Day of Ashura

The Iraqi and Afghani and All the Muslims Communities in Australia are in mourning on the occasion of Ashura. This is a holy and sad 40 days for Muslims all over the world, more mourning start on the 10th day of Muharram, according to the Islamic calendar.

Respectful practices have already begun ten days ago, but the main days 10th -13th in the Islamic calendar which is 18th, 19th & 20th of August, some of our students will stay home with their families and not coming to school on these days due to the mourning days. Muslim students will be wearing more black in this period of mourning. 

The Shia Muslim communities do not celebrate their Arabic and Islamic New Year because it is started with very sad days. The new year begins on the 10th on the English calendar and the 1st of Muharram on the Arabic and Islamic Calendar. Ashura day is showing on the 18th on the English Calendar (should be the 19th) which marks the 10th of Muharram on the Arabic Calendar. These days are not 100% accurate on the English Calendar because it’s have been estimated from the previous year and the announcement will come from the moon site for the exact day when we get closer to the day.

From a student's viewpoint

Farzana is a Year 12 student at Greater Shepparton Secondary College who has written this piece to explain Ashura in her own words.

What Is Ashura?

It is called The Day of Ashura or Imam Hussain Day. It’s a yearly event and it affects all our Muslim students, but the only thing is Sunni and Shia Muslim’s they have two different events depending on the way they explain it. Please read the attached here for a full explanation and history: