Ashura

Every year Ashura is observed on the 10th of Muharram in the Hijri Calendar which usually falls in June-July in the Gregorian calendar.

In 2025, it will be observed on July 6, 2025.

This day is of the utmost importance and emotional significance in the Islamic calendar, and it is observed with profound religious reverence by both Sunni and Shia Muslims worldwide.

Ashura is a public holiday in India so most government, corporate establishments and educational institutes are closed. However, it is not a public holiday in countries like the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom.

What does 'Ashura' Mean? 

The term Ashura, which denotes the tenth day of the Islamic month of Muharram, comes from the Arabic word 'ashara,' which means ten. This day holds deep historical and spiritual significance in Islam. Though observed differently by Sunni and Shia communities, Ashura has come to represent themes of faith, sacrifice, and deep reflection across the Muslim world.

The Origin Stories of Ashura

The origins of Ashura are linked to both Jewish and pre-Islamic traditions.

When Prophet Muhammad arrived in Medina in 622 CE, he noticed Jewish communities fasting on this day, likely Yom Kippur, the 10th of Tishrei.

They fasted to commemorate the day Moses and his people were delivered from Pharaoh.

Seeing a connection to his own prophetic mission, Muhammad encouraged Muslims to fast on this day too. However, after a year and the growing distance between Muslims and the Medinan Jews, Ashura fasting became optional. The Quran later introduced Ramadan as the month of obligatory fasting (Quran 2:183–185).

Interestingly, Ashura may not have originally fallen on the 10th of Muharram.

It was only after the Islamic and Jewish calendars began to diverge, following the prohibition of calendar adjustments in Islam (Quran 9:37), that Ashura settled on Muharram 10.

In Sunni Islam, some traditions say fasting on Ashura existed before Islam among the Quraysh tribe in Mecca.

Other Sunni stories, many considered unreliable or later Umayyad inventions, associate the day with events like Moses parting the Red Sea, Noah’s Ark resting on land, and God forgiving Adam.

Eventually, Tasu'a, or the fasting on the ninth day of Muharram, was added; this may have been done to set Muslims apart from Jews.

Ashura Customs in Sunni Islam

Ashura, observed on the 10th day of Muharram, holds deep meaning for many Muslims, especially Sunnis.

It is a strongly recommended part of Sunni Islam to keep a fast on the 9th and 10th of Muharram to get blessings.

These days are seen as a time of gratitude to God, remembering when Moses and his followers were saved from Pharaoh’s tyranny.

Many Sunni scholars regard Ashura as a meaningful and uplifting occasion, observed through acts of devotion and celebration.

In several regions, especially the Maghreb (Northwest Africa), Ashura is observed with unique cultural traditions. People fast, do charity, honor the dead, prepare special foods, light bonfires, and even hold carnivals.

In some parts of South Asia, Sunnis have historically joined in Shia rituals during Ashura.

Among Sufi Muslims, Ashura is often a time to honor the spiritual legacy of Husayn ibn Ali, celebrating his martyrdom as a path to eternal life in the Divine.

Historically, during the Umayyad and Abbasid periods, Ashura was turned into a public festival by some rulers, possibly as a political move to counter Shia mourning for Husayn.

Over time, these celebrations became firmly rooted in Sunni communities.

By the era of Islamic scholar Ibn Taymiyya (d. 1328), joyful customs like bathing, wearing new clothes, cooking special grains, and greeting one another were widespread on Ashura.

Ashura Customs in Shia Islam

Ashura is a much somber event for Shia Muslims which commemorates the fall of Husayn ibn Ali who was Prophet Muhammad's grandson and also the third Iman in Shia tradition. 

He was tragically assassinated on October 10, 680 CE (10 Muharram 61 AH) during the Battle of Karbala, along with most of his male relatives and loyal followers.

The Battle of Karbala

Husayn and his small band of companions were encircled by the powerful army of Yazid ibn Mu’awiya, the Umayyad caliph.

They were denied access to water from the nearby Euphrates River, despite being in the scorching desert near Kufa in present-day Iraq.

Although he was invited by locals to lead a rebellion against Yazid’s oppressive rule, Husayn found himself betrayed and vastly outnumbered.

After the massacre, the surviving women and children were taken as captives and marched to Damascus.

In Shia belief, Yazid is seen as a corrupt and illegitimate ruler. Husayn’s refusal to pledge allegiance is viewed as a powerful act of resistance against injustice and tyranny.

Ashura holds profound symbolic meaning for Shia Muslims, representing the struggle between justice and oppression, the values of loyalty and sacrifice, and the betrayal of Prophet Muhammad’s legacy.

It is observed not with celebration or fasting, but through mourning and reflection, as a form of protest against tyranny, a spiritual act of devotion, and a path toward seeking divine intercession, ultimately shaping Shia identity and unity across the world.

Traditions

Shia Muslims observe Ashura and the broader month of Muharram with intense devotion. Some central traditions include:

Majlis 

These events are held in community centers called Imambaras or Husayniyas, where speakers recount the story of Karbala also known as rawza-khwani and mourners recite emotional poetry like nawha and marsiya.

Processions and Chest-Beating

Mourners often participate in public processions while chanting lamentations. Many express their grief by striking their chests or faces sina-zani. In some places, a few participants take part in more extreme acts like self-flagellation using blades or chains. However, such acts are now banned in countries like Iran and Lebanon, and many Shia clerics discourage these forms of expression.

Ta’ziya 

These theatrical reenactments bring the tragedy of Karbala to life. Popular in Iran, Lebanon, and parts of the Gulf, they often include scenes of tent burnings, heroic last stands, and the captivity of Husayn’s family.

Pilgrimage to Karbala

Visiting the shrine of Imam Husayn in Karbala, Iraq, is a significant act of devotion, especially on Ashura and Arbaeen which is the 40th day after his martyrdom. Millions make the journey each year.

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