Ashura literally means "ten". It's a holiday that falls on the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Muslim lunar calendar. This means that it will not always fall in January, February, etc. but rather move around relative to the Christian calendar. The explanation of the holiday itself is a little complicated and requires a small history lesson, so forgive the long answer. :) Ashura is a Shi'ite holiday. The Shi'ites make up 10-15% of the world's Muslim population and are primarily to be found in Iran and Iraq, although there are also significant numbers in Lebanon and Morocco. The Shi'ites split from the Sunnis (the majority group) in the 7th century over what started as a political dispute-- the Shi'ites backed Ali, nephew of the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to succeed him as caliph. After a series of other men were chosen for the position and it seemed like the current power group would never acknowledge Ali's claim, the conflict came to a head and there was a war between the Sunnis and the Shi'ites. Ali, interestingly enough, discouraged the fighting and the divisions it was creating in the Muslim community. He was assassinated by a man who came from a small faction that was neither Sunni nor Shi'ite, but the conflict had gone too far and fighting in his name continued after his death. Ali had two sons, Hassan and Hussein, both of whom were killed in the course of the fighting. Hussein died in battle in the Iraqi city of Karbala on 10 Muharram, year 61 of the Muslim calendar (about 680 AD). Karbala is now a Shi'ite pilgrimage site and Ashura is celebrated to commemorate his death-- or, as the Shi'ites consider it, his martyrdom. Although the difference between Sunnis and Shi'ites was originally only political, many years of geographical separation and mutual disregard paved the way for religious differences. Basically, since the groups didn't communicate together, as certain religious or philosophical questions came up for debate each group would formulate different answers. The tension between them is still strong today, over a thousand years later. As a result, Ashura is a very important holiday for the Shi'ites and completely disregarded (or even scorned) by most Sunnis. Every year it becomes an opportunity for each group to criticize the other. Some Sunnis do believe that Ashura is important, but not for commemorating Hussein's death. Ashura, by coincidence, is also the day for Yom Kippur on the Jewish calendar (10th day of the 1st month, and both calendars are lunar). It just happened that the Battle of Karbala was on that day. Before God instructed Muslims to fast the month of Ramadan (to commemorate the revelation of the Qur'an), the very earliest Muslims (who were living in a Jewish community) fasted on Yom Kippur. It is no longer a Muslim fast day or holiday, but it's still nice to remember our Old Testament roots and our connections to the other Abrahamic religions.

This is excerpted with permission from the website of Hizmet Books: http://www.hizmetbooks.org/Endless_Bliss_Third_Fascicle/bliss3_60.htm ASHURA NIGHT: The tenth night of Muharram. Muharram is one of the four months esteemed in the Qur'an. Ashura is the most valuable night of the month. Allahu ta'ala has accepted many prayers on Ashura Day. Acceptance of Hadrat Adam's repentance; Hadrat Nuh's (Noah's) ship's being rescued from the Flood, Hadrat Yunus' (Jonah) getting out of the fish's stomach; Hadrat Ibrahim's (Abraham) not burning in Nimrod's fire; Hadrat Idris' being made to ascend to heavens; Hadrat Yaqub's (Jacob) finding his son Yusuf (Joseph) and healing of the cataract on his eyes; Hadrat Yusuf's getting out of the well; Hadrat Ayyub's (Job) recovering health; Hadrat Musa's (Moses) passing over the Nile and Pharaoh's being drowned; Hadrat Isa's (Jesus)birth and his escaping from being killed by Jews and his ascent to heaven alive all these happened on the Ashura Day. It is not an act of worship for Muslims to cook (the sweet desert called) ashura on the tenth of Muharram because Hadrat Nuh (Noah) cooked a sweet called ashura on board the ship. Hadrat Muhammad and the Sahaba did not do so. It is a bidat, a sin to think that it is an act of worship to cook ashura on that day. It is worship to do what Hadrat Muhammad did and commanded. It will not bring thawab to do things that are not written in books of the din or taught by savants of the din. It is sinful. It is sunnat, and worship, to prepare any sweet or to give feasts to acquaintances and alms to the poor on that day. Ibni Abidin writes on the two hundred and seventy-sixth page of the fifth volume, "It is a sunnat to put kohl [antimony] on the eyelashes. But it is haram to do this only on Ashura Day." It is bidat to mourn and lament because Hadrat Husain 'radiAllahu anh' was martyred on that day. It is sinful. Mourning on Ashura Day is a custom of the Shiis. They mourn for Hadrat Husain. Because he was Hadrat Ali's son, they praise him adoringly. But we the Ahl as-sunnat love him very much because he was Rasulullah's grandson. There is no mourning in Islam. Muslims do not mourn only on Ashura Day. But they always become sad whenever they remember the tragedy of Karbala. They grieve deeply. They weep bitterly. If there were mourning in Islam, we would have done it not on Ashura Day but on the day when Rasulullah's blessed feet bled all over in Taif, or when his blessed tooth was broken and his blessed face bled at Uhud or when he passed away.

