Ashura

Ashura, or Yawm Ashura, is a major day of commemoration in Islam. It occurs annually on the tenth of Muharram. Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. The name Ashura comes from an Aramaic word meaning "tenth."

This day holds deep meaning for different groups within Islam. Because of different historical events, Sunni and Shia Muslims observe it in very different ways. For some, it is a day of gratitude and joy. For others, it is a day of profound mourning and protest.

In Sunni Islam, many traditions view Ashura as an auspicious day. Many believe several significant events occurred on this date in history. For example, Sunni tradition holds that Moses parted the Red Sea to save the Israelites. Other traditions suggest Noah disembarked from the Ark on this day. Some accounts say God forgave Adam or that Joseph was released from prison. Other stories link the day to the births of Jesus or Abraham.

To observe this, many Sunnis practice supererogatory fasting, which means voluntary fasting. Some communities also celebrate with carnivals, bonfires, or special dishes.

For Shia Muslims, Ashura is a day of deep grief and mourning. They commemorate the death of Husayn ibn Ali in the year 680 CE. Husayn was the grandson of the prophet Muhammad and the third Shia imam. He was killed during the Battle of Karbala in the desert. Husayn fought against the army of the Umayyad caliph, Yazid ibn Mu'awiya. Husayn had refused to pledge allegiance to Yazid on moral grounds.

This battle involved Husayn, his male relatives, and a small retinue. For Shia Muslims, this event symbolizes the struggle between good and evil.

Shia rituals are designed to express this sorrow and keep the memory alive. Mourners often participate in large processions through major cities. They may gather in special buildings to hear the stories of Karbala. Many listen to the recitation of elegies and dirges to move them to tears. Some people perform dramatic reenactments called ta'ziya.

These plays act out the historical narratives of the battle. In Karbala, performances even reenact the burning of Husayn's tents. These rituals help the community seek Husayn's intercession in the afterlife.

There are many physical ways that Shia mourners express their pain. A common practice is striking one's chest in grief. Some participants engage in self-flagellation, which is the act of striking oneself. While mild forms are common, extreme methods involving blood are highly controversial. Many Shia clerics have condemned or even outlawed these extreme practices.

Despite these controversies, the day remains a central part of Shia religious identity. It serves as an act of protest against oppression.

The history of Ashura shows how Islamic practices evolved over time. Fasting on Ashura was a practice the prophet Muhammad adopted in Medina in 622 CE. Originally, it was linked to the Jewish practice of Yom Kippur. However, as relations with Medinan Jews changed, the fast became optional. This shift is often connected to the Quranic verses that designate Ramadan for fasting.

Over time, the Islamic and Jewish calendars diverged. This caused the association between Ashura and the tenth of Muharram to develop later.

Ashura has also been a subject of historical and modern tension. In the past, some leaders used the day for political reasons. For example, the Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan made it a public holiday. This was intended to counter the Shia commemoration of Husayn. In modern times, the day has sometimes been a target for violence. There have been documented terrorist attacks against Shia processions in various countries. For example, in 2004, explosions in Iraq killed over 180 people during Ashura. These events show how the day remains a powerful and sensitive time for millions.