Definition and History of Ashura Days
Ashurah or Ashoora (Sanskrit: سنسکرت) is a Persian name. Ashura meaning is “victory” or “glory”. The festival celebrates the death of Imam Hussein and it commemorates his martyrdom.
Ashura is observed on the tenth day of Muharram by all Muslims. The holiday of Ashura is a holy day for the Islamic faith and an important day for the Shiite Muslims.
See More: List of Public Holidays in Pakistan
The main commemoration takes place during Muharram in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan on the 10th day of Moharam, which falls on 20th Safrat of Islamic calendar. The date varies between 19 March in the Gregorian calendar to 22 March in the Julian calendar.
It is called Arbaeen in the Shia branch of Islam, but not in Sunni branches. In Pakistan, the festival of Arba’een marks the beginning of the Muslim month of Moharrum where Shia celebrate it as ziyarat Ashura.
What is Ashura or Ashura Holiday?
The celebration of Ashura is an important holiday in the Islamic calendar. It is observed on the 9th and 10th day of Muharram by Shiite Muslims around the world.
Every year, Ashura begins on July 27. Shia Muslims see it as the climax of the Remembrance of Muharram, the martydom of Husayn ibn Ali, and the birth of Imam Hussain, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.
For the Sunni Muslims, Ashura is the day that the Jews commemorate their expulsion from the Temple. Today is also a holy day of mourning that’s observed primarily by Shias.
There are many types of Muslim sects. They vary in their beliefs, practices and rituals, but most of them fast during daylight hours and spend the night meditating.
In the past, the word “Ashura” meant to be unlucky, but today, it means to pray. Ashura, meaning bad luck, was a very important holiday in ancient Persia (now Iran).
It was celebrated on the 13th day of Muharram in commemoration of the death of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad. The celebration involved fasting, prayer, and mourning for three days.
Today, the word “Ashura” is used to describe any period of sadness, such as grief, depression, or disappointment. Ashura, also known as Moharam-e-Shahidani, commemorates the martyrdom of Hazrat Husain ibn Ali, the third Shia imam, who died at Kerbela in 680 CE.
This day is considered the most sacred of all Islamic holidays because it marks the beginning of the month of Muharram, and thus, the start of the first 10 months of the year.
The festival falls on the seventh day of the holy month of Muharram, which begins with the sighting of the new moon. It lasts for three days, ending with a ceremony in which people mourn the tragic event that occurred on the previous day.
See More: Why do we celebrate Kashmir Day?
Definition and History of Ashura
In the name of Allah, the most merciful, the most compassionate. May peace be upon the prophet (PBUH) and his family. Praise to God, the Lord of the worlds.
Ashura day is a religious holiday that takes place on the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. It commemorates the death of Imam Hussain ibn Ali, grandson of Prophet Muhammad PBUH.
During this period, Muslims all over the world will commemorate the martyrdom of the holy imam. A person who dies in the cause of Islam is said to have been killed in the way of Allah.
It was narrated by Abu Huraira, the son-in-law of the Holy Prophet, that when the Battle of Karbala took place, the companions of the Holy Prophet were greatly saddened and they asked him why he had not gone with them at the day of Ashura.
He replied: “I am the father of a large number of children; I cannot leave my home.” The Holy Prophet went out to battle. When he returned, he found that the whole household of the Holy Prophet was weeping, and so were the women of his household. He inquired about it.
They told him: “The enemy has killed your grandson, and you did not go to fight against them.
The History of the Ashura Day
Every year, Muslims commemorate the death of Imam Hussein (RA). This is known as Ashura. During this time, people gather together to mourn the loss of their leader and perform Dua e Ashura.
In addition to mourning, they also celebrate his life. For example, they will light candles, recite prayers, sing songs, and perform other activities. This holiday falls on the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. However, it’s important to note that the date varies from year to year. It could fall anywhere between the 9th and 13th of Muharram.
It’s believed that the Prophet Muhammad was killed in the same location where he delivered his last sermon. In fact, the mosque in Medina is built over the exact spot that he died. If you want to learn more about the history of the day, then you should read the article below. It explains everything you need to know.
