Ashara Mubaraka

A Journey Towards Humanity

During the initial ten days of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic year, millions of Muslims worldwide mourn the sacrifice of Imam Husain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed ﷺ, along with his family and companions who endured immense suffering at the Battle of Karbala. Their stand for faith, justice, truth, and human dignity continues to inspire humanity today.

The Dawoodi Bohras distinctly refer to these ten sacred days as Ashara Mubaraka where community members around the world gather in masjids and centres each morning and evening. Over the course of ten days of sermons, reflection, and service, these gatherings provide moral guidance, enriched learning, and a deepened sense of community — reaffirming a way of life centred on humility, integrity, and compassion.

What is Ashara Mubaraka?

Community members attend His Holiness’s sermons at a relay centre set up in the Dubai World Trade Centre in 2023.

What is Ashara Mubaraka?

Derived from Arabic, the word ashara means “ten” while mubaraka means “blessed” — reflecting the belief that these ten days, spent in remembrance, learning, and service, are a source of spiritual blessings and purification.

Preparations for Ashara Mubaraka begin across every level of the community well in advance. Families adjust schedules, closing businesses and arranging time off from school and work, and centers are adorned, cleaned, and readied for daily gatherings.

From the 2nd of Muharram, every Dawoodi Bohra masjid and community centre around the world hosts daily congregations, both in the morning and evening. During these gatherings, the life and legacy

of Imam Husain is commemorated through sermons delivered by designated officials and the recitation of elegies that evoke remembrance and reverence in attendees.

Each day’s sermon explores themes from the Holy Quran, Islamic history, and Fatimi philosophy. These discourses reinvigorate faith by relating centuries of teachings and tradition with present-day moral and social issues.

The observance reaches its peak on the 10th of Muharram — the Day of Ashura. On this day, every community member abstains from water and food, in homage to the thirst, trials, and tribulations endured by Imam Husain, his family, and companions. The afternoon of Ashura culminates in the narration of the maqtal, a detailed and emotive recounting of Imam Husain’s journey to Karbala and the events leading up to his sacrifice on the Day of Ashura.

Karbala: A Legacy of Faith and Sacrifice

More than 1,400 years ago, Imam Husain — the grandson of Prophet Mohammed ﷺ — departed from Madina and travelled to the holy city of Makkah.

In response to scores of letters from the people of Kufa imploring for his leadership against the oppressive rule of Yazid, he began his journey towards Kufa (in modern-day Iraq), accompanied by his family, including women and young children, and joined by a group of loyal companions.

On the 2nd of Muharram, Imam Husain’s caravan was intercepted on the plains of Karbala by a contingent of 1,000 soldiers. By the 7th of Muharram, the Umayyad forces had besieged Imam Husain’s encampment, denying him access to water from the Euphrates on orders from Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad, the Umayyad governor of Kufa. Yet, even in the face of intense thirst and suffering, Imam Husain and his family and companions refused to surrender. On the 9th of Muharram, when Yazid’s armies—now numbering in the tens of thousands—began to prepare for battle, Imam Husain sought one night’s reprieve from the imminent assault. He and his companions spent that night in prayer and reflection.

Karbala: A Legacy of Faith and Sacrifice

The holy shrine of Imam Husain in Karbala. The 51st dai, Syedna Taher Saifuddin dedicated the silver and gold shrine seen here in 1355/1937. With the installment of a new shrine in 1434/2013, the one dedicated by the 51st dai has now been relocated to the Holy Shrine’s museum and parts have been reinstalled at a newly constructed lower level.

Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, marks the day of their ultimate sacrifice. One by one, his companions and family members—72 in total—entered the battlefield, vastly outnumbered, and fought valiantly. Imam Husain, bearing the pain of his wounds and the grief of witnessing the sacrifice of his beloved kin and companions, was the last one standing. In his final moments, he was cruelly beheaded by Shimr ibn Zil Jawshan.

