Muharram 2017: All you need to know about Ashura

Muharram : Muḥarram (Arabic: مُحَرَّم‎‎ muḥarram) is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year.^[1] It is held to be the second holiest month, following Ramadan. The word "Muharram" means "forbidden". Since the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, Muharram moves from year to year when compared with the Gregorian calendar...

The tenth day of Muharram is the Day of Ashura, which to Shia Muslims is part of the Mourning of Muharram. Sunni Muslims fast during this day, because it is recorded in the hadith that Musa (Moses) and his people obtained a victory over the Egyptian Pharaoh on the 10th day of Muharram; accordingly Muhammad asked Muslims to fast on this day that is Ashura and on a day before that is 9th (called Tasu'a).

Shia Muslims during Muharram do different things and with different intentions. Shia Muslims observe and respect Muharram as the month that martyred Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad and son of Ali, in the Battle of Karbala. They mourn for Hussein ibn Ali and refrain from all joyous events. Unlike Sunni Muslims, Shias do not fast on the 10th day of Muharram.In addition there is an important Ziyarat book, the Ziyarat Ashura about Hussein ibn Ali. In the Shia sect it is popular to read this ziyarat on the "Day of Ashura", although most of the Shias try to read Ziyarat Ashura every day and they send salutations to Hussein ibn Ali.

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Muharram and Ashura to the Shia

Muharram is a month of remembrance and modern Shia meditation that is often considered synonymous with Ashura. Ashura, which literally means the "Tenth" in Arabic, refers to the tenth day of Muharram. It is well-known because of historical significance and mourning for the murder of Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad.

Shiite begin mourning from the first night of Muharram and continue for ten nights, climaxing on the 10th of Muharram, known as the Day of Ashura. The last few days up until and including the Day of Ashura are the most important because these were the days in which Imam Hussein and his family and followers (including women, children and elderly people) were deprived of water from the 7th onward and on the 10th, Imam Hussain and 72 of his followers were killed by the army of Yazid I at the Battle of Karbala on Yazid's orders. The surviving members of Imam Hussein's family and those of his followers were taken captive, marched to Damascus, and imprisoned there.

Significance of Muharram

Shia Muslims mourn the death of Hussain Ibn Ali, grandson of Prophet Muhammad and son of Ali from the battle of Karbala.He was killed in Karbala, a popular place of pilgrimage in Iraq. In the year 680, the battle of Karbala was responsible for the devastation of Imam Hussain, his family, and his followers. Till the end, he suffered for the good cause but finally he had to give up in front of the cruelty.

Sunni Muslims observe it as a victory of Moses over the Egyptian Pharaoh. Prophet Muhammad encouraged his followers to fast on Ashura and on the day before that — the ninth day, called Tasu’a.

How is Al-Hijra and Muharram celebrated around the world?

The first day of the Islamic New Year will be a holiday for millions of Muslims around the world. This includes the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. However the celebration is more of a cultural one rather than a religious holiday. Many will spend the holiday praying in mosques right up until the 10th day or Muharram – called Asura – as well as spending time with their families. Emphasis will be on remembrance as well as self-reflection and gratitude. Muslims also fast during Muharram, which means ‘forbidden’. There will also be mourning congregations with Shia Muslims taking part in chest beatings, self-flagellation and cuttings of their forehead. This is called the Latyma and is an expression of grief.