What is the month of Muharram?

Muharram (محرم, “the sacred one”) is the first month of the hijri calendar and one of the four sacred months named in the Qur'an (9:36). Its name comes from the verb “harrama” (to make sacred) — sins weigh more heavily in it and good deeds are doubly rewarded. It opens the Muslim year (1 Muharram = the hijri New Year). The Prophet ﷺ called it “Allah's sacred month” (shahr Allah al-muharram) and said: “The best prayer after the obligatory ones is the night prayer, and the best fast after Ramadan is that of Allah's month al-Muharram” (Muslim 1163).

What is the origin of the day of Ashura?

The day of Ashura (يوم عاشوراء, “the tenth day” of Muharram) has several historical dimensions: 1) The day Allah saved Moussa (Moses) and the Children of Israel from Pharaoh by parting the sea — the Jews fasted it in memory. 2) On reaching Medina the Prophet ﷺ saw the Jews fasting, asked why, and said: “We have more right to Moses than you do,” and ordered the fast (Bukhari 2004). 3) A historical tragedy: the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (the Prophet's grandson ﷺ) at Karbala in 680 CE. 4) In some traditions: Adam was forgiven, Nuh's ark came to rest, Ibrahim was saved from the fire.

Which days should be fasted in Muharram?

The recommended days: 1) 10 Muharram (Ashura) — the most important. 2) 9 Muharram (Tasu'a) plus the 10th — recommended to differ from the Jews, who fast only the 10th (Muslim 1134). 3) Or the 10th plus the 11th — another validated option. 4) Ideally: the 9th, 10th and 11th. 5) Fasting the WHOLE month is Sunnah per Muslim 1163, but not obligatory. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever fasts Ashura, Allah forgives him the sins of the previous year” (Muslim 1162). The fast of Ashura is voluntary but strongly recommended.

Can the hijri New Year be celebrated?

There is NO specific prophetic celebration of 1 Muharram. The Prophet ﷺ and the companions did not mark it as the Western New Year is marked. It is simply a spiritual prompt: 1) take stock of the year gone by (muhasaba), 2) set spiritual goals for the hijri year beginning, 3) strengthen your practice, 4) remember the Hijra of the Prophet ﷺ (the migration from Mecca to Medina in 622). The two Eids (al-Fitr and al-Adha), by contrast, are the only festivals formally established in Islam.

What do Sunnis do at Ashura, compared with Shias?

SUNNIS (the majority) fast the 9th and 10th, or the 10th and 11th of Muharram, focusing on the spiritual dimension of Ashura (the rescue of Moses) and the forgiveness of sins. Life otherwise continues as normal. SHIAS commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein at Karbala (680 CE, 10 Muharram) with mourning processions, public readings, and sometimes self-flagellation (latmiyya — a practice condemned by Sunni scholars). Sunni Islam accepts the tragedy of Karbala but does not approve of extreme mourning practices. The Prophet ﷺ forbade striking oneself and tearing one's clothes in mourning (Bukhari 1297, Muslim 103).

When will Ashura 2026 be?

According to the astronomical forecasts, Ashura 2026 (10 Muharram 1448 AH) will fall on 26 July 2026 (10 Muharram 1448 AH). The hijri New Year (1 Muharram 1448) will be 17 July 2026 (1 Muharram 1448 AH). The exact dates may shift by a day either way, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon. Check with your country's moon-sighting committee or your local mosque. The full hijri calendar: /calendrier-hijri.

Shahr Allah al-Muharram

Muharram & Ashura 2026

The sacred month that opens the hijri year. The Muslim New Year, the fast of Ashura (10 Muharram), the spiritual merits, the historical origin, and a practical guide to making the most of it.

1 Muharram 1448 AH

17 July 2026 (1 Muharram 1448 AH)

10 Muharram (Ashura)

26 July 2026 (10 Muharram 1448 AH)

أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ
“The best fast after Ramadan is that of Allah's month, al-Muharram.”
— Sahih Muslim 1163

The origin of Ashura

On reaching Medina, the Prophet ﷺ saw the Jews fasting on 10 Muharram and asked them why. They answered:

“It is a blessed day. It is the day Allah saved Moses and his people and drowned Pharaoh with his army. Moses fasted in gratitude, and we fast in commemoration.”
The Prophet ﷺ replied: “We have more right to Moses than you do,” and he ordered the fast.
— Sahih al-Bukhari 2004, Sahih Muslim 1130

The following year the Prophet ﷺ said: “If I live until next year, I will fast the ninth as well” (Muslim 1134). Fasting both the 9th and 10th is meant to distinguish the practice from the earlier Jewish one — but the Prophet ﷺ died before the next Muharram.

The four authenticated combinations:

1The 10th only (Ashura) — the minimum form, valid
2The 9th AND the 10th (Tasu'a + Ashura) — the form RECOMMENDED by the Prophet ﷺ
3The 10th AND the 11th — a validated alternative (Ibn ʿAbbas)
4The 9th, 10th AND 11th — the fullest form

The merits of the month and of the fast of Ashura

Forgiveness of the previous year's sins

Muslim 1162

“Whoever fasts the day of Ashura, Allah forgives him the sins of the previous year.”

The best month for fasting after Ramadan

Muslim 1163

“The best fast after Ramadan is that of Allah's month, al-Muharram.”

A sacred month — sins graver, rewards multiplied

Qur'an 9:36

“The number of months with Allah is twelve… of which four are sacred… So do not wrong yourselves during them.”

The link with Moussa (Moses)

Bukhari 2004

Reliving symbolically the rescue of Moussa and the Children of Israel — a reminder of divine intervention and of the victory of good over tyranny.

An action plan for Muharram 2026

D-7

Before 1 Muharram

• Take spiritual stock of the hijri year just ended (muhasaba)
• Set three to five spiritual goals for the year ahead
• Plan your calendar (fasting days, time for dhikr)
• Buy provisions for Suhur and Iftar on the fasting days

1 Muharram (New Year)

• Increase your dhikr and supplications
• Read a juz of the Qur'an
• Reflect on the Hijra of the Prophet ﷺ
• Set firm intentions for the year

9 Muharram (Tasu'a)

• Have Suhur (the pre-dawn meal)
• Make the intention to fast Tasu'a
• Fast from Fajr to Maghrib
• Break the fast with dates and water

D10

10 Muharram (Ashura) ⭐

• THE main day — the fast is strongly recommended
• Extended Qur'an reading
• Abundant supplication
• A symbolic sadaqah
• Tell the family the story of Moussa

D11

11 Muharram (optional)

• If Tasu'a (the 9th) was not fasted: make up with the 11th
• Otherwise, an extra voluntary fast, highly rewarded

D1-30

The whole month

• Increase your good deeds (sins are graver, good deeds doubled)
• Monday and Thursday: voluntary fasts (Sunnah)
• 13, 14, 15 Muharram: Ayyam al-Bid (the white days fast)
• Set the spiritual habits for the whole year

The four sacred months of Islam

Allah says: “The number of months with Allah is twelve… of which four are sacred: Dhu al-Qi'dah, Dhu al-Hijjah, Al-Muharram and Rajab.” (Qur'an 9:36, made explicit in Bukhari 3197).

Dhu al-Qi'dah

The month of truce before Hajj

Dhu al-Hijjah

The month of Hajj, Eid al-Adha, the ten blessed days

Muharram

The New Year, Ashura (this page)

Rajab

Isra and Mi'raj (27 Rajab)

In these four months sins weigh MORE heavily and good deeds are DOUBLED. Fighting was forbidden in them in pre-Islamic Arabia.

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Automatic notifications for 9, 10 and 11 Muharram, a built-in hijri calendar, fasting tracking with streaks, an adhkar plan for the sacred months, and personalised reminders for your yearly muhasaba.

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