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Ashura

Ashura, which falls on the 10th day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar, is a recommended day of fasting for Sunni Muslims, and a day of mourning for Shi’ites. The word “ashura” means “tenth” in Arabic. The holiday marks several historical events, including the day that Moses fasted to thank God for the liberation of Israelites from Egypt.

Shi’a Muslims in particular use the day to commemorate the martyrdom of Husayn, a grandson of the Prophet, at the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. Shi’a Muslims consider Husayn the third Imam and a rightful successor of the Prophet Muhammad. In Shi’ite communities, this is a solemn day, with plays that re-enact the martyrdom, and groups of mourners engaging in “matam” — beating their chests to express their grief. Some people also commemorate the day by donating blood. Husayn’s martyrdom is widely interpreted by Shi’a as a symbol of their struggle against injustice, tyranny, and oppression.

Because it highlights the split between Sunni and Shi’a beliefs about the rightful heirs to Mohammed’s teachings, Ashura has sometimes been the occasion for violence between the two sects, and some governments have banned or restricted its celebrations.

The restrictions on the holiday have led to the day being celebrated under other names in some Muslim cultures. In Indonesia, the holiday is known as “Tabuik.” In Trinidad and Tobago, all ethnic and religious communities participate in the event, locally known as “Hosay.”

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