Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and one of four sacred months during which Islam forbids warfare and encourages increased prayer, charity and reflection.
Muslims welcomed a new lunar year in what’s known as the Hijri calendar. The Hijri New Year, beginning on the first day of the month of Muharram, signals a chance for spiritual reflection and religious resolutions.
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Shiites participate in Muharram processions of the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, Iraq, Sunday, June 21, 2026, to mark the death of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad in present-day Iraq in the 7th century. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)
Shiite faithful pilgrims do their ritual during a Muharram procession inside of the Imam Ali shrine, in Najaf, Iraq, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)
Shiites participate in Muharram processions of the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, Iraq, Sunday, June 21, 2026, to mark the death of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad in present-day Iraq in the 7th century. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)
Shiites participate in Muharram processions of the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, Iraq, Sunday, June 21, 2026, to mark the death of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad in present-day Iraq in the 7th century. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)
Shiite Muslims touch a horse, that symbolises the horse that carried Imam Hussein during a procession in the mourning month of Muharram, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad)
Shiite Muslims beat their chests in a ritual during a procession in the mourning month of Muharram, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad)
Shiite Muslims carry replicas locally called 'Tazia' during a procession in the mourning month of Muharram, in Hyderabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Pervez Masih)
Iraqi Shiite faithful Muslims beat their chests as a sign of grief for Imam Hussein during a Muharram procession in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Adil al-Khazali)
Kashmiri Shiite Muslim women mourn as they participate in a Muharram procession in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Shiite faithful worshippers gather between the holy shrines of Imam Hussein and Imam Abbas, seen in the background, during "Muharram," a period of mourning for Shiites in Karbala, Iraq, Wednesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
Shiite worshippers visit the holy shrine of Imam Husseinon, during "Muharram," a period of mourning for Shiites in Karbala, Iraq, Wednesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
Shiite worshippers visit the holy shrine of Imam Husseinon, during "Muharram," a period of mourning for Shiites in Karbala, Iraq, Wednesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Shiite faithful pilgrims flagellate themselves as a sign of grief for Imam Hussein during a Muharram procession, in Najaf, Iraq, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)
Shiite Muslims beat their chests in a ritual during a gathering in the mourning month of Muharram, in Lahore, Pakistan, Wednesday, Jun 24, 2026. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)
Kashmiri Shiite Muslims shout slogans during a Muharram procession in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
People clean chains, blades and knives after Shiite Muslims flagellate themselves during a Muharram procession in Ahmedabad, India, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Shiite Muslims flagellate themselves during a Muharram procession in Ahmedabad, India, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
A Shiite Muslim child flagellates himself during a Muharram procession in Ahmedabad, India, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Kashmiri Shiite Muslims participate in a Muharram procession in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
A Shiite Muslim boy beats his chest with others in a ritual during a gathering in the mourning month of Muharram, in Peshawar, Pakistan, late night on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad)
While the passage of the Islamic New Year is generally more solemn and introspective than festive, Muslims may observe the holiday differently, according to their school of thought.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Shiites participate in Muharram processions of the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, Iraq, Sunday, June 21, 2026, to mark the death of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad in present-day Iraq in the 7th century. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)
Shiite faithful pilgrims do their ritual during a Muharram procession inside of the Imam Ali shrine, in Najaf, Iraq, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)
Shiites participate in Muharram processions of the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, Iraq, Sunday, June 21, 2026, to mark the death of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad in present-day Iraq in the 7th century. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)
Shiites participate in Muharram processions of the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, Iraq, Sunday, June 21, 2026, to mark the death of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad in present-day Iraq in the 7th century. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)
Shiite Muslims touch a horse, that symbolises the horse that carried Imam Hussein during a procession in the mourning month of Muharram, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad)
Shiite Muslims beat their chests in a ritual during a procession in the mourning month of Muharram, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad)
Shiite Muslims carry replicas locally called 'Tazia' during a procession in the mourning month of Muharram, in Hyderabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Pervez Masih)
Iraqi Shiite faithful Muslims beat their chests as a sign of grief for Imam Hussein during a Muharram procession in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Adil al-Khazali)
Kashmiri Shiite Muslim women mourn as they participate in a Muharram procession in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Shiite faithful worshippers gather between the holy shrines of Imam Hussein and Imam Abbas, seen in the background, during "Muharram," a period of mourning for Shiites in Karbala, Iraq, Wednesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
Shiite worshippers visit the holy shrine of Imam Husseinon, during "Muharram," a period of mourning for Shiites in Karbala, Iraq, Wednesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
Shiite worshippers visit the holy shrine of Imam Husseinon, during "Muharram," a period of mourning for Shiites in Karbala, Iraq, Wednesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Shiite faithful pilgrims flagellate themselves as a sign of grief for Imam Hussein during a Muharram procession, in Najaf, Iraq, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)
Shiite Muslims beat their chests in a ritual during a gathering in the mourning month of Muharram, in Lahore, Pakistan, Wednesday, Jun 24, 2026. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)
Kashmiri Shiite Muslims shout slogans during a Muharram procession in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
People clean chains, blades and knives after Shiite Muslims flagellate themselves during a Muharram procession in Ahmedabad, India, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Shiite Muslims flagellate themselves during a Muharram procession in Ahmedabad, India, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
A Shiite Muslim child flagellates himself during a Muharram procession in Ahmedabad, India, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Kashmiri Shiite Muslims participate in a Muharram procession in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
A Shiite Muslim boy beats his chest with others in a ritual during a gathering in the mourning month of Muharram, in Peshawar, Pakistan, late night on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad)
