any thing sacred or forbidden by the Mussulman law. It is likewise the name of the first month of the Arabic year, before the time of Mohammedanism, and was so called because the ancient Arabs were forbidden to make war against one another during this month. The first ten days of the month Moharram are called by the Mohammedans Aiam al- madulat, that is, the reckoned days, because they believe that during these ten days the Koran was sent down from heaven to be communicated to men. The last of these ten days is called Ashziur. See Broughton, Biblioth. Histor. Sacra, 2:116.