Day of Ashura 2022: Date, History, Significance & More

The word ‘Ashura’ comes from the Arabic word ‘tenth’ and the day of Ashura falls on the 10th day of Muharram month. The month of Muharram holds great significance for Shia Muslims as it commemorates the death anniversary of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Husayn Ibn Ali al-Hussein who died at the Battle of Karbala on the 10th day and this event is referred to as Ashura.

On the day of Ashura, Shia muslims across the world mourn the death of Husayn Ibn Ali al-Hussein also known as Imam Hussain and they take part in a remembrance parade of Husayn Ibn Ali al-Hussein called ‘Matam’.

History of Ashura

In the 61st year of the Islamic calendar, The Battle of Karbala happend between a small group of supporters and relatives of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Imam Hussain and military of Yazid I, the Umayyad caliph.

Imam Hussain’s army comprised his friends, Relatives, Women and young children and the humongous Army of the enemies captured Hussain and his group and did not give them food and water in the scorching desert heat for three consecutive days. Thesoldiers brutally killed Hussain and his 6-year-old son and took the women with them as captives.

The day is observed to remember the sacrifice of innocent lives by observing a mourning period in the month of Muharram.

Significance of Ashura

The Month of Muharram is the second holiest month for Muslims all around the world and on the day of Ashura, the Shia muslims from every corner of the world mourn the death of Imam Hussain.

Shia Muslims put black clothes on this day and march on roads and observe fast and they pay respect to Imam Hussain by beating themselves with chains and they cut themselves with blades and knives. It is their way of expressing grief at the death of Imam Hussain.

As Prophet Muhammad wanted his followers to observe a two-day fast on the day of Ashura and the day prior to it. While the Shias mourn the death of Imam Hussain on Ashura and Sunni Muslims observes a fast dedicated to Muhammad.