What Is Ashura Day: For Muslims all over the world, Ashura is a holy day that is celebrated on the ninth and tenth days of Muharram. Ashura starts on July 16 this year. Sunni and Shia Muslims have different holidays.
For Shia Muslims, Ashura is especially important because it marks the end of Muharram and remembers the death of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Husayn ibn Ali, in the Battle of Karbala.
Sunnis connect Ashura with the day that Prophet Moses fasted to show his thanks for freeing the Israelites. All Muslims know Ashura, but Shia Muslims observe it mostly as a day of mourning. Other Muslim groups may observe it as a day of fasting and thought. The many ways that Ashura is interpreted and celebrated show how complex Islamic beliefs and customs are.
History of Ashura day
The sad “Battle of Karbala” event in which Husayn ibn Ali, a rebel leader in the seventh century, was sentenced to death is symbolized by Ashura. On Ashura, millions of Muslims around the world remember Husayn’s death and his unwavering commitment to social justice.
Thirteen hundred years have passed since the Prophet Muhammad died in 632 A.D. in this story. There were problems because people had different ideas about the kingdom and who should lead. Others backed Abu Bakr, the Prophet’s close friend, as the first caliph, while others backed Ali, the Prophet’s cousin and son-in-law. Because of this split, the Shia faith grew, and Ali was seen as the first imam chosen by God. Even though some people were called caliphs, the Shias saw their Imam as the real boss.
When Ali’s son Husayn was made the third imam, things got worse. In the year 680 A.D., Husayn refused to swear loyalty to Caliph Yazd because he thought Yazd was an unfair and unfit leader. Because of this denial, the Battle of Karbala took place in the Karbala desert (now Iraq) in 680 A.D. It continued for ten days.
Husayn beat Yazd’s huge army with the help of his family and best friends. Husayn and his followers stood strong even though they knew they were being surrounded and had nothing to eat or drink. They were waiting to be killed. After morning prayers on the day of Ashura, the fight began. Husayn’s friends fought bravely against Yazd’s army, but one by one, they died, leaving Husayn alone.
Even though he was badly hurt and tired, Husayn kept fighting even after his supplies were cut off. During the final attack, Husayn was brutally killed by Yazd’s army. This ended a sad period in Islamic history and showed how Husayn’s sacrifice for justice and resistance to injustice would have a lasting impact.
Ashura timeline day
622 / A.D.
Prophet Muhammad said that on Ashura, from sunset to sunset after the Hijrah, people should fast because he is running away from oppression on his way from Mecca to Medina.
632 A.D.
After leaving and coming back, Prophet Muhammad died.
661–750 A.D.
The Umayyad family runs a country in Islam.
In 676 A.D., his father Muawiyah I named his son Yazd I as caliph.
The Battle of Karbala took place in the year 680.
During the fight with Yazid forces, Husayn ibn Ali and his followers were killed by beheading.
In 1979, Iraq made it illegal to remember Ashura.
As a planned political move, Saddam Hussein made it illegal for people to celebrate Ashura religiously.
Peace was lost in a fight on October 24, 2015.
At an Ashura march in Dhaka, Bangladesh, three blasts killed one person and hurt eighty others.
2018 Notes on the Past
People in Flint, Michigan, have donated tens of thousands of water bottles to remember Husayn and his friends, who died after going three days without water.
How to Observe Ashura day
Feeling Sadness
On Ashura, Shia Muslims wear sad clothes, and some go to Karbala, Iraq, to see the shrine. Today, people honor Husayn’s life and share their grief over his untimely death. During this solemn time, weddings, parties, and music are not allowed.
Right away
Ashura is a time when Sunni Muslims fast to show their thanks for Moses’ win. It remembers the day that Allah split the Red Sea to save Moses and his friends.
Be kind and caring.
In Jamaica, Trinidad, and Tobago, Hosay, who is also known as Ashura, has a different personality that shows respect and tolerance for all faiths. A lot of people from different religions come to the event, which has elements of Roman Catholicism, Hinduism, and traditional Baptist practices.
