Muharram 2026: Key Dates at a Glance
|
Islamic New Year (1 Muharram)
Day: Tuesday
Gregorian Date: 16 June 2026
Hijri Date: 1 Muharram 1448 AH
|
|
Day of Tasua (9th Muharram)
Day: Wednesday
Gregorian Date: 24 June 2026
Hijri Date: 9 Muharram 1448 AH
|
| Day of Ashura (10th Muharram)
Day: Thursday
Gregorian Date: 25 June 2026
Hijri Date: 10 Muharram 1448 AH
|
| End of Muharram
Day: —
Gregorian Date: 14 -15 July 2026
Hijri Date: 29/30 Muharram 1448 AH
|
Please note: These dates are subject to the sighting of the new crescent moon.
Why the Exact Date of Muharram Can Vary
The Islamic calendar, also called the Hijri calendar, is a lunar calendar of twelve months. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which follows the sun, each Islamic month begins with the sighting of the new moon (the hilal). A lunar month lasts either 29 or 30 days, which is why the Islamic year is around 11 days shorter than the solar year, and why Muharram moves earlier each year on the Gregorian calendar.
Local moon sightings determine the exact start date of Muharram. This means a country that sights the crescent on the evening of 15 June will begin Muharram on 16 June, while a country where the crescent is not visible until a day later may start on 17 June. For Muslims worldwide, this small variation is a normal and accepted part of following a lunar calendar, so it is always best to confirm the date with your local mosque or moon-sighting authority.
What Is Muharram?
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar, and 1 Muharram 1448 AH marks the Islamic New Year. The very word Muharram means “forbidden” or “sacred,” and it is one of the four sacred months in Islam, the others being Rajab, Dhul-Qadah, and Dhul-Hijjah. During these sacred months, warfare and conflict are traditionally forbidden, and good deeds are believed to carry greater reward.
The Day of Ashura: 25 June 2026
The Day of Ashura falls on the 10th day of Muharram. The name comes from the Arabic word ashara, meaning “ten.” It is the most significant day of the month and holds layers of meaning that are honoured by Muslims around the world, though Sunni and Shia communities mark it in different ways.
The deliverance of Prophet Musa (Moses)
According to authentic narrations, Ashura is the day Allah (SWT) saved the Prophet Musa (AS) and the Children of Israel from Pharaoh by parting the Red Sea. When the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) arrived in Madinah, he found the Jewish community fasting on this day in gratitude for that deliverance. He fasted as well and encouraged Muslims to do the same, establishing the Sunnah of fasting on Ashura that Sunni Muslims continue to observe today as an act of gratitude to Allah.
The martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS) at Karbala
Ashura also commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS), the beloved grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE (61 AH). Imam Hussain (AS), along with his family and a small band of companions, stood against tyranny and was killed after being surrounded and denied even water in the desert of Karbala.
For Shia Muslims especially, Muharram is far more than the first month of the year, it is a sacred period of mourning, remembrance, and reflection centred on this sacrifice. Every year, millions gather in mosques, Islamic centres, and homes to remember the message of Karbala: a stand for justice, truth, and faith that continues to inspire believers more than thirteen centuries later.
Both meanings, gratitude for the saving of Prophet Musa (AS) and remembrance of the sacrifice of Imam Hussain (AS), point to the same enduring themes of faith, sacrifice, and standing for what is right.
Fasting in Muharram and on Ashura
Fasting is one of the most cherished acts of worship during this month. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) described fasting in Muharram as the best fasting after the obligatory fasts of Ramadan, making these voluntary fasts especially rewarding.
Fasting on the Day of Ashura is a strongly recommended Sunnah, not an obligation. Its reward is immense: the Prophet (PBUH) taught that fasting on Ashura is hoped to expiate the minor sins of the previous year. To follow the Sunnah most completely, the Prophet (PBUH) recommended fasting the 9th and 10th of Muharram together (the days of Tasua and Ashura), so observing both 24 and 25 June 2026 is the ideal way to honour this tradition.
• Best practice: Fast both the 9th and 10th (24 & 25 June 2026)
• Minimum Sunnah: Fast the 10th, the Day of Ashura (25 June 2026)
• Status: Highly recommended Sunnah, not compulsory
• Reward: Hoped to expiate the minor sins of the past year
Honour Muharram with an Act of Charity
The story of Karbala is, at its heart, a story of thirst, sacrifice, and standing beside the vulnerable. There is no more fitting way to honour the message of Imam Hussain (AS) and the mercy of the new year than by giving to those who need it most.
This Muharram, you can carry that mercy forward:
