A different faith also exists within the Sunni Muslims. They believe that on this day, Muhammad also fasted and urged other people to fast too since Moses too had fasted on this day so as to express his gratitude to God for the liberation of Israelites from Egypt. Muslim countries like Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Trinidad, Tobago, Jamaica etc have this day as a declared holiday for the whole nation.

However, with regard to the day of ‘Ashura’ there is a big controversy too. Some sects believe in fasting on this day whereas some consider it as optional. The explanation by the Sunni Muslims is that Prophet Muhammad only declared fasting as rightful before or after the Ashura. Fasting on the day of Ashura would be like imitating the Jews who follow Prophet Moses. This way Muslims also believe in this faith but in their own way.