Ashura
Quick answer
- Ashura 2026 falls on Thursday 25 June 2026 (10 Muharram 1448 AH) in most countries, and on Friday 26 June where Muharram began a day later (e.g. Morocco).
- Fasting Ashura is a confirmed Sunnah that expiates the sins of the past year — reported by Muslim (1162).
- The best practice is to fast both the 9th and 10th of Muharram (Tasua and Ashura).
- Muharram is the best month for fasting after Ramadan — reported by Muslim (1163).
- Mosques can prepare early by displaying reminders and prayer times on their digital screens.
What is the Day of Ashura?
Ashura is the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic Hijri year and one of the four sacred months. It is a day of great significance in Islam, its merit established by authentic Sunnah.
On this day, Allah delivered the Prophet Musa (Moses), peace be upon him, and the Children of Israel from Pharaoh and his army, drowning Pharaoh in the sea. Musa fasted in gratitude to Allah, and the Prophet ﷺ fasted it when he learned of this.
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ arrived in Madinah and found the Jews observing fast on the day of Ashura. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to them: "What is the significance of this day that you observe fast on it?" They said: It is the day of great significance when Allah delivered Musa and his people, and drowned Pharaoh and his people, and Musa observed fast out of gratitude, and we also observe it. Upon this the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "We have more right, and we have a closer connection with Musa than you have," so the Messenger of Allah ﷺ observed fast on the day of Ashura and gave orders that it should be observed.
— Sahih Muslim 1130c (Book 13, Hadith 164)
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated: The tribe of Quraysh used to fast on the day of Ashura in the pre-Islamic period, and then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered Muslims to fast on it until the fasting in the month of Ramadan was prescribed; whereupon the Prophet ﷺ said: "He who wants to fast on Ashura may fast, and he who does not want to fast may not fast."
So fasting Ashura remained a recommended Sunnah, not an obligation.
Ashura 2026 date
10 Muharram 1448 AH falls on Thursday 25 June 2026 in countries where Muharram began on Tuesday 16 June (most of the Muslim world), and on Friday 26 June 2026 where it began on Wednesday 17 June (e.g. Morocco).
| Day | Hijri date | If Muharram began 16 June | If Muharram began 17 June |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tasua | 9 Muharram 1448 | Wednesday 24 June 2026 | Thursday 25 June 2026 |
| Ashura | 10 Muharram 1448 | Thursday 25 June 2026 | Friday 26 June 2026 |
Note: Dates are based on official announcements and astronomical calculation. Follow the announcement of the recognised religious authority in your country, as the day may shift depending on the sighting of the moon.
Accurate suhoor and iftar times for Ashura
Masjidbox One shows the exact prayer times for your mosque, updated daily — automatic adhan, no ads.
Get prayer times →The virtue of the month of Muharram
Muharram is a great and blessed month, the first of the Islamic year and one of the four sacred months about which Allah said:
"Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve months in the register of Allah from the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred."
(Quran, At-Tawbah: 36)The four sacred months are Dhul Qa'dah, Dhul Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab. Learn more about the four sacred months in Islam.
The Prophet ﷺ encouraged fasting in this month. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"The most excellent fast after Ramadan is Allah's month, Muharram, and the most excellent prayer after what is prescribed is prayer during the night."
Note his words "the month of Allah," attributing the month to Allah — an attribution of honour and reverence.
The virtue of fasting Ashura
The reward for fasting the Day of Ashura is immense, clearly stated by the Prophet ﷺ. Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about fasting the Day of Ashura and said:
"It expiates the sins of the previous year."
Sahih Muslim 1162b
That is, fasting this single day erases the sins of a whole year — from the vast bounty of Allah. Imam an-Nawawi explained that this expiation applies to minor sins; major sins require specific repentance. He noted that if a person has no sins to expiate, good deeds are recorded for them and their ranks are raised instead.
Ashura is one of the recommended fasts after Ramadan, among which is also fasting six days of Shawwal, which equals fasting the whole year.
How to fast Ashura — the 9th and 10th
Why fast the 9th with the 10th?
The best practice in fasting Ashura is to add the 9th of Muharram (Tasua), differing from the People of the Book who fast only the 10th. Ibn Abbas reported that when the Prophet ﷺ fasted Ashura and ordered it to be fasted, the companions said: O Messenger of Allah, it is a day venerated by the Jews and Christians. He ﷺ said:
"If I live until next year, Allah willing, I will fast the ninth day."
Sahih Muslim 1134
He ﷺ passed away before the next year, but the scholars — including ash-Shafi'i, Ahmad and Ishaq — recommended fasting both the 9th and 10th together.
