Muharram/Islamic New Year in United Kingdom
Quick FactsMuharram is the first month in the Islamic calendar. Muslims may make a special effort to fast, pray or think about their deeds on the first, ninth and 10th or first, 10th and 11th days of the month.
NameMuharram/Islamic New Year
Muharram/Islamic New Year 2011Sunday, November 27, 2011
Muharram/Islamic New Year 2012Thursday, November 15, 2012
Note: Regional customs or moon sightings may cause a variation of the date for Islamic holidays, which begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday. The Islamic calendar is lunar and the days begin at sunset, so there may be one-day error depending on when the New Moon is first seen.
List of dates for other years
Muharram is the month at the beginning of the Islamic year. Some Muslims mark the start of the Islamic year on the first day of Muharram. Others start to prepare for the Day of Ashura on the tenth day of the month. This observance applies to Muslims worldwide, including the United Kingdom.
Many Muslims engage in prayer or take extra time to read the Koran during the month of Muharram. ©iStockphoto.com/Samina Imran
What do people do?
Some Muslims in the United Kingdom take time on the first day of the month of Muharram to reflect on their lives and to think how they can improve them. Many Muslims also spend time in prayer or fast during daylight hours to prepare for the Day of Ashura on the tenth day of the month. Some Muslims fast during the hours of daylight on the ninth and 10th or first, 10th and 11th days of Muharram to commemorate that Noah left the ark and that God saved Moses from the Egyptians.
Some Shi'a Muslims beat or whip themselves as part of a mourning ritual for Husayn ibn Ali on the Day of Ashura (Ashurah). This practice is rare in the United Kingdom. Some religious leaders encourage Muslims who feel that they should lose some blood on this day to donate blood to the blood transfusion service.
Public life
None of the days of Muharram are bank holidays in the United Kingdom. Many Muslim pupils at state schools can get permission to have a day off school to observe the Day of Ashura.
Background
Muharram is the first month in the Islamic calendar. The tenth day is known as the Day of Ashura and commemorates that Noah left the ark and that God saved Moses from the Egyptians. For Shi'a Muslims, the Day of Ashura is also a day of mourning for Husayn ibn Ali. Husayn ibn Ali was a grandson of the Prophet Muhammed and was martyred in 680 CE at Karbala, currently in Iraq.
Symbols
Some Muslims eat a symbolic meal or dessert on the Day of Ashura, known as Noah's pudding. The ingredients may include water, grains, pulses, fresh and dried fruit, salt and honey. The dish may be garnished with orange or lemon rind, spices, nuts and pomegranate seeds. Muslims are urged to enjoy the dish and to share it with their neighbors.
About Muharram/Islamic New Year in other countries
Read more about Muharram/Islamic New Year.Muharram/Islamic New Year Observances
Note: Regional customs or moon sightings may cause a variation of the date for Islamic holidays, which begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday. The Islamic calendar is lunar and the days begin at sunset, so there may be one-day error depending on when the New Moon is first seen.Weekday  | Date | Year  | Name | Holiday type | Where it is observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | Nov 9 | 1980 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Fri | Oct 30 | 1981 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Tue | Oct 19 | 1982 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Sat | Oct 8 | 1983 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Thu | Sep 27 | 1984 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Mon | Sep 16 | 1985 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Sat | Sep 6 | 1986 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Wed | Aug 26 | 1987 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Sun | Aug 14 | 1988 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Fri | Aug 4 | 1989 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Tue | Jul 24 | 1990 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Sat | Jul 13 | 1991 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Thu | Jul 2 | 1992 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Mon | Jun 21 | 1993 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Fri | Jun 10 | 1994 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Wed | May 31 | 1995 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Sun | May 19 | 1996 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Fri | May 9 | 1997 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Tue | Apr 28 | 1998 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Sat | Apr 17 | 1999 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Thu | Apr 6 | 2000 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Mon | Mar 26 | 2001 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Fri | Mar 15 | 2002 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Wed | Mar 5 | 2003 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Sun | Feb 22 | 2004 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Thu | Feb 10 | 2005 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Tue | Jan 31 | 2006 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Sat | Jan 20 | 2007 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Thu | Jan 10 | 2008 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Mon | Dec 29 | 2008 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Fri | Dec 18 | 2009 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Wed | Dec 8 | 2010 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Sun | Nov 27 | 2011 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Thu | Nov 15 | 2012 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Tue | Nov 5 | 2013 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Sat | Oct 25 | 2014 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
| Thu | Oct 15 | 2015 | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim |
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