American Shia Muslims Mourn Ashura, Honoring the Martyrdom of Imam al-Husain at Karbala

June 25, 2026

WASHINGTON DC -- On this day, June 25, 2026, corresponding to the 10th of Muharram 1448 AH, the Shia Muslim Foundation (SMF) solemnly commemorates Ashura, the most sacred day of mourning in the Shia Muslim tradition. Ashura marks the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam al-Husain ibn Ali, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his family, and all who stood with him on the plains of Karbala in the year 680 CE.

The Historical Event

The events that culminated in the tragedy of Karbala began with a demand. Yazid ibn Muawiyah, who had assumed leadership of the Muslim world through dynastic succession rather than the consultative or divinely guided process affirmed by Islamic teaching, required that Imam al-Husain publicly pledge his allegiance. For Imam al-Hussain, this was not simply a political question. Yazid's governance was marked by open corruption, the abandonment of Islamic ethical standards, and the suppression of dissent. To endorse him, even in form, would have been to betray the religion his grandfather had brought to humanity.

Imam al-Husain refused. He traveled from Medina to Mecca and ultimately toward Kufa in Iraq, where a large number of Muslims had written to him pledging their support. But before he could reach Kufa, his small group, consisting of approximately 72 companions and fighters along with women and children from the Prophet's household, was intercepted by an army of thousands sent by Yazid's governor, Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad.

For three days leading up to Ashura, Imam al-Husain's camp was denied access to the waters of the Euphrates River. On the morning of the 10th of Muharram, facing impossible odds and knowing the outcome, Imam al-Hussain and his companions stood their ground. One by one, his companions and then the male members of his family went into battle and were killed. Imam al-Hussain himself was the last to fall. His head was taken and displayed, and the women and children of the Prophet's family were marched as prisoners to Kufa and then to Damascus.

The Significance of Ashura for Shia Muslims

For Shia Muslims, Ashura is not merely a historical commemoration. It is a living spiritual reality. The sacrifice of Imam al-Hussain is understood as the ultimate expression of the Islamic principle of Amr bil Maruf wa Nahy an al-Munkar, enjoining good and forbidding evil, even when doing so requires the ultimate sacrifice. Imam al-Husain himself is reported to have declared before the battle: "I do not see death except as happiness, and living with oppressors except as misery."

This conviction, that principled resistance to tyranny is a sacred obligation, is the lesson that Shia Muslims draw from Karbala and carry into every generation. It is why Ashura is observed with such intensity of mourning. The grief is not merely for a man who died fourteen centuries ago. It is grief for what was lost when the voice of justice was silenced, and a renewal of commitment that such silence will not be repeated.

The Voice of Lady Zainab

The narrative of Ashura is inseparable from the role of Lady Zainab bint Ali, sister of Imam al-Husain and daughter of Imam Ali and Lady Fatima al-Zahra. Following the battle, it was Lady Zainab who preserved and transmitted the message of Karbala. Taken as a prisoner before Yazid in his palace in Damascus, she delivered a courageous and eloquent address condemning his tyranny and refusing to be broken. Shia tradition regards her as the true voice of Karbala, the one who ensured that the sacrifice of Imam al-Hussain would not be erased from history.

How Ashura Is Observed

On and around the day of Ashura, Shia Muslims gather for the most intense of the Muharram Majalis, assemblies of remembrance. Eulogies, elegies, and sermons retell the events of Karbala in detail, and communities mourn together. Many Shia Muslims fast on the day of Ashura, though this practice is observed differently across communities and scholarly traditions. In various parts of the world, processions and public expressions of mourning are held, which may include the symbolic beating of the chest as a communal expression of grief.

The Shia Muslim Foundation recognizes that these expressions of mourning, which may appear intense or unfamiliar to those outside the tradition, are deeply meaningful acts of spiritual solidarity with the martyrs of Karbala and with the values they gave their lives to uphold. We invite our fellow Americans to approach this day with openness and respect.

Ashura as a Universal Message

The story of Karbala transcends the boundaries of faith. It is a story about a small group of people who refused to normalize injustice, who chose conscience over survival, and who paid the ultimate price for doing so. It is a story that has inspired not only Shia Muslims but thinkers, activists, and leaders across history and across cultures who have drawn courage from Imam al-Hussain's example.

On this day of Ashura, the Shia Muslim Foundation stands with all those who carry the memory of Imam al-Hussain in their hearts, and with all who are committed to the values of justice, dignity, and moral courage that his sacrifice continues to illuminate.

About the Shia Muslim Foundation

The Shia Muslim Foundation is a national organization dedicated to the civic, legal, and community advancement of Shia Muslims in the United States. SMF engages with government officials, civil society, and interfaith partners to ensure that the voices and rights of Shia American communities are represented and protected.

SMF Calls for Serious Investigation After Shia Muslim Organizer's Car Was Struck by Gunfire in Dallas

The Shia Muslim Foundation is calling for a full, serious, and transparent investigation after Sabah Mooswi, a Shia Muslim mother and community organizer in Dallas, reportedly had a bullet strike her vehicle on Mother's Day as she was driving on Interstate 35.

