Muharram is the second most sacred and holy festival of Islam. It is marked to celebrate on 20 August this year. Just like Ramadan, Muharram also depends on the sighting of the moon. The day moon sights, the holy festival is celebrated the next day, also termed Muharram-ul-Haram.
It marks the beginning of the Islamic Year or Hiriji that contains 354 or 355 days. As per the Prophet Mohammad, The messenger of God, the month of Muharram is considered to be the “sacred month Allah”. The holy month began on the 11th of August and the Day of Ashura is marked to be celebrated on the 20th of August.
The Day of Ashura
The Day of Ashura is a symbolic day of struggle against injustice and operation. It symbolizes the cruelty and suffering experienced by the prophet’s grandson before his death. On this day, Shia Muslims mark the ceremonial mourning for the prophet’s grandson, called Ashura. Shia Muslims beat them with sharp objects.
History and Significance
Muharram is one of the four holy months and is revered by Muslims all over the world. It was during the Muharram festival that the Prophet Muhammad traveled from Mecca to Medina. Many Muslims use partial fasts as part of their mourning. Muslims belonging to the Shia sect often wear black clothes while mourning.
Traditionally, the mourning started on the first night of Muharram and lasted 10 nights. This is the most important day, because during this period Hussein Ibn Ali and his family and followers women, children, and the elderly were deprived of water and tortured and, killed by the army of Yazid I during the Battle of Karbala.
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