While Muharram can be celebrated as the beginning of the Islamic New Year or as mourning death, either way, it is a significant and holy month for all Muslims. Similarly, other Shia Muslims perform public rituals that include forehead-cutting, chest-beating, and self-flagellation. Some go to mosques to mourn Hussein’s death and to remember what the Prophet’s family did for justice. Shia Muslims take part in morning rituals as well. It’s common to give extra prayers and spend a lot of time in the mosque during this period. People also like to cook sweet dishes, such as sweet rice, and eat them with their family and friends when breaking their fast. Therefore, many Muslims opt to fast on the ninth and tenth days of Muharram. According to Prophet Muhammad, fasting on the day of Ashura will absolve all sins from the previous year. Many Muslims choose to fast during Muharram, such as on the day of Ashura and other days in the month, to show gratitude. Is Muharram a public holiday, you ask? It’s a day off for the general population, with schools, government offices, and most businesses closed. Due to Hussein’s murder and the brutality of the battle during a period when fighting is prohibited, many Shia grieve and remember the Prophet family’s bravery. The Battle of Karbala occurred on the Day of Ashura in 680 AD. Hussein had questioned the authenticity of the caliph Yazid and was later murdered during the Battle of Karbala. It commemorates the death of Hussein Ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad. For many Shia Muslims, it symbolizes a serious, reflective day in Islamic history. For Muslims who follow the Sunni branch of Islam, the month marks the start of the Islamic New Year and represents peace and contemplation. Shia and Sunni Muslims regard Muharram differently. It is also the day that God saved Prophet Musa, or Moses, from the Pharaoh of Egypt by helping him and his people cross the Red Sea.īut the festival differs depending on who celebrates Muharram. It marks the day that Nuh, or Noah, left the Ark. Why do we celebrate Muharram?Īre you curious about what is Muharram celebrated for? The Day of Ashura, or the tenth day of Muharram, is an important day for Muslims. The countdown is on as there are just a few days to go (depending on where you are in the world). So if you’re wondering how many days are left in Muharram 2022, it has yet to start. This year, Muharram is expected to end on August 28th at sundown. It’s worth noting that the dates might be a day or two earlier than a visible sighting. The moon must become new before sunset in MakkahĪccording to the FCNA, the first day of the Islamic New Year in 2022 is July 29th at sundown, followed by July 18th in 2023 and July 7th in 2024.For example, the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) calculates the date based on the following criteria: Alternatively, different criteria are used by other Muslims to decide the start of the Islamic New Year. While it’s possible to see the crescent moon a day or two after the new moon, factors such as weather conditions can affect the sighting. Many Muslims note the beginning of Muharram at the initial sighting of the moon following the new moon in the same month. Since its length differs from the Gregorian calendar that is commonly used in the West, celebrations take place on a different day each year. Muslim holidays fall on different dates every year since they are based on the lunar calendar.

According to the Muharram date in 2022, the day of Ashura is expected to begin on August 7th or 8th. The tenth day of Muharram, which is known as the day of Ashura, is the most significant for Muslims for various reasons. Celebrations last for 10 days, starting once the new moon has been sighted on the final day of the Islamic calendar. It is the second most significant month following Ramadan and is often a period of fasting for practicing Muslims. The word ‘Muharram’ translates to “forbidden, banned, illicit, or prohibited”.

Muharram month 2022