Ashura
July 5, Saturday
Significance for Sunnis
For Sunnis, Ashura is a day of fasting and spiritual purification. According to traditions, it was on this day that the prophet Musa (Moses) and his people were saved from the Pharaoh, and the prophet Muhammad recommended fasting on this day as a sign of gratitude to Allah. Some Muslims also fast on the 9th or 11th day of Muharram.
Significance for Shias
For Shias, Ashura is a day of mourning and sorrow for Imam Husayn, the grandson of the prophet Muhammad. In 680 CE, at the Battle of Karbala, he was killed along with his supporters by the forces of the Umayyad caliph Yazid I. This event became a turning point in Shia history and a symbol of the struggle for justice and loyalty to spiritual principles.
Traditions and customs
Ashura traditions vary depending on the religious school and region:
* Sunnis observe voluntary fasting and attend mosques.
* Shias hold mourning processions, recite religious poems, reenact scenes of the Battle of Karbala (ta'ziyah); in some countries, acts of self-flagellation or symbolic pain are practiced as expressions of grief.
* In some Muslim countries, charitable acts and free meals for the poor are organized.
Where is it observed?
Ashura is observed throughout the Muslim world, including countries such as Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, India, Lebanon, Bahrain, Afghanistan, as well as in Muslim communities in other regions.
Modern significance
For many Muslims, especially Shias, Ashura remains an important reminder of sacrifice, devotion, and the struggle for truth. This day unites believers in prayer, reflection, and solidarity.