Fasting on the day of Ashura is a meaningful act of worship for Muslims. The term Ashura originates from the Arabic word asharah which translates to ten. Hence, Ashura is known as the 10th day of Muharram that is the initial month of the Islamic calendar.

Ashura, the 10^th day of Muharram is observed differently by Muslims depending upon which branch of Islam one follows.  For Shia Muslims, Ashura is mainly a day of mourning and remembrance of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain and his family and companions at the Battle of Karbala.&nbsp

Calendars are a crucial foundation of society. They help us keep track of historical knowledge and planning things for the future. Throughout the history of the world, humans have created many calendars such as the Julian and the Gregorian Calendar.

Muharram is the first month on the Islamic calendar and is a word that literally means sacred.  In the Holy Quran the four sacred months are a time when warfare is prohibited.

 “The year is twelve months, of which four are sacred: three consecutive months,

Muharram is the initial month of the Islamic calendar. Also, it’s the beginning of the Islamic New Year.

The Arabic word for smile “bassama” appears in the Holy Quran at Surah An Naml ayah 19 when Prophet Sulaiman (AS) reacts to a warning the ants give each other to seek shelter so as not to be inadvertently crushed from Sulaiman (AS) and his armies.