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Make mercy a Jummah habit. Join over 10,000 giving weekly for the ummah.
Schedule your donationsMake mercy a Jummah habit. Join over 10,000 giving weekly for the ummah.
Schedule your donations
22nd April 2026
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and Muharram 2026 is expected to begin on Tuesday, 16th June 2026. It is one of the four sacred months in Islam and holds the distinction of being called the "Month of Allah" by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), marking it as a time of heightened spiritual significance, reflection, and worship. At its heart lies the blessed Day of Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, a day of fasting, remembrance, and profound meaning for Muslims around the world.
As we enter Muharram 2026, let your first act be one of kindness. Provide food, water, and emergency aid to those who need it most. Support our Muharram Appeal today.
The word Muharram comes from the Arabic meaning "forbidden" or "sacred". It is one of the four sacred months in Islam, alongside Rajab, Dhul Qa'dah, and Dhul Hijjah, during which warfare has historically been prohibited. This sacred status reflects the elevated spiritual atmosphere of these months, an invitation from Allah for Muslims to turn away from conflict and towards worship, reflection, and gratitude.
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic (Hijri) lunar calendar, making it the month of the Islamic New Year. Its arrival signals new beginnings, a time to renew intentions, seek Allah's forgiveness, and recommit to a life of faith and purpose.
What sets Muharram apart from all other months, even among the four sacred months, is the title given to it directly by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). In an authentic Hadith recorded in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "The best of fasts after the month of Ramadan is the Month of Allah which you call Muharram." By attributing Muharram directly to Allah as the "Month of Allah" (Shahru Allah), this Hadith points to a unique and unparalleled sanctity that no other month carries. It is a month in which the gates of divine mercy are especially open, for fasting, for giving, and for drawing closer to Allah.
Muharram 2026 is expected to begin on the evening of Tuesday, 16th June 2026, subject to the official moon sighting. As with all Islamic months, the precise start date is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon, which can vary by a day depending on location and the rulings of local moon-sighting authorities.
The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, meaning each month begins with the new crescent moon and consists of 29 or 30 days. This is why Islamic dates shift approximately 10–11 days earlier each year in relation to the Gregorian calendar, and why Muharram falls at a different time each year.
The Hijri calendar, and Muharram's place as its first month, finds its origin in one of the most defining moments in Islamic history: the Hijra, the migration of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his companions from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE. This was not merely a physical journey; it was an act of immense sacrifice, courage, and unshakeable trust in Allah. It marked the founding of the Muslim community as a collective, united in faith.
During the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA), the Hijri calendar was formally established, with the year of the Hijra designated as 1 AH (Anno Hegirae). Muharram was chosen as the first month, connecting the calendar permanently to the spirit of new beginnings and the courage of that sacred migration.
Muharram 2026 is anticipated to span from 16th June to 14th July 2026. Within this sacred month, two dates carry particular significance for Muslims observing its blessings.
The 1st of Muharram is expected to fall on Tuesday, 16th June 2026, marking the beginning of the Islamic year 1448 AH, the 1,448th year since the Prophet's (ﷺ) blessed migration to Madinah.
The Islamic New Year is observed with quiet reflection rather than celebration. Many Muslims use this day to make heartfelt du'a (supplication), set spiritual intentions for the year ahead, and increase in acts of worship. It is a moment to acknowledge the passage of time as a reminder of one's own mortality and to ask Allah to bless the coming year with goodness, health, and opportunities to serve others and earn His pleasure.
The 10th of Muharram, known as Ashura, is expected to fall on Thursday, 25th June 2026. This is the most significant day within Muharram and one of the most important days in the entire Islamic calendar.
Ashura is a day of fasting, gratitude, and deep remembrance. For Sunni Muslims, it commemorates the day Allah saved Prophet Musa (AS) and the Israelites from Pharaoh's tyranny. It also holds profound meaning in relation to the martyrdom of Imam Husayn (RA) at the Battle of Karbala — a story of courage and sacrifice against injustice that continues to resonate deeply. The following section explores the full significance of this extraordinary day.
Ashura, derived from the Arabic word for "tenth", is one of the most spiritually charged days in the Islamic year. Understanding the meaning of Muharram is inseparable from understanding Ashura, for it is on this day that some of the greatest acts of divine mercy and human courage in history took place.
The Liberation of the Israelites from Pharaoh
The most celebrated significance of Ashura is its connection to Prophet Musa (AS) and the liberation of the Israelites from the oppression of Pharaoh. When the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) arrived in Madinah and found the Jewish community fasting on the 10th of Muharram, he asked them why. They explained it was the day Allah had saved Musa (AS) and the Children of Israel, that He had parted the sea, drowned Pharaoh and his army, and delivered an enslaved people to freedom.
The Prophet (ﷺ) replied: "We have more right to Musa than you," and he fasted that day and instructed his companions to do the same. This story is one of ultimate divine justice: no matter how powerful the forces of oppression may be, Allah's mercy and power are greater. The parting of the sea stands as an eternal symbol that those who are oppressed and who place their trust in Allah will never be abandoned.
Noah's Ark Comes to Rest on Mount Judi
Islamic tradition also holds that the 10th of Muharram is the day on which the Ark of Prophet Nuh (AS) came to rest upon Mount Judi, bringing to an end the great flood and opening a new chapter for humanity. It was a moment of divine deliverance, of relief after extraordinary hardship, of a new beginning granted by Allah to those who remained steadfast in faith. This is another layer in the meaning of Ashura: a day on which Allah has historically brought ease after difficulty to those who trusted in Him completely.
