Day of Ashura Date in the current year: July 17, 2024

The Day of Ashura marks the climax of the Mourning of Muharram, a set of observances carried out in countries populated predominantly by Shia Muslims. The Shiites commemorate the 10th of Muharram as a day for mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali at the Battle of Karbala. Husayn ibn Ali was the grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. His death is remembered by Shia Muslims with great sorrow.

Sunni Muslims commemorate the Day of Ashura as the day when Moses fasted as gratitude for liberation of the Israelites. According to sunnah, when Muhammad came to Medina he saw the Jews fasting on this day. They told him that they fasted because this was the day when God saved the Jewish people from their enemy and Moses fasted on this day. Muhammad said, “We are closer to Moses than you”. He faster on the 10th of Muharram and told his people to do the same.

Nowadays, Ashura is a public holiday in some Muslim countries as well as in a number of countries with significant Shia Muslim population. Sunni Muslims fast on this day although it is not obligatory.