Ashura 2017: Millions of Shia Muslims mark the day of Ashura in Karbala + photos

Day of Ashura is the culmination of a ten day annual mourning period in the lunar month of Muharram for the prophet Muhammad’s grandson who was the third Shia Imam.

Today was the day of Ashura in 2017. On Sunday, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, traveling from worldwide descended on Karbala, to the holy shrine of Imam Hussain (PBUH) with officials putting their numbers at more than 3 million.

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Ashura 2017: Shia Muslims mark the day of Ashura in front of the holy shrine of Imam Hussain in Karbala

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Shia Muslims dressed in black, mourn for the martyrdom of Imam Hussain who was beheaded violently in thirsts and his body was left on the land, with horses running on him… All 72 of his men including his sons and families had already been beheaded one by one in front of his eyes.

Day of Ashura was a day of killing the prophet Muhammad’s families and capturing all the women, children of his family including his grand daughter, Lady Zeinab (PBUH).

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Inside the holy shrine of Imam Hussain in Karbala on the day of Ashura 2017

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Shia Muslims mourn for Imam Hussain, memorizing his pains and relearning his way of life: Imam Hussain sacrificed what he had on the day of Ashura to protect Islam from utter distortions. Imam Hussain did not mind the quantity of his men, he did what God wanted him to do. Paying allegiance to Yazid (The ruler of time) was the only way for Imam Hussain to survive but he did not approved the government of Yazid who was not Muslim and his actions were against Islam. Thus, Yazid’s army of 30,000 people surrendered Imam Hussain and his family on his way to Karbala to force Imam Hussain to pay allegiance with Yazid or to kill Imam Hussain adn his companions.

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Shia muslims do not self-flagellate themselves but dressed in black, mourn for Imam Hussain by crying and/or beating on chest with his hands. They also take part in blood donation on the day of Ashura to follow Imam Hussain and save the lives of others.

Tatbir or Self-flagellation with knives and chains which western powerful media try to introduce Shia Muslims by theses actions is forbidden in Islam and great Shia scholars such as Ayatullah Khamenei and Sistani have prohibited such fabricated traditions although some minority of people still practice it against the Islamic rules in some country.