The Battle of Karbala
Ashura also holds immense significance in connection with the tragedy of Karbala in 61 AH (680 CE). Imam Husayn ibn Ali (RA), the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), stood with a small group of family members and companions against the overwhelming forces of Yazid ibn Muawiyah on the plains of Karbala, Iraq.
Despite being vastly outnumbered and denied water for three days, Imam Husayn (RA) refused to pledge allegiance to a leader he believed to be unjust and corrupt. On the 10th of Muharram, he and most of his companions were martyred. His stand was not merely political; it was a moral declaration that truth and justice must never be surrendered to tyranny, whatever the personal cost.
The Battle of Karbala remains one of the most powerful narratives of justice, courage, and sacrifice against tyranny in Islamic history. It continues to inspire Muslims around the world to stand for what is right, to protect the vulnerable, and to understand that a life lived with honour carries eternal worth before Allah.
To learn more about this sacred day, read our dedicated blog: The Day of Ashura.
Just as the Israelites were saved from oppression, millions today are praying for a way out of crisis. Give to our Muharram Appeal today and help liberate a family from the grip of poverty.
Muharram is not only a time of historical remembrance, it is also a living invitation to increase in worship, generosity, and closeness to Allah. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) highlighted specific acts of devotion during this sacred month, each carrying remarkable spiritual reward.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) stated clearly that "the best of fasts after the month of Ramadan is the Month of Allah which you call Muharram" (Sahih Muslim). This makes Muharram the single most virtuous month for voluntary (nafl) fasting, surpassing even the other sacred months of the year.
Scholars encourage Muslims to fast as generously as they are able throughout Muharram, with particular emphasis on the 9th and 10th (or 10th and 11th) of the month. Even fasting a handful of days during this blessed month carries immense reward and draws the believer closer to Allah. Fasting in Muharram is a spiritual reset, a chance to discipline the soul, cultivate gratitude, and invite divine mercy.
Fasting on Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, carries an extraordinary promise. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Fasting the day of Ashura, I hope that Allah will expiate thereby for the year that came before it" (Sahih Muslim). To have an entire year's sins forgiven through a single day of fasting is a mercy almost unparalleled in the Islamic calendar, a gift that reflects just how beloved this month is to Allah.
Scholars also recommend fasting the 9th of Muharram (Tasu'a) alongside the 10th, in order to distinguish the Muslim observance from that of earlier communities. The Prophet (ﷺ) expressed his intention to fast both days, and so fasting on both is considered the most complete and meritorious practice.
One of the beautiful traditions associated with the Day of Ashura is generosity towards one's family. There is a narration that states: "Whoever is generous to his family on the Day of Ashura, Allah will be generous to him throughout the rest of the year." While scholars have discussed the chain of this narration, many have upheld the practice as a commendable tradition rooted in the spirit of the month.
Whether through providing a special meal, spending quality time with loved ones, or offering gifts, the act of nurturing family bonds on Ashura is seen as a means of drawing divine blessings for the year ahead. This spirit of generosity naturally extends outward, to neighbours, to the community, and to those in need around the world.
The Prophet (ﷺ) encouraged generosity during this sacred month. Start your Hijri New Year with a legacy of mercy by donating to our Muharram Appeal today.
Muharram falls within a spiritually rich season of the Islamic year, sitting alongside Dhul Hijjah, the month of Hajj, Qurbani, and the Day of Arafah. Our Qurbani Hub brings together everything you need to know about these sacred acts of worship, from the rules of sacrifice to the virtues of the blessed ten days. Explore the guides below to make the most of this spiritually abundant time:
Qurbani
Who pays Qurbani? When do I need to give it? How much is Qurbani per person? Get more insights into Qurbani rules and FAQs in our essential guide.
Qurbani
The Day of Arafah is one of the most blessed and powerful days in the year. Learn how to reap its rewards.
Qurbani
Can’t perform Hajj this year? These seven acts of worship carry a reward equivalent to the pilgrimage, offering every Muslim a path to immense spiritual gain from wherever they are.
Qurbani
A step-by-step guide to the rituals of Umrah — from entering Ihram to completing Sa’i — to help you prepare for your minor pilgrimage with confidence and clarity.
Qurbani
While Hajj and Umrah share several rites, they differ in obligation, timing, and scope. Our beginner's guide breaks down the key distinctions to help you understand and prepare for both pilgrimages.
In 2026, the 10th of Muharram (Ashura) is expected to fall on Thursday, 25th June 2026, subject to moon sighting. The exact date may vary by one day depending on your location and local sighting authorities.
Muharram follows the Islamic lunar calendar, where each month begins with the sighting of the crescent moon. Because a lunar year is approximately 10–11 days shorter than a Gregorian solar year, Islamic dates shift earlier each year on the Gregorian calendar.
Muslims fast on Ashura following the practice of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), who fasted this day in gratitude for Allah's salvation of Prophet Musa (AS) and the Israelites from Pharaoh. Fasting on this day is also believed to expiate the sins of the previous year (Sahih Muslim).
It is recommended to fast on both the 9th and 10th of Muharram (or the 10th and 11th), as the Prophet (ﷺ) expressed his intention to fast the 9th as well in order to differentiate the Muslim observance from that of other communities. Fasting both days is considered the most complete practice.