the 10th day of the month of Muharram This is the day on which God saved Moses and the Jews from Pharaoh in Egypt as he crossed the Red Sea (the Exodus day). According to Islamic tradition the prophet Muhammad fasted along with the neighboring Jewish communities on this occasion, and according to narrations, Muhammad planned on fasting on the 9th and 10th of Muharram. (According to Judaism the Jews left Egypt on the first day of Passover and crossed the Red Sea on the last day, both of which are celebrated as holidays with meals.) This is also the

The Historical Significance of ‘Ashura Mu’awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan (Radiyallahu 'anh) relates: I heard the Messenger of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) say: "It is the day of ‘Ashura. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) has not made fasting obligatory for you. But I am fasting. He who likes to observe fast among you should do so, and he who likes not to observe it (does not have to) observe it." [Sahih Muslim] Abu Qatada (Radiyallahu 'anh) relates that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said that the fast on the 10th of Muharram atones for the sins of the preceding year. [Sahih Muslim] Abu Huraira (Radiyallahu 'anh) reports that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said that after Ramadan, the fasts of Muharram have the greatest excellence. [Sahih Muslim] Alhamdulillah, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) has blessed us to see another year. The first month of this year is Muharram. In this month is an excellent day—the day of ‘Ashura—which falls on the 10th of Muharram. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) recommended that we fast on this day, by his Sunnah. He also indicated how we should observe the fast of ‘Ashura. Hakam ibn Al-Arat (Radiyallahu 'anh) relates: I went to Ibn Abbas (Radiyallahu 'anh)… I said to him: Tell me about fasting on ‘Ashura. He said, "When you seen the new moon of Muharram count the (days) and (begin to) observe fast on the 9th." I said to him: "Is it how the Holy Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) observed the fast?" He said, "Yes." [Sahih Muslim] Hazrat Ibn Abbas (Radiyallahu 'anh) relates that when the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said: "If I survive till next year, I will definitely observe fast on the 9th of Muharram (as well)." [Sahih Muslim] (Note: What the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) meant was that he would also fast on the 9th as well as the 10th to which he was accustomed. We also should try fasting on the 9th and the 10th of Muharram.) Hazrat Ibn Abbas (Radiyallahu 'anh) reports that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) arrived in Madinah and found the Jews observing fast on the day of ‘Ashura… They said: "It is the day of great (significance) when Allah delivered Hazrat Musa ('Alaihis-Salaam) and his people and drowned Pharoah and his people, and Sayyidina Musa ('Alaihis-Salaam) observed fast out of gratitude. And we also observe it." The Holy Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) responded: "We have more right, and we have closer connection with Sayyidina Musa ('Alaihis-Salaam) than you have"; so Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) observed fast (on the day of ‘Ashura) and gave us orders to observe it. [Sahih Bukhari and Muslim] ‘Ashura is a day of great historical significance. On this day: Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) accepted the repentance of Sayyidina Adam ('Alaihis-Salaam) after his exile from Paradise; Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) saved Sayyidina Nuh ('Alaihis-Salaam) and his companions in the ark; Allah extinguished the fire in which Sayyidina Ibrahim ('Alaihis-Salaam) was thrown by Nimrod; And Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) spoke directly to Sayyidina Musa ('Alaihis-Salaam) and gave him the Commandments. On this same 10th of Muharram, Sayyidina Ayyub ('Alaihis-Salaam) was restored to health (from leprosy); Sayyidina Yusuf ('Alaihis-Salaam) was reunited with his father Ya’qub ('Alaihis-Salaam); Sayyidina Yunus ('Alaihis-Salaam) was taken out from the belly of the fish; and the sea was divided as the nation of israel was delivered from captivity and Pharoah’s army was destroyed. ‘Ashura is also the day when Sayyidina Dawud ('Alaihis-Salaam) was forgiven; the kingdom of Sulaiman ('Alaihis-Salaam) was restored; Sayyidina Isa ('Alaihis-Salaam) was raised to Jannah and Sayyidina al-Husayn (Radiyallahu 'anh) (the Holy Prophet’s, Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam, grandson) achieved the honor of Martyrdom.1 Worship Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) as much as you can on ‘Ashura. Whoever fasts on this day is like one who fasts all his life. Whoever clothes a naked person Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) will release him from a painful punishment. He who visits a sick person, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) will grant him a reward that will not be decreased. Whoever places his hand on an orphan’s head, or feeds a hungry person or gives water to a thirsty man, Allah will feed him a feast from Paradise and will quench his thirst with Salsabil (a wine that does not intoxicate). And who ever takes a Ghusl on this day will enjoy excellent health and freedom from sickness and indolence. Whoever provides generously for his family on this day, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) will be generous to him throughout this year. And whoever applies Kuhl to his eyes will never suffer from eye-sore again, inSha’Allah al-Aziz.2 O’ Allah! Bless us to perform good deeds and gain their reward on ‘Ashura. Make the new year one of unity, cooperation and success for Muslims in this city and around the world. Ameen. 1. These are mentioned as what scholars have determined as the specialties of that day in Ghunya li-Talibi Tariq al-Haqq, Sayyidina Abdul Qadir al-Jilani. 2. These specialties are mentioned in Ghunya li-Talibi Tariq al-Haqq, Sayyidina Abdul Qadir al-Jilani.

"The Day of Ashura (عاشوراء transliteration: ‘Ä€shÅ«rā’, Ashura, Ashoura, and other spellings) is on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the climax of the Remembrance of Muharram but not the Islamic month. This day (A'ashura) was an ancient Judaic feast day of celebration and atonement. Now it is well-known because of mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala in the year 61 AH (AD 680). Furthermore Sunni Muslims believe that Moses fasted on that day to express gratitude to God for liberation of Israelites from Egypt. According to Sunni Muslim tradition, Muhammad fasted on this day and asked other people to fast. The word ashura means simply tenth in Arabic; hence the name of the remembrance, literally translated, means "the tenth day". Islamic scholars, however, give various explanations as to why it is thus called." Source and further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashura A very informative and detailed article, indeed. Here its table of contents: "1 Etymology of Ashura 1.1 Significance of Ashura for Shi'a Muslims 2 Significance of Ashura for Sunni muslims 3 Relation with Christianity and Judaism 4 Commemoration of the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali 4.1 History 4.2 Popular customs 4.3 Sunni Muslim Viewpoint of Hussein ibn Ali 4.4 Commemoration of Husayn ibn Ali by non-Muslims 4.5 Socio-political aspects 5 Violence during Ashura 6 Ashura in the Gregorian calendar"

mmmm, u asked such a heartbreaking thing, it is the day of killing the grandson of mohammad (pbuh) by what named themselves muslims, shia memorize (every year) this day by crying those whose adress muslims like usama bin ladin and taliban still killing us in the name of islam