The sacred month when ancient prohibitions on warfare still hold sway

Wars & Conflicts · Published 17 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Long before the Islamic era, the month of Muharram was a period of sanctuary. In pre-Islamic Arabia, it was one of four months where fighting was strictly forbidden. Today, this ancient truce survives as a time of profound religious mourning and historical remembrance.

The name Muharram derives from the Arabic root ḥ-r-m, meaning 'forbidden' or 'sacred.' In pre-Islamic Arabian culture, this month was part of a seasonal truce that prohibited warfare. This tradition of sanctity persists in the Islamic calendar, where Muharram serves as the first month of the year. The current calendar era, the Hijrah, was established in 639 CE by the second caliph, ʿUmar I, to mark the Prophet Muhammad’s 622 CE migration from Mecca to Medina.

For Shiʿi Muslims, Muharram is defined by intense mourning. The tenth day, Ashura, commemorates the 680 CE Battle of Karbala, where Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī—the Prophet’s grandson and the third Shiʿi Imam—was killed by the forces of the Umayyad caliph Yazīd I. This event is a cornerstone of Shiʿi identity, symbolizing the struggle of justice against tyranny. Rituals include reciting elegies, passion plays known as taʿziyyah, and processions carrying models of Ḥusayn’s tomb, called tazia in South Asia.

Sunni Muslims also observe Ashura, though through a different lens. For them, the day is associated with various sacred historical events, such as the parting of the Red Sea for Moses and Noah disembarking from the ark. While Shiʿi practices focus on mourning, many Sunnis observe the day through recommended fasting. Some traditions even link the practice to the Prophet’s observation of fasting, potentially influenced by Jewish customs in Medina. While some practices like self-flagellation are debated or even prohibited by leaders like Ali Khamenei, the month remains a global period of reflection.

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