The tenth day, this year celebrated on October 1, is important as it is a day of observance and is called the day of ‘Ashura’.
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and is considered a sacred month. The tenth day, this year celebrated on October 1, is important as it is a day of observance and is called the day of ‘Ashura’.
Millions of Muslims will mark the date by saying prayers and fasting. Others meanwhile will take part in mourning congregations, chest beatings and self-flagellation.
The story of their customs date back to 680 AD to the Battle of Karbala. This battle is of utmost historical importance as it resulted in the martyrdom of Hussein Ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and the son of Ali. He was defeated and massacred in this battle.
The last few days up until and including the Day of Ashura are the most important because these were the days in which Imam Hussein and his family and followers (including women, children and elderly people) were deprived of water from the 7th onward and on the 10th, Imam Hussain and 72 of his followers were killed by the army of Yazid I at the Battle of Karbala on Yazid’s orders.
The surviving members of Imam Hussein’s family and those of his followers were taken captive, marched to Damascus, and imprisoned there.
The Sunnis fast on Ashura (the 10th day) and Tasu’a (the ninth day) as Moses (also known as Musa) and his followers are said to have been saved from the clutches of the Pharaoh of Egypt on the 10th day.
Shia Muslim devotees take out large processions, beat drums and thump their chests on this day to mourn the martyrdom of Prophet Mohammed’s grandson Imam Hussain in 680 AD at Iraq’s Karbala.
