Ashura 2027: date, fasting and meaning in Islam

عَاشُورَاء

Ashura, the 10th of the sacred month of Muharram, is the day Allah saved Musa from Pharaoh. Fasting it expiates the sins of the past year.

Ashura 2027: the date, the story of Musa and the virtue of fasting the 9th and 10th of Muharram, Muslim Alim
Ashura: the sea parting into two walls of waves under a bright sky, a reminder of Musa’s rescue
Allah parted the sea for Musa and the Children of Israel.

The story of Ashura

Ibn ‘Abbas reported that on arriving in Medina, the Prophet ﷺ found the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. They said: “This is a great day on which Allah saved Musa and his people and drowned Pharaoh and his people; Musa fasted it out of gratitude.” The Prophet ﷺ replied: “We have more right to Musa than you”, fasted it and ordered it to be fasted (Sahih al-Bukhari, 2004; Sahih Muslim, 1130). Read the story of the prophet Musa.

فَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ أَنِ اضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ الْبَحْرَ ۖ فَانفَلَقَ فَكَانَ كُلُّ فِرْقٍ كَالطَّوْدِ الْعَظِيمِ
Fa awhayna ila Musa anidrib bi ‘asaka al-bahr, fanfalaqa fakana kullu firqin kat-tawdil-‘azim

“Then We inspired Musa: Strike the sea with your staff. And it parted, and each portion was like a great mountain.”

Surah Ash-Shu‘ara, 26:63

The dates of Ashura

YearTasu‘a (9 Muharram)Ashura (10 Muharram)
2027 (1449)Around Monday 14 JuneAround Tuesday 15 June
2028 (1450)Around Saturday 3 JuneAround Sunday 4 June

Calculated dates, to within a day. Muharram is one of the four sacred months.

A thin crescent moon above palm trees at dusk, start of the month of Muharram
Muharram, the first month of the Hijri year.

What to do on the day of Ashura

  1. Fast on 10 Muharram, together with the 9th (or the 11th).
  2. Increase dhikr, Quran reading and supplications.
  3. Ask forgiveness (tawbah), since this fast expiates sins.
  4. Fast more during Muharram: “The best fast after Ramadan is in the month of Allah, Muharram” (Sahih Muslim, 1163).

For other recommended fasts, see the white days.

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Frequently asked questions

You may be wondering…

When is Ashura in 2027?

Ashura, 10 Muharram 1449, is expected around Tuesday 15 June 2027, and Tasu‘a (9 Muharram) around Monday 14 June. The exact date depends on sighting the crescent of Muharram.

Why do we fast on the day of Ashura?

It is the day Allah saved Musa and the Children of Israel from Pharaoh. Musa fasted it out of gratitude; the Prophet ﷺ said “we have more right to Musa than you” and fasted it, ordering others to fast it (Sahih al-Bukhari, 2004).

What is the virtue of fasting Ashura?

“Fasting the day of Ashura, I hope from Allah that it expiates the sins of the year before it” (Sahih Muslim, 1162).

Should one also fast 9 Muharram?

Yes, it is recommended. The Prophet ﷺ said: “If I live until next year, I will fast the ninth” (Sahih Muslim, 1134), to differ from the People of the Book. So one fasts the 9th and 10th, or the 10th and 11th.

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