Ashura marks the 10th day of the 1st month of Muharram, on the Islamic lunar calendar of 1448. Ashura for 2026 is observed on sundown of June 25th ending at sundown on June 26th. The day commemorates for Shia Muslims the death of Husayn ibn Ali the grandson of Prophet Muhammad in the Battle of Karbala of October 10, 680 CE. For Sunni Muslims the day relates to Prophet Moses and the Hebrews who fled Egypt and God separated the Reed Sea.

Both 10 Muharram (Ashura) for Muslims, and Nine Av for Jews, reminds us of a tragedy that we should not forget, or let another tragedy happen again.

Muharram is one of 4 sacred months in Islam, a time filled with divine mercy and spiritual opportunity. The days of this month are especially valuable for seeking forgiveness, increasing worship, and drawing closer to Allah. “Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah from the day He created the heavens and the earth…”(Qur’an 9:36) The word “Ashura” is derived from the Arabic and Hebrew word for ”ten”.

9th Muharram 2026 (a recommended fast day): Wednesday, June 24, 2026 10th Muharram 2026 (Ashura — primary fast day): Thursday, June 25, 2026 11th Muharram 2026 (an optional additional fast day): Friday, June 26, 2026

1. Prophet Musa (Moses) On the arrival of Prophet Muhammad to Madinah, he found the Jews fasting on the 10th of Muharram, which was nine Av that year. When he asked them, he was informed that they were celebrating this day because Prophet Musa and the Children of Israel were rescued from Pharaoh when God split the Red Sea and drowned Pharaoh’s army. Prophet Muhammad said to them: ‘We have more right to Musa than you,’ and started fasting on this day and urged Muslims to do the same.

2. The Martyrdom of Imam Hussain at Karbala. Ashura is also a day of deep sadness for Shia Muslims because on this day in 61 AH (680 CE), the beloved grandson of Prophet Muhammad, Imam Hussain ibn Ali, was martyred along with most of the male members of the Prophet’s family at the Battle of Karbala. This tragedy is commemorated by Shias through mourning, praying, giving charity.

3. A Day of Divine Mercy Scholars of all the Islamic traditions also mention Ashura as a day when other significant events took place such as the day of Noah’s ark touch land, and the day of the repentance of the nations. It is a day which is very much connected to God’s mercy, gratitude and the power. So could 90 years of Conflict would have been Avoided?

The Palestine-Zionist wars started with the Great Revolt of the Arabs against the British pro-Zionist Mandate in 1936. It has continued off and on for 90 years.

If the rulers of the Ottoman Empire had taken advantage of the Zionist leader Theodore Herzl’s offer of massive investments into the Ottoman Empire by European Jews like the French and British Rothschilds in return for expanded Jewish settlements in Palestine, the........

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