Why Ashura is Important
For Muslims, this is one of the greatest days. About 25% of people in the world follow Islam. Muslims think about how to strengthen their faith and ask for more blessings on Ashura.
The day represents the moral lessons Husayn taught during Muharram, which were mostly about loving others and not caring about yourself. Through fasting or sadness, people remember Husayn’s death at Karbala, which was meant to bring back morals and bring humanity back to life.
The holiday of Ashura marks the victory of good over evil, which is in line with the Islamic belief that good always wins over evil. On this holy day, Muslims remember how brave Husayn was in his fight against all kinds of evil and wrong.
When is Ashura day 2023?
Today, July 28, 2023, is the Tenth Day of Muharram, which is the Day of Ashura. In the Islamic calendar, this lucky day is very important for both religion and history. Shia Muslims remember Husayn ibn Ali’s death and the Battle of Karbala, which is a symbol of standing up against wrong, on this day.
Sunnis celebrate Ashura as a day of fasting to remember how Prophet Moses beat Pharaoh. The day is marked by rituals, prayers, and reflection, with themes of bravery, sacrifice, and the victory of good over evil. Muslims all over the world use this time to think about their spiritual growth, self-purification, and working together as a group.
What is Ashura day in Islam?
For Sunni Muslims, Ashura commemorates the day that God delivered the Israelites, led by the Prophet Musa (Moses), from the tyranny of Egypt’s Pharaoh by parting the Red Sea, thus allowing them to cross safely. The day is observed with fasting and special prayers in mosques, signifying its sacred nature.
The first month of the Islamic calendar, Muharram, starts on Friday, July 28. We are now on Ashura’s day. Muslim communities around the world enjoy this day to remember when Pharaoh freed Prophet Moses (AS) and the Children of Israel from his rule.
The Quran says that Allah (SWT) sent Musa (AS) to give advice and warn the Israelites, the Pharaoh of Egypt, and his government. Musa’s (AS) life has been told about more than any other prophet’s. This makes him the most talked about person in the Qur’an.
As a prize for fasting on the Day of Ashura, Allah (SWT) would wash away sins from the year before.
After years of being slaves, the Israelites flee and reach the Red Sea at the beginning of the story. Allah (SWT) told Moses to strike the Red Sea with his staff to split it open so the Israelites could cross safely. This was done to get rid of the threat that Pharaoh and his army faced. As the king of Egypt and his troops tried to catch them, the sea closed in on them and killed them.
People fast on the Day of Ashura as a way to show their thanks to Musa (AS). Prophet Muhammad (SAW) told Muslims to fast on both the ninth and tenth days of Muharram, which are Sunday, August 7, and Monday, August 8. This was done to set Muslims apart from other faith groups that fast on this day.
What is Ashura and why it is celebrated?
For Sunni Muslims, Ashura marks the day when Prophet Moses and the Children of Israel were saved from Pharaoh’s tyranny by crossing the Red Sea thus on this day they fast and thank Allah for helping them. They also perform acts of charity and good deeds.
For Sunni and Shia Muslims, Ashura represents different past events and interpretations, which is why it has different meanings. Shia Muslims celebrate Ashura as the day that the Prophet Moses and the Israelites crossed the Red Sea to get away from the Pharaoh’s rule. This is the day when people fast, thank Allah for saving them and do kind and charitable things.
Shia Muslims, on the other hand, mourn Ashura to remember Imam Hussein, who was killed at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE and was the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. The death of Imam Hussein is a sign of resistance against injustice and oppression. Shia Muslims hold funeral rites, listen to lectures, and think about how brave Imam Hussein was on Ashura.
Muslims don’t do things like fight during this time because the word “Muharram” means “not allowed” or “forbidden.” They, on the other hand, value praying and deep reflection. Muslims respect Ashura in the same way, but the holiday is celebrated in different ways depending on where people live and their ethnicity.
Why do Muslims fast on Ashura?
This day is not for Moosa (peace be upon him); rather it is for the saving of the believers. The reason for fasting it is that it is the day on which Allah saved Moosa and drowned Pharaoh and his troops, and there covered them from the sea that which covered them (cf. 20:78).
Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah bless him) said that when the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) got to Madinah, he saw that the Jews were fasting on the day of ‘Ashura. When I asked them what they were doing, they told me that they were celebrating Allah’s win over Pharaoh for Moses and the Israelites. In honor of this event, they fasted. “We are closer to Moosa than you,” the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, pointing out how much he was like the Prophet Moses. He also told people that day was a good day to fast. Both Sahih al-Bukhari (3943) and Sahih Muslim (1130) record this order.
“Ashura” has a lot to do with the Quran, where Allah saves Moses and drowns Pharaoh and his army (20:78). Today was a fast day for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he told his followers to do the same. At first, it was something that everyone had to do to show respect for Allah and to be like Moses (peace be upon him). But when it became necessary to fast during the month of Ramadan, it stopped being necessary to fast on ‘Ashura and became a recommended Sunnah practice.
What happens on Day of Ashura?
The story of Ashura and other Prophets
Some narrations also say that The Day of Ashura was also the day that Prophet Adam (AS) repented and was forgiven to Allah after eating the forbidden fruit, as well as the day that Prophet Yunus (AS) was released from the belly of the whale and Allah forgave his people.
Some stories say that the Day of Ashura also celebrated the day that Prophet Yunus (AS) was freed from the whale’s belly and the day that Allah forgave his people after Prophet Adam (AS) admitted his mistake and asked for forgiveness.
The stories of other prophets, as well as the events that happened with Prophet Moses and Imam Hussein, show how important the Day of Ashura was. Tradition says that when the rains stopped on Ashura, Allah led and safely moved his ark back to dry land. Prophet Nuh and his loyal followers were happy and at ease on this day.
Some stories also say that the stories of Prophet Adam (AS) and Prophet Yunus (AS) revolve around the Day of Ashura. Today, after eating the fruit that was not supposed to be eaten, Prophet Adam admitted his mistakes and asked Allah to forgive him. In the same way, it is thought to be the day that Allah forgave his people out of kindness after freeing Prophet Yunus from the whale’s stomach.
These stories show how important the Day of Ashura is in many different ways by talking about how God intervened, forgave, and changed the lives of different prophets throughout history.
What is the message of Ashura?
Ashura teaches us to avoid all kinds of rituals, all kinds of superstitions, all kinds of shirk, all kinds of haraam and all kinds of cowardice, deception and lies. Karbala is a metaphor for courage, fortitude, truth telling.
Ashura tells Muslims to stay away from certain behaviors that aren’t allowed, like shirk (making partners with Allah) and haraam (doing things that aren’t allowed).
Karbala, the place where Imam Hussain died, has come to stand for bravery, sticking with something, and sharing the truth. In the face of the Yazidi army, Imam Hussain, who was the grandson of Hazrat Rasool-e-Akram (the Prophet Muhammad), showed these traits. His gift is more than just a tribute on the tenth of Muharram. For Muslims, it serves as a reflection of how important this event was.
Imam Hussain’s stand at Karbala was about more than just remembering the day the Prophet’s grandkids were kept from the Euphrates River and made to fight while they were hungry. Imam Hussain, the most powerful leader of the Ahl al-Bayt, was hungry, so he did more than eat symbolic syrup and cry in front of swords. Instead, his death brought to light the age-old truth that justice is the final goal of all wars, tragedies, and struggles. It was a show of resistance against an oppressive king that sent a strong message that death is better than giving in to an evil tyrant.
On the Day of Ashura, Allah’s coordinated work freed Prophet Musa (AS) and the Israelites from Pharaoh’s cruel and unjust rule. It was blasphemy for the Pharaoh, who stood for injustice and corruption, to say that he was a god, which kept him from worshiping Allah. Prophet Musa (AS) spoke out against the Pharaoh’s pride and convinced him to accept Allah’s power. The Pharaoh sent a huge army to kill the Prophet Musa and his followers because he wouldn’t accept any authority higher than himself. On the Day of Ashura, people remember the amazing event that saved Prophet Musa and the Israelites from danger.