Ashura is the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It is a day of major religious and historical significance for all Muslims, but is observed differently by Sunni and Shia communities.

When is Ashura?

Ashura falls on the 10th day of Muharram, which is the first month in the Islamic calendar.

The following is the list of Ashura from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Ashura?

Before Islam, Ashura was already observed by some Arab tribes and Jewish communities in Arabia as a day of fasting. It is believed that it commemorated the day when Prophet Musa (Moses) and the Children of Israel were saved from Pharaoh by the parting of the Red Sea.

When Prophet Muhammad arrived in Medina after the Hijrah (migration from Mecca), he found the Jewish community observing a fast on the 10th of Muharram. He fasted on this day and encouraged Muslims to fast as well. Later, he recommended adding a day before or after (9th or 11th) to distinguish the Islamic practice from that of the Jews.

On Ashura in the year 61 AH (October 10, 680 CE), Imam Hussain ibn Ali, the beloved grandson of Prophet Muhammad, was martyred in Karbala (modern-day Iraq). He and about 72 companions, including family members, were killed by the army of Yazid ibn Muawiya, the Umayyad ruler.

Imam Hussain refused to give allegiance to Yazid, whom he considered unjust and corrupt. He stood for truth and the moral integrity of Islam, even at the cost of his life. This event is a turning point in Islamic history, particularly for Shia Muslims, who commemorate Ashura as a day of grief and remembrance.

Sunni Muslims observe Ashura with voluntary fasting on the 10th of Muharram, and optionally on the 9th or 11th, while Shia Muslims commemorate the day with mourning processions, poetry recitations, and reenactments of the Battle of Karbala.