Muslims around the world are preparing to observe the Day of Ashura, the tenth day of Muharram, which is expected to fall on Thursday, June 25, 2026. The day arrives at the start of the new Islamic year 1448 AH, after Saudi Arabia sighted the Muharram crescent earlier this month. As with all Islamic dates, the exact day may vary by a day depending on local moon sighting.
The virtue of fasting Ashura
Fasting on the Day of Ashura is a strongly recommended Sunnah rather than an obligation. Its reward is considerable. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was asked about fasting on the Day of Ashura and said, "I hope that Allah will accept it as expiation for the year that went before" (Sahih Muslim 1162).
The Prophet, peace be upon him, also elevated the wider month, saying, "The most excellent fast after Ramadan is Allah's month of Muharram" (Sahih Muslim 1163). Together these narrations explain why so many Muslims who do not fast voluntarily at other times still keep the fast of Ashura.
The historical significance
The day carries deep meaning in the Sunnah. It commemorates the day on which Allah saved Prophet Musa, peace be upon him, and the Children of Israel from Pharaoh. When the Prophet, peace be upon him, arrived in Madinah, he found the Jews fasting on this day in gratitude for that deliverance. He said, "We have more right to Musa than you," and he fasted the day and instructed the Muslims to fast it (Sahih Bukhari 2004).
This connection to the deliverance of Musa, peace be upon him, anchors Ashura firmly within the tradition of the prophets and the gratitude owed to Allah for His mercy.
The recommended way to fast
Scholars of the four Sunni schools note that the most complete practice is to fast two days rather than one. The Prophet, peace be upon him, expressed his intention to fast the ninth alongside the tenth, saying, "If I live until next year, I will fast the ninth day" (Sahih Muslim 1134). He passed away before the following year, so the recommended practice became fasting the ninth and tenth together, or alternatively the tenth and eleventh.
Fasting only the tenth remains valid and rewarding, but pairing it with the day before or after is considered more complete and distinguishes the practice from that of earlier communities.
Other recommended acts
Beyond fasting, the day is an occasion for generosity. There is encouragement to give charity, support those in need, and be open-handed with one's family. A narration attributed to the Prophet, peace be upon him, mentions that whoever is generous to his family on the Day of Ashura, Allah will be generous to him for the rest of the year, though scholars differ on its grading.
Practical tips
For those wishing to observe the day, plan to fast the ninth and tenth of Muharram, which corresponds to roughly June 24 and 25, 2026, while confirming the exact dates with your local moon-sighting authority. Make a clear intention the night before, eat a light suhur before dawn, and use the day for extra remembrance, charity, and seeking forgiveness. Those who are travelling, unwell, or otherwise unable to fast should not feel burdened, as the fast is voluntary and Allah rewards sincere intention.