The first thing you need to understand is that there are two different dates associated with the death of the prophet. One is known as the “official” date. The other is called the “true” date.
The official date refers to when the Muslim community believes that the prophet died. This occurs at sunset, which happens around the 8th of Muharram.
See More: What is Pakistan Day?
See Here: Why do we celebrate Labour Day?
Why it is Celebrated?
Many people have heard of Ashura, but they don’t know why this day was established. As it turns out, Ashura commemorates the death of Imam Hussein. This holiday is important because it celebrates the life of one of the most influential religious figures in history.
Imam Hussein (A.D. 744-775. was born into a prominent family. His father, Abu Ali, served as the governor of Kufa. When his mother died, he became the leader of the Muslim community in Iraq. He eventually moved to Damascus and began teaching Islam to people from all walks of life.
He married three times. The first two marriages were arranged, while the third marriage was a love match. After his wife’s death, he married another woman named Fatima. Together, they had four children.
In A.D. 750, the Abbasid Caliph ordered that Imam Hussein be killed. Many Muslims believe that this act caused the fall of the Umayyad Dynasty, which meant that the Islamic empire would soon become independent.
During the Battle of Karbala, many of his followers fought to defend him. However, he was ultimately captured by the enemy forces. He and some of his sons were executed, while others fled.
Significance of the Ashura Days
It is important to understand that the Ashura days have a very special significance. If you want to learn more about this, you can read the article below. This will help you to gain an understanding of the history behind these holy days.
There are many different traditions associated with the Ashura holidays. For example, one of the most popular customs involves the burning of the Qur’an. Mostly Muslims strongly perform Ashura fasting during Ashura days.
This tradition was originally introduced by the Prophet Muhammad himself. He felt that the Qur’an should be destroyed at the time when he died. However, the practice of destroying books and other religious documents is now considered to be extremely offensive.
Another custom that is observed during the Ashura period is the mourning process. During the month of Muharram, people go through a series of rituals that are meant to symbolize the death of Imam Hussain.
In addition to these practices, there are also certain ceremonies that take place in Iran. One of the most significant of these is the ceremony of the “Aghazadeh.”
The Aghazadeh takes place on the tenth day of Muharram. It commemorates the martyrdom of the Prophet’s grandson, Imam Hussein. The ceremony itself lasts for three days.
See More: Why do we celebrate Bank Holiday?
Is it an Islamic Holiday?
In the western world, Ashura is known more commonly by the name of Muharram. This is the Muslim holy month of mourning, where people mourn the death of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Imam Hussein. The word Ashura comes from the Arabic phrase Al-Asr, meaning “the time”.
This day commemorates the martyrdom of the third Shia imam, Hussain ibn Ali. On the ninth day of this month, the first day of the sacred month of fasting, Muslims fast and attend special prayers. During these services, they make sacrifices to show their grief for Husain.
On the tenth day, the second of the sacred month, the family of the martyred imam hold a ceremony at his grave. People light candles, visit the tomb, and offer prayers.
The last ten days of the month are also observed as the beginning of the 40th year after the death of the prophet. It is important to note that many people believe that this is an Islamic holiday. However, it is not. It was created as a commemoration of a historical event.
Is Ashura a Muslim Festival?
In the Islamic religion, the day that marks the death of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is known as Ashura. This date falls on the tenth of Muharram in the lunar calendar. The word “ashura” means “day of suffering.” On this day, Muslims all across the world mourn the loss of their beloved prophet.
Muslims believe that the Prophet was killed by the army of the tyrant Yazid, who later became the ruler of the Umayyad dynasty. In the Quran, Allah tells us how the Prophet suffered: “On the Day of Resurrection, We will gather them together. As for the one whose eyes were gouged out, his ears cut off, and life given to him to take, a piece of flesh from his body; we shall raze it to dust, and with Us he will be in disgrace.” [Quran 4.161]
While this verse refers to the physical torment that the Prophet faced, many other verses refer to the emotional pain that he felt. For example, in Surat Al-Anfal, Allah says, “O you who have believed, weep not over those who left among you, before your time, for they are in a high degree of honor. But let a party of believers witness what is ahead for the unbelievers.
