Ashura: History, Date & Significance

Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, is a day of profound significance in Islamic history. It is most solemnly remembered for the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (RA), the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who fell with his family and companions at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE (61 AH) while standing against the rule of Yazid. The day also carries older significance: it is remembered as the day Allah delivered Musa (AS) and his people from the Pharaoh.

In Bangladesh, Ashura is a public holiday. Its best known event is the historic Tazia procession from Hussaini Dalan in Old Dhaka, an Imambara built in the Mughal era in the seventeenth century. Mourners carry replicas of Hussain's tomb through the streets, while Sunni Muslims widely observe the day with fasting and prayer.