Charity Meals 2025 - Registered charity no. 1202716 - Powered by Pillar
£1 Hot Meals: Feed Just ONE Hungry Person Today
Learn MoreThe Day of Ashura is one of the most significant days in the Islamic calendar, steeped in profound historical and spiritual meaning. It falls on the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar year. The term ‘ashura’ comes from the Arabic word for ‘ten’. marking its position in the month. Though it is recognised by all Muslims, the way it is observed varies considerably between Sunni and Shia communities, each drawing on different historical events and religious lessons. At its core, Ashura serves as a powerful reminder of faith, justice, sacrifice and divine mercy.
The Day of Ashura takes place on the tenth day of Muharram, which is the first month of the Islamic calendar. Since the Islamic calendar is lunar, the exact date of Ashura changes each year in the Gregorian calendar. Muslims around the world look to sight the new crescent moon to determine the beginning of Muharram and therefore the timing of Ashura.
The month officially starts when a suitably clear crescent moon can be seen with the naked eye. Muslims in countries where Islam is not an official religion often follow the moon sighting in an important Muslim city or in a country where they have ethnic or cultural ties. This means that different Muslim communities in the same country may start Muharram and mark the Day of Ashura on different days. In the UK, the Day of Ashura 2025 is expected to begin on the evening of Saturday, 5th July and end on the evening of Sunday, 6th July.
This day has been marked by important events in Islamic history, both joyous and tragic. For Sunni Muslims, Ashura is largely associated with miraculous events involving prophets from earlier generations, while for Shia Muslims, it is a solemn day of mourning commemorating the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali (RA), the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE. Despite the differences in how it is observed, Ashura remains a day of deep reflection and religious observance for Muslims worldwide.
Fasting on the Day of Ashura is a well-established practice in Sunni Islam. According to Islamic tradition, when the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) migrated to Medina, he found the Jewish community fasting on the tenth of Muharram to commemorate the day when Prophet Musa (AS) and the Israelites were delivered from the Pharaoh by the parting of the Red Sea. In recognition of this divine event, the Prophet (PBUH) recommended fasting on this day and encouraged his followers to add a day before or after it, to distinguish the Islamic observance from that of the Jews.
The fast of Ashura is considered highly meritorious and is believed to expiate the sins of the previous year. Although it is not obligatory like the fasts during Ramadan, it is strongly encouraged as a way of showing gratitude to Allah (SWT) and deepening one’s spiritual awareness. Many Muslims choose to fast on the 9th and 10th or the 10th and 11th of Muharram, following the Prophet’s guidance.
In contrast, Shia Muslims do not observe fasting on Ashura in the same way. Because the day marks the tragic martyrdom of Imam Husayn (RA) at Karbala, it is seen as a time of mourning, not celebration or festivity. Traditional fasting, which is often a sign of gratitude and joy, is generally avoided. Instead, some Shia Muslims abstain from food and drink for part of the day as a symbolic gesture of solidarity with the suffering of Husayn and his family. However, they usually eat and drink a small symbolic amount between sunrise and sunset to ensure that it does not count as a formal fast, reflecting the sombre nature of the day.
The significance of Ashura in Islam lies in the depth of its historical and spiritual resonance. For Sunni Muslims, the day is a commemoration of divine acts of mercy and intervention throughout history. It recalls several miraculous events, including the salvation of Prophet Musa (AS) and the Israelites from the Pharaoh’s tyranny. Many Islamic traditions also cite other key events believed to have occurred on this day, such as Allah’s forgiveness of Prophet Adam (AS), the safe landing of Prophet Nuh’s (AS) Ark after the flood and the reunion of Prophet Yusuf (AS) with his father Yaqub. These stories collectively reinforce a message of hope, redemption and divine justice.
For Shia Muslims, Ashura holds even greater emotional and theological weight. It is the day when Imam Husayn (RA), the beloved grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), was martyred on the battlefield of Karbala. Husayn’s refusal to submit to the rule of the Umayyad caliph Yazid (a leader many viewed as corrupt and unjust) became a defining act of resistance in Islamic history. Despite being vastly outnumbered, Husayn stood firm in his commitment to truth and justice, knowing that it would cost him his life. His death, along with the killing of his family members and companions, is remembered not just as a historical event, but as a symbol of unwavering moral courage and spiritual sacrifice.
The importance of Ashura, then, lies in its embodiment of universal values that transcend sectarian divides: faith, justice, resilience and the will to stand against oppression. Whether marked through fasting, reflection, or mourning, the day is a time for Muslims to renew their commitment to these core principles.
Ashura is also a day marked by acts of charity and compassion. Giving to the poor, feeding the hungry and engaging in community support efforts are encouraged on this day. These actions honour the legacy of sacrifice at Karbala and help reinforce the sense of unity and shared responsibility within the Muslim community. In both Sunni and Shia traditions, charitable giving on Ashura is a meaningful way to express spiritual commitment and emulate the selflessness of those who stood for truth and justice.
In the Shia tradition in particular, public processions, recitations of poems and elegies and dramatic reenactments of the events of Karbala are common. These rituals serve not only as acts of mourning but also as a form of collective memory, passing down the lessons of Karbala to each generation. They reinforce the message that standing against injustice, even in the face of certain loss, is a sacred duty.
Despite the differences in practice, the underlying themes of Ashura resonate across the Muslim world – divine mercy, steadfastness in faith, resistance against tyranny and the power of sacrifice. It’s a day that encourages believers to look inward, reflect on their spiritual path and renew their commitment to justice and truth in the face of hardship.
Charitable giving can form an important part of marking the Day of Ashura. Ashura’s themes work with binding aspects of Islamic ethics such as solidarity, social justice and humanity. Muslims can embody the meaning of the Day of Ashura by making donations to good causes. This is also a day when the spiritual benefit of good deeds are maximised. You can gain these benefits and celebrate the meaning of the Day of Ashura by donating to one of Charity Meals’ appeals.
Whether through prayer, fasting, mourning, or charity, Ashura calls Muslims to remember the past and strive for righteousness in the present.