Mooswi is a Muslim organizer associated with Dallas Shias for Justice and the Palestinian Youth Movement. According to local reporting, the bullet shattered her windshield, traveled through the vehicle, and entered the seat area where her young son could have been sitting. He was not in the vehicle at the time. No injuries were reported, but the reported facts are grave.

This was not a minor traffic incident. A mother was driving on Mother's Day. A bullet entered her car. The bullet path reportedly reached the area where her child could have been seated. That should demand urgency from every public official responsible for public safety.

In a video statement, Dr. Omar Suleiman said, "Someone shot a bullet at her car and into her child's car seat. No one is being held accountable."

SMF shares that concern. Dallas police should treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves. The public deserves clear answers about the status of the investigation, the handling of physical evidence, any ballistics testing, any available highway camera review, and whether investigators have meaningfully considered possible bias motive.

Mooswi is a visibly Muslim woman, a Shia Muslim organizer, and a public advocate for Palestinian rights. SMF does not claim to know the motive of the shooter. That is exactly why a complete investigation is needed. Possible anti-Muslim, anti-Shia, anti-Palestinian, or other bias should not be dismissed before the evidence has been fully reviewed.

CAIR DFW reportedly addressed the case at a May 21 news conference calling for an end to anti-Muslim rhetoric. In a related public statement, CAIR Texas and Dallas Fort Worth Muslim groups warned that hate-filled rhetoric by some Texas politicians and government leaders is dangerous as it threatens the safety of Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim, and undermines the values of unity and respect that Texans hold dear.

The same coalition also stated that hateful fearmongering not only harms Muslim communities but creates dangerous real-world consequences by normalizing hostility, intimidation, and potential violence against Muslims in Texas.

Those warnings cannot be ignored when a Muslim mother's vehicle has been struck by gunfire and the bullet entered the space where her child could have been sitting.

SMF's Calls to Action

SMF calls on Dallas police and relevant public safety agencies to:

• Conduct and publicly confirm a complete review of the available evidence

• Test the recovered bullet and vehicle evidence for ballistic leads

• Review traffic cameras and nearby surveillance footage

• Treat possible bias motive as a serious investigative question

• Provide regular updates to Mooswi and her family

• Consult federal authorities if evidence suggests civil rights or hate crime concerns

"Sabah Mooswi and her family deserve answers," said SMF. "The Muslim community deserves to know that violence against a visibly Muslim mother will not be minimized, delayed, or treated as routine. This incident could have ended with a child dead. That fact alone requires a serious investigation."

The Shia Muslim Foundation urges public officials, law enforcement agencies, civic leaders, and media outlets to treat this case with the gravity it deserves.

About the Shia Muslim Foundation

The Shia Muslim Foundation is a national organization dedicated to civic engagement, civil rights, public safety, and advocacy for Shia Muslim communities in the United States.

Shia Muslim Foundation Welcomes New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's Recognition of Muharram

June 18, 2026 — The Shia Muslim Foundation (SMF) welcomes the public statement issued by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani marking the beginning of Muharram and the Islamic New Year.

In his message, Mayor Mamdani highlighted the values of justice, compassion, and moral courage associated with Muharram and expressed hope that the new year would strengthen commitments to dignity, opportunity, and community for all New Yorkers.

For Shia Muslims, public recognition of Muharram by elected leaders carries special significance. Muharram is not simply the beginning of a new year. It is the month in which Shia Muslims commemorate the martyrdom of Imam al Husain ibn Ali (AS), the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who was killed in the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE after refusing to legitimize what he viewed as unjust and corrupt rule.

The story of Karbala remains central to Shia Muslim identity. Themes of standing against oppression, defending human dignity, speaking truth to power, and protecting the vulnerable continue to shape the religious and moral outlook of Shia communities throughout the United States and around the world.

Mayor Mamdani's remarks are particularly meaningful because he is himself a Shia Muslim. His election as mayor of America's largest city represents a historic moment for many American Muslims and especially for Shia Muslims, who remain a relatively small minority within the broader Muslim population. Public acknowledgment of Muharram by a Shia elected official serving in one of the nation's most prominent leadership positions reflects the growing civic engagement and visibility of American Shia communities.

"Many Americans are unfamiliar with Muharram and the significance of Karbala. When public officials recognize these observances, it helps build understanding among neighbors of different backgrounds and reminds us that the values commemorated during Muharram, including justice, compassion, sacrifice, and moral courage, resonate far beyond any single faith community."

— Rahat Husain, Executive Director, Shia Muslim Foundation

Across the United States, hundreds of Shia mosques and Islamic centers will hold nightly majalis, educational programs, and commemorative gatherings throughout the first ten days of Muharram. These events remember the sacrifice of Imam al Husain (AS) and encourage reflection on ethical responsibility, service to others, and opposition to injustice.

SMF encourages Americans of all backgrounds to learn more about Muharram and the enduring legacy of Karbala, one of the most influential events in Islamic history.

About the Shia Muslim Foundation

The Shia Muslim Foundation is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to advocacy, civic engagement, religious freedom, and the advancement of American Shia Muslim communities. Through education, public policy engagement, and interfaith outreach, SMF works to promote understanding and strengthen the participation of Shia Muslims in American civic life.