Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition

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ʿĀs̲h̲ūrāʾ
(1,188 words)

, name of a voluntary fast-day which is observed on the 10th Muharram.

I.

When Muḥammad came to Madīna he adopted from the Jews amongst other days the ʿĀs̲h̲ūrāʾ. The name is obviously the Hebrew ʿāsōr with the Aramaic determinative ending; in Lev. xvi, 29 it is used of the great Day of Atonement. Muḥammad retained the Jewish custom in the rite, that is, the fast was observed on this day from sunset to sunset, and not as in other fasts only during the day. When in the year 2 Muḥammad’s relations with the Jews …

Cite this page
Wensinck, A.J. and Marçais, Ph., “ʿĀs̲h̲ūrāʾ”, in: Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition, Edited by: P. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel, W.P. Heinrichs. Consulted online on 11 December 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1573-3912_islam_COM_0068>
First published online: 2012
First print edition: ISBN: 9789004161214, 1960-2007



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