Muharram 2024: Date, History, Significance, and Observances

Muharram is the first month of the Hijri calendar, which is also known as the Islamic calendar. It is the second holiest month for the Muslim community after Ramadan. It’s a time of great mourning for the community. During this period, the Muslims remember the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Hazrat Imam Hussain. Al-Hijri is observed on the first day of Muharram and Ashura on the tenth day. The mourning period begins with Al-Hijri and concludes on Ashura.

Muharram 2024: Date

Because the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, Muharram’s dates vary from year to year in the Gregorian calendar. The crescent moon during Muharram was not visible in Saudi Arabia on Friday evening, July 5, 2024, which corresponded to the 29th day of Dhul Hijjah.

As a result, Saudi authorities announced that the first day of Muharram 1446 will be after maghrib or evening prayers on Saturday, July 6, 2024, and that, according to the Gregorian calendar, July 7, 2024, was the first day of Muharram in Saudi Arabia, marking the start of the Islamic New Year.

The observance of Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram, begins on the evening of Tuesday, July 16, 2024, and continues through Wednesday, July 17, 2024.

Muharram 2024: History

The month is equal for both Sunni and Shia Muslims since it commemorates the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain. The grandson of Prophet Muhammad was murdered in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD after being tortured by Yazid I’s forces.

As a result, the Shia community mourns his death by taking part in the Ashura procession, during which a few people engage in self-flagellation to relieve Imam Hussain’s anguish.

Tazias, or small replicas of Imam Hussain’s mausoleum, are also carried by people. Tazias are made from bamboo or wood and embellished with vivid paper and fabrics.

Muharram 2024: Significance

The name Muharram means forbidden and sinful, which practically prevents the community from engaging in any form of conflict. The period is particularly significant for the Muslim community because it is observed as a time of mourning and remembering Hazrat Imam Hussain’s death.

The Sunni community observes the sacred time by fasting on the ninth and tenth or the tenth and eleventh of the month. Muslims also gather at mosques for specific prayer meetings. Additionally, wearing black or green clothing is considered part of the mourning process.

Muharram 2024: How It Is Observed?

It is typically commemorated with low-key religious events. The customs include storytelling, sobbing and chest-thumping, wearing black, partial fasting, street processions, and reenactments of the Battle of Karbala.