā Ḥayyu yā Qayyūmu biraḥmatika nastaghīth,

أَغِثْ إِخْوَانَنَا الْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ فِي غَزَّةَ، وَفِي فِلَسْطِينَ، وَفِي كُلِّ مَكَانٍ
aghith ikhwānanal mustaḍ'afīna fī Ghazzah, wa fī Filasṭīn, wa fī kulli makān.

اَللّٰهُمَّ الْطُفْ بِعِبَادِكَ فَوْقَ كُلِّ أَرْضٍ، وَتَحْتَ كُلِّ سَمَاءٍ، يَا لَطِيفُ، يَا لَطِيفُ، يَا لَطِيفُ
Allāhumma luṭuf bi'ibādika fawqa kulli arḍ, wa taḥta kulli samā', yā Laṭīf, yā Laṭīf, yā Laṭīf.

اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنْ هَزَّتْ رِيحُ الْيَأْسِ مَرْكَبَنَا، فَحُسْنُ الظَّنِّ بِكَ يُغْنِينَا
Allāhumma in hazzat rīḥul ya'si markabanā, faḥusnuẓ-ẓanni bika yughnīnā.

نَسْأَلُكَ اللّٰهُمَّ هُدُوءًا يَسْكُنُ فِي قُلُوبِنَا، وَيَقِينًا يَمْلَأُ صُدُورَنَا، وَحِكْمَةً تُضِيءُ دَرْبَنَا، وَتَوْفِيقًا يُصَاحِبُ خُطَانَا
Nas'aluka Allāhumma hudū'an yaskunu fī qulūbinā, wa yaqīnan yamla'u ṣudūranā, wa ḥikmatan tuḍī'u darbanā, wa tawfīqan yuṣāḥibu khuṭānā.

اَللّٰهُمَّ يَا بَاسِطَ الْأَرْزَاقِ، وَيَا مُنْزِلَ الْخَيْرَاتِ، وَيَا وَاسِعَ الْعَطَاءِ، وَيَا دَافِعَ الْبَلَاءِ، وَيَا سَامِعَ الدُّعَاءِ
Allāhumma yā bāsiṭal arzāq, wa yā munzilal khayrāt, wa yā wāsi'al 'aṭā', wa yā dāfi'al balā', wa yā sāmi'ad-du'ā',

نَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تَحْفَظَ بِلَادَنَا مِنْ كُلِّ مَكْرُوهٍ وَسُوءٍ يَا إِلَهَ الْعَالَمِينَ
nas'aluka an taḥfaẓa bilādanā min kulli makrūhin wa sū' yā ilāhal 'ālamīn.

اَللّٰهُمَّ يَا حَاضِرًا لَيْسَ بِغَائِبٍ، وَيَا مَوْجُودًا عِنْدَ الشَّدَائِدِ، وَيَا خَفِيَّ اللُّطْفِ
Allāhumma yā ḥāḍiran laysa bighā'ib, wa yā mawjūdan 'indash-shadā'id, wa yā khafiyyalluṭf,

نَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تَلْطُفَ بِنَا فِي تَيْسِيرِ كُلِّ أَمْرٍ عَسِيرٍ، فَإِنَّ تَيْسِيرَ الْعَسِيرِ عَلَيْكَ يَسِيرٌ، يَا أَكْرَمَ الْأَكْرَمِينَ

nas'aluka an talṭufa binā fī taysīri kulli amrin 'asīr, fa'inna taysīral 'asīri 'alayka yasīr, yā akramal akramīn.

اَللّٰهُمَّ أَعِنَّا عَلَى مَا يُنْجِينَا، وَأَمِنَّا مِمَّا يُخِيفُنَا، وَارْزُقْنَا شَوْقَ الصَّالِحِينَ إِلَى مَا شَوَّقْتَهُمْ إِلَيْهِ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ

Allāhumma a'innā 'alā mā yunjīnā, wa aminnā mimmā yukhīfunā, warzuqnā shawqaṣ-ṣāliḥīna ilā mā shawwaqtahum ilayhi yā arḥamar-rāḥimīn.

اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْنَا مِمَّنْ تَوَكَّلَ عَلَيْكَ فَنَصَرْتَهُ، وَدَعَاكَ فَأَجَبْتَهُ، وَاسْتَهْدَاكَ فَهَدَيْتَهُ، وَاسْتَغْفَرَكَ فَغَفَرْتَ لَهُ، وَاسْتَكْفَاكَ فَكَفَيْتَهُ، يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Allāhumma aj'alnā mimman tawakkala 'alayka fanaṣartah, wa da'āka fa'ajabtah, wastahdāka fahadaytah, wastagfharaka faghafarta lah, wastakfāka fakafaytah, yā rabbal 'ālamīn.

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً، وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Rabbanā ātinā fid-dunyā ḥasanatan wa fil-ākhirati ḥasanatan wa qinā 'adhāban-nār.

وَصَلَّى اللّٰهُ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Waṣallallāhu wa sallama 'alā sayyidinā Muḥammadin wa 'alā ālihi wa ṣaḥbihi ajma'īn, walḥamdu lillāhi rabbil 'ālamīn.

Meaning:

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

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds. May blessings and peace be upon our master Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), his family and all his companions. 

Ya Allah, You are the Everlasting, the Eternal, the First without beginning. By Your immense grace and abundant generosity, this is a new year that has come upon us. O Allah, make this month a month of peace, faith, safety and Islam. My Lord and your Lord is Allah. Make this month a source of guidance and goodness. We seek Your protection from the accursed Satan and all his helpers and forces. We seek Your assistance against the soul that constantly inclines towards evil. We ask You to occupy us with matters that draw us nearer to You, O Lord of Majesty and Honour. 

Ya Allah, make this new year a year in which You bestow abundant help and provision upon humanity. O Allah, send down showers of goodness and blessings, and pour upon us the abundance of Your mercy and compassion. 

Ya Allah, look upon us with Your pleasure, a gaze that rectifies our affairs, guides our hearts, forgives our sins and returns us to You in the best of ways. O Lord of all the worlds. 

Ya Allah, safeguard us under Your watchful Eye that neither sleeps nor is heedless, and protect us beneath Your shelter that no harm can penetrate. Indeed, whoever places their hope in You will never be forsaken. How many blessings You have bestowed upon us, while our gratitude for them has been so little. Therefore, our Lord, do not withhold Your blessings from us because of our neglect and shortcomings in giving thanks to You, O Lord of all the worlds. 

Ya Allah, Ya Hayyu! Ya Qayyum! By Your mercy, we seek Your help.  

Ya Allah, Ya Hayyu! Ya Qayyum! By Your mercy, we seek Your help.  

Ya Allah, Ya Hayyu! Ya Qayyum! By Your mercy, we seek Your help. 

Aid our oppressed brothers and sisters in Gaza, in Palestine, and wherever they may be. Ya Allah, shower Your gentleness upon Your servants on earth and beneath the heavens.  

Ya Allah! Ya Lathif!  Ya Lathif! Ya Lathif! Lord of Infinite Gentleness. 

Ya Allah, if the winds of disappointment shake the vessel of our lives, let our good opinion and trust in You be our salvation. We ask You, Ya Allah, for tranquillity that soothes our hearts, certainty that fills our souls, wisdom that illuminates our path, and Your divine guidance that accompanies every step we take. 

Ya Allah, Lord who expands provision, sends down all goodness, whose generosity is boundless, who averts calamities and who hears every supplication, we ask You to protect our nation from all evil and disasters, O Lord of all the worlds. 

Ya Allah, Lord who is ever-present and never absent, who is always near in times of hardship, and whose kindness and assistance are subtle yet immense, we ask You to envelop us in the gentleness of Your mercy and ease every difficult matter for us. Indeed, making difficult things easy is effortless for You, O Most Noble and Most Generous Lord. 

Ya Allah, help us to do all that leads to our safety and success. Grant us security from all that we fear. Instil within us a longing like the longing of the righteous for the things You have made beloved to them, O Most Merciful of those who show mercy. 

Ya Allah, make us among those who place their trust in You, and whom You suffice; those who seek guidance from You, and whom You guide; those who seek forgiveness from You, and whom You forgive; those who seek help from You, and whom You assist; and those who call upon You, and whose prayers You answer, O Lord of all the worlds. 

Our Lord, grant us goodness in this world and goodness in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire. 

May blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad s.a.w, his family and his companions. And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds. Ameen.

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."

4. Fast on the Day of Asyura

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 Asyura. 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 Asyura, 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 Asyura 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 Asyura, 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.