The caravan’s survivors, mostly women and children of Imam Husain’s family, were taken captive and paraded to the Umayyad court in Damascus, enduring tribulations and suffering at each step of the journey. Among them was Imam Husain’s son, Imam Ali Zain al-Abideen, who carried forward his legacy.

To remember the tragedy of Karbala is to honour a legacy that has stirred hearts through the vicissitudes of time, upheld by Dawoodi Bohra leadership who give life to its timeless values of human dignity, justice, and truth.

His Holiness Syedna Taher Saifuddin and Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin near the tomb of Imam Husain in Karbala

His Holiness Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin regularly visited the tomb to pay salutations and remember the sacrifice of Imam Husain

Like his predecessors, His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin upholds the legacy of Imam Husain by visiting Karbala and recounting the lessons of humanity inherent in Imam Husain’s sacrifice through his sermons and interactions with Dawoodi Bohras

His Holiness’s Central Gathering

Each year, one city is selected by His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the 53rd al-Dai al-Mutlaq and head of the Dawoodi Bohra community, to host the central Ashara Mubaraka gathering led by him. This tradition—carried forward from his forefathers—draws tens, and at times, hundreds of thousands of community members from around the world.

Attendees sit in the traditional seating arrangement known as ‘majlis’ centred around His Holiness to listen to the sermons

Community members on their way to attend a sermon in Colombo

From far and wide, attendees travel to participate in His Holiness’s sermons. Revered for their intellectual depth, spiritual clarity, and emotional resonance, these sermons are a profound source of learning and ethical guidance. Drawing from the Quran, Fatimi philosophy, Islamic history, and the events of Karbala, His Holiness uniquely contextualises the timeless principles of sacrifice, justice, and faith with contemporary challenges facing the community and humanity at large.

His counsel and guidance form the foundation of the community’s ethos, shaping a strong Islamic identity grounded in values of loyalty, integrity, and generosity — values that inspire Dawoodi Bohras to be exemplary citizens and compassionate contributors to society.

Under Syedna’s leadership, the central gathering becomes a reaffirmation of collective identity, purpose, and conscience.

When attendees depart, they do so not just with memories, but with renewed conviction — carrying home with them the values, insights, and spiritual energy to guide their everyday lives.

A Community in Service

The central Ashara Mubaraka event is a model of organisation, collaboration, and community service.

Thousands of volunteers contribute to planning and operations from audiovisual production and logistics to venue preparation and decoration, culinary planning, serving meals, and accommodation—upholding the very teachings of selflessness, unity, and devotion to a higher purpose that are being reflected upon during Ashara Mubaraka.

A Community in Service

A dedicated team volunteers at a waste segregation counter during Ashara Mubaraka to ensure the event complies with zero waste policies.

For the past many years, the community has made conscious efforts to reduce the plastic footprint during these gatherings.

A group of community volunteers dedicate countless hours in maintaining flow management and public order throughout the ten days.

Doctors and paramedics are always on call at the Central venue and other relay centres to provide timely medical intervention.

Guided by His Holiness’s emphasis on environmental responsibility and community well-being, the Ashara Mubaraka event aligns closely with global sustainability values. Volunteers implement zero food waste policies, reusable serveware and water stations, composting and waste segregation, and energy-efficient logistics. Health and safety are equally prioritised, with on-site medical tents, wellness resources, fire safety protocols, and dedicated spaces for the elderly and persons with mobility challenges.

Through serving together, learning together, and remembering together, Ashara Mubaraka remains a fulfilling experience for all.

A Community in Service

A dedicated team volunteers at a waste segregation counter during Ashara Mubaraka to ensure the event complies with zero waste policies.
For the past many years, the community has made conscious efforts to reduce the plastic footprint during these gatherings.
A group of community volunteers dedicate countless hours in maintaining flow management and public order throughout the ten days.
⁠Doctors and paramedics are always on call at the Central venue and other relay centres to provide timely medical intervention.