Muharram is the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar and one of the four sacred months mentioned in the Qur'an. Its name comes from the Arabic root ḥaram — meaning sanctified or forbidden — referring to the long-standing prohibition of warfare during these months.
For Muslims, it marks both a new year and a time of contemplation — a quiet beginning rather than a celebratory one. The second Caliph, Umar ibn Khattab (RA), formally established Muharram as the first month of the Hijri calendar in 638 CE.