Levels of fasting
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim explained that fasting Ashura has levels:
- Most complete: fasting the day before and the day after (9th, 10th and 11th).
- Best: fasting the 9th and 10th together (24 and 25 June 2026 in most countries).
- Sufficient: fasting the 10th alone — some scholars considered this disliked due to resemblance to the People of the Book, so it is better to add another day.
The story of Musa's deliverance
When Musa, peace be upon him, led the Children of Israel out of Egypt towards the sea, Pharaoh and his army caught up with them, and Musa's companions said:
"And when the two companies saw one another, the companions of Musa said: Indeed, we are to be overtaken."
(Quran, Ash-Shu'ara: 61)
Musa answered with the certainty of one who knows his Lord:
"He said: No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me."
(Quran, Ash-Shu'ara: 62)
Allah revealed to him to strike the sea with his staff, and it parted, each part like a great mountain. The Children of Israel crossed, and then Allah drowned Pharaoh and his army. Allah preserved Pharaoh's body as a sign for people. Musa fasted in gratitude, and this is the origin of the merit of this day.
Avoiding innovations on Ashura
People fell into two errors regarding Ashura, while the people of the Sunnah remained in the middle:
- The innovation of mourning: treating it as a day of grief, wailing and tearing clothes — a practice of ignorance with no basis in the religion.
- The innovation of celebration: treating it as a festival with new clothes and deliberate festivity as an act of worship — this too has no basis.
- The way of the Sunnah: reviving it through fasting, remembrance and supplication as the Prophet ﷺ did, without excess or neglect.
Supplications for the Day of Ashura
No specific supplication with a particular wording is authentically established for the Day of Ashura, but it is recommended to increase righteous supplication on this virtuous day. Among the comprehensive authentic supplications:
Asking for Paradise and well-being:
"O Allah, I ask You for Paradise and seek refuge in You from the Fire."
Supplication of reliance:
"O Allah, it is Your mercy that I hope for, so do not leave me to myself even for the blink of an eye, and set right all my affairs. There is no god but You."
A supplication from the Quran:
"Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire."
(Quran, Al-Baqarah: 201)
Remember that authentic supplication is what is established in the Quran and Sunnah, not formulas circulated without basis.
How can your mosque prepare for Ashura?
The Day of Ashura is an opportunity to remind worshippers and strengthen the spiritual life of the community. Practical steps:
A week before:
- Display a reminder of the Ashura date on the mosque's digital screens, with both Hijri and Gregorian dates.
- Publish a note on the virtue and method of fasting (the 9th and 10th) through the mosque app.
On the Day of Ashura:
- Display prayer times clearly to help fasting worshippers set their suhoor and iftar.
- Dedicate a moment in the lesson to the virtue of fasting Ashura and a warning against its innovations.
- Send a reminder through the mosque app about the Sunnah of fasting.
Reminding worshippers of the seasons of worship throughout the year — starting with the four sacred months — is one of the mosque's most important educational roles.
Frequently asked questions
When is Ashura 2026?
Ashura 2026 falls on Thursday 25 June 2026 (10 Muharram 1448 AH) in most countries, with Tasua (9 Muharram) the day before on Wednesday 24 June. Where Muharram began a day later, such as Morocco, the dates shift to Friday 26 June and Thursday 25 June.
Is fasting Ashura obligatory or a Sunnah?
Fasting Ashura is a confirmed Sunnah, not an obligation. It was obligatory in early Islam, then this was abrogated when Ramadan was made obligatory, and its recommendation remained established by the Sunnah.
What is the reward for fasting Ashura?
The Prophet ﷺ said it "expiates the sins of the previous year" — Sahih Muslim (1162), meaning it erases the minor sins of the past year by scholarly consensus.
Can I fast Ashura without the 9th?
Yes, fasting the 10th alone is permitted, but it is better to add the 9th to differ from the People of the Book, as the Prophet ﷺ indicated in the hadith of Ibn Abbas reported by Muslim.
When does Muharram 2026 start?
Muharram 1448 AH, the first month of the Islamic year, began on Tuesday 16 June 2026 in most countries (Wednesday 17 June where the moon was sighted a day later). Ashura falls on the 10th day of the month.
What is the difference between Tasua and Ashura?
Tasua is the 9th of Muharram, and Ashura is the 10th. Fasting Tasua is recommended as an addition to Ashura, while the greatest merit is in fasting the 10th.
How many years does fasting Ashura expiate?
Fasting Ashura expiates one past year (Muslim 1162), while fasting the Day of Arafah expiates two years. The two should not be confused.
What are the supplications for the Day of Ashura?
No specific supplication with a particular wording is established for Ashura. It is recommended to increase the comprehensive authentic supplications, such as asking for Paradise, well-being and the verses of the Quran.