Hijri Calendar
Day of Ashura (10th of Muharram)
ʿĀshūrāʾ
The 10th of Muharram, a day of fasting commemorating God's saving of Moses; also the day of the martyrdom of Husayn, mourned by Shia Muslims.
What is Ashura?
Ashura is the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. For Sunni Muslims it is primarily a recommended day of fasting, commemorating the day God saved Prophet Musa (Moses) and the Israelites from Pharaoh. For Shia Muslims it is a solemn day of mourning marking the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the Prophet's grandson, at Karbala in 680 CE.
Ashura and Prophet Musa
When the Prophet ﷺ arrived in Medina, he found the Jews fasting on Ashura. He asked why, and they said it was the day Allah saved Moses from Pharaoh, so Moses fasted in gratitude. The Prophet ﷺ said, "We have more right to Moses than you", and he fasted it and ordered its observance (Bukhari 2004).
Fasting on Ashura
Fasting Ashura is a confirmed sunnah that expiates the minor sins of the previous year. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Fasting the day of Ashura, I hope, will expiate the sins of the previous year" (Muslim 1162). To distinguish Muslim practice from others, he recommended fasting the 9th as well (Tasua), saying that if he lived another year he would fast the ninth.
Ashura for Shia Muslims
For Shia Muslims, Ashura is the central day of mourning for the tragedy of Karbala, where Husayn ibn Ali and his companions were killed. It is observed with mourning gatherings, elegies, and remembrance of the sacrifice of the Prophet's family. This reflects a major difference in how the day is observed across Muslim communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should one fast Ashura?
It is recommended to fast both the 9th and 10th of Muharram (or the 10th and 11th), to combine the virtue and to differ from those who fast only the 10th.
What sins does fasting Ashura expiate?
Scholars explain it expiates minor sins of the past year; major sins require sincere repentance (tawbah).
Etymology & origin
Ashura (عاشوراء) derives from ʿashara (عشرة), the Arabic word for "ten", because it falls on the tenth day of the month of Muharram. The form ʿāshūrāʾ is an intensive pattern emphasising the day's distinction. The name thus simply and directly marks the tenth of the first Islamic month.
References
- Quran:
- 10:90, 2:50
- Hadith:
- Bukhari 2004 (the Prophet found the Jews fasting Ashura); Bukhari 2006 (Quraysh fasted Ashura in Jahiliyyah); Muslim 1162 (expiates the previous year); Muslim 1134 (intention to fast the ninth too); Bukhari 1900 (fasting Ashura before Ramadan was made obligatory)
Related terms
Day of Arafah
The 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, the pinnacle of Hajj when pilgrims stand at Arafat; fasting it for non-pilgrims expiates the sins of two years.
Islamic New Year
The first day of Muharram, marking the start of a new year in the Islamic calendar and commemorating the Hijra.
Karbala
A city in Iraq, site of the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali in 680 CE; a major place of pilgrimage and mourning, especially for Shia Muslims.
Muharram (Sacred Month)
The first month of the Islamic year and one of the four sacred months; fasting in it, especially on Ashura, is highly recommended.
Sawm
The fourth pillar of Islam: abstaining from food, drink, intimacy and sinful acts from dawn (Fajr) to sunset (Maghrib) during Ramadan.