What is the authenticity of the saying: "It is from the wisdom of Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, that He made the two ends of the year two sacred months: it ends with the month of Dhul-Hijjah and begins with the month of Muharram, as an indication to the believer to conclude his deeds with good and commence them with good. So, before the year ends, we fast 'Arafah, and Allah forgives us, and at the beginning of the year, we fast 'Ashura, and He forgives us"? And what is the ruling on the statement: "Allah refuses except to accept our repentance and bestow His grace upon us, Glory be to Him, and we begin our year purified"?

The aforementioned statement is good speech that calls for good and drawing closer to Allah. Its meaning has been narrated by some of the Salaf (pious predecessors) that Allah inaugurated the year with a sacred month and concluded it with a sacred month, and that the month of Muharram is the greatest of months after Ramadan. The reason for beginning with Muharram is that the resolve to emigrate (the Hijra) was made in it, and the first crescent moon that appeared after the pledge of allegiance and the resolve to emigrate was the crescent of Muharram. As for the phrase, "Whoever fasts on Ashura, his sins for a full year will be forgiven," it should not be asserted with certainty. However, if it is said by way of hope, there is no harm, knowing that the sins expiated by fasting on Arafah and Ashura are minor sins according to the majority of scholars.