MuMuharram 2023 Date: When is Ashura in 2023?harram 2023 Date: When is Ashura in 2023?
On the day of Ashura, the Shia Muslim community gather in mosques to pray and mourn. People gather on large scales to pray and express their grief since it is a day of commemoration.
MuMuharram 2023 Date: When is Ashura in 2023?harram 2023 Date: When is Ashura in 2023?
Ashura 2023: July 29th of 2023 is the annual 10th day of Muharaam , Ashura. “Ashura” is derived from the Arabic word for the number 10. The day is of great significance for the Muslim community around the world.
On the day of Ashura, the Shia Muslim community gather in mosques to pray and mourn. People gather on large scales to pray and express their grief since it is a day of commemoration. It marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the son of Hazrat Ali and the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who was beheaded during the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.
Imam Hussein is the third of his successors, who famously sacrificed his life in the name of social justice. During this mourning period, the Shia Muslims recreate the grief Ali and his deceased family felt by not attending or participating in any cheerful activities — many chant Ya Ali and Ya Hussain to signify pain and loss.
Many Shia followers dress in black as a symbol of mourning and walk through the streets, beating their chests and chanting. The Sunni Muslims, however, don’t participate in the display of mourning since they mark Ashura as the victory of Moses over the Egyptian Pharoah by freeing the Israelites. But since the loss of Imam Hussein was devastating for the Sunni Muslims also, they participate by fasting. Those who choose to fast believe that God will forgive their sins from the past years. There are three fasting cycles- on the day of Ashura, before the day of Ashura, and after the day of Ashura.
Muharram had been going on since 19th July 2023. It is the first month of the Islamic or Hijri calendar. Based on the 12 lunar months- the sight of a new month presents the start of a new month in the calendar. Muharram is a holy month in the Muslim faith, also considered the ‘sacred month of Allah.’ It is also considered a month of grieving due to Ashura. “Muharram” comes from the word ‘haram,’ which is forbidden in Arabic. During this period, prayers, storytelling, weeping, and chest-beating are carried out before and on Ashura.
What is Karbala?
Karbala is a city located in Iraq, approximately 100 kilometers southwest of Baghdad. It is one of the holiest cities in Shia Islam and holds great religious significance for millions of Muslims around the world. The name “Karbala” is derived from the Arabic word “Karbal,” which means “sorrow” or “grief,” and the city’s history is deeply intertwined with a tragic event in Islamic history known as the Battle of Karbala.
The Battle of Karbala took place on the 10th of Muharram, in the year 61 AH (October 10, 680 CE), during the early period of Islamic history. It was a pivotal event that led to the division between Sunni and Shia Muslims, as well as the martyrdom of the third Shia Imam, Imam Hussain ibn Ali, who was the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.
The battle occurred between the forces of Yazid I, the Umayyad caliph, and a small group of supporters led by Imam Hussain. Yazid I sought to solidify his rule over the Muslim community, and he demanded allegiance from Imam Hussain, who was a prominent and revered figure among Muslims. However, Imam Hussain refused to pledge allegiance to Yazid, believing that his leadership was unjust and contrary to Islamic principles.
As a result, Imam Hussain and his followers, which included members of his family and close companions, embarked on a journey to the city of Kufa, where they intended to establish an alternative government based on justice and righteousness. However, en route to Kufa, they were intercepted by Yazid I’s forces in Karbala.
The Battle of Karbala lasted for several days and culminated on the 10th of Muharram, known as Ashura. Despite being vastly outnumbered and facing dire circumstances, Imam Hussain and his followers displayed unwavering courage and resilience. Tragically, in the battle that followed, Imam Hussain and his male family members and companions were killed, and the women and children were taken as captives.
