Muharram: The Sacred Month - What's so special?

A sacred month is one in which fighting is prohibited and good deeds are multiplied in reward just as sins are more severe. Muharram marks the beginning of the Hijri calendar, established by Umar (RA) when Muslims needed a unified system. The name "Muharram" comes from the Arabic root meaning "forbidden," as warfare was prohibited during this sacred month. The Prophet ﷺ taught: "The best fasting after Ramadan is fasting in Allah's month of Muharram." [Tirmidhi 740] This hadith shows that fasting in Muharram is the most rewarding voluntary fast after Ramadan. The Prophet ﷺ came to Madinah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. He asked them about that. They replied, "Moses fasted this day." The Prophet ﷺ said, "We have more claim over Moses than you." So, the Prophet ﷺ fasted on that day and ordered the Muslims to fast on that day. [Bukhari] The 10th of Muharram (Ashura) commemorates when Allah ﷻ saved Prophet Musa (as) and the Children of Israel from Pharaoh's tyranny. The Prophet ﷺ said: "If I remain alive till next year, I will surely fast the ninth (alongside the tenth)." But the next year did not come before the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) passed away. [Muslim]