Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and is considered a sacred time in Islam. It is important for Shiʿi Muslims who commemorate the martyrdom of Ḥusayn, the Prophet’s grandson, during the first part of the month. The mourning rituals culminate in the holy day of Ashura. Sunni Muslims also observe Ashura during Muharram, not by mourning but by fasting in commemoration of notable events in sacred history. Because of the difference between the lunar Islamic calendar and the Gregorian calendar, the timing of Muharram shifts throughout the seasons.
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