Ashura and a Ten-day of mourning period for Imam Hussain?!

Imam Hussain who is the prophet Muhammad’s grandson was martyred on the tenth day of Muharram, day of Ashura, in Karbala but why do we have a ten-day of mourning period started from the first day of Muharram?!

Ashura

Recently, professor Panahiyan, an Iranian cleric who teaches at the universities and Howzah, answered this question as a note to a news channel that I tried to translate the main parts of it:

There might be some different reasons for mourning form the first day of Muharram. It might be because of what Imam Reza, the 8^th beloved Imam of ours, said about his father, Imam Kazem (pbuh): “No one could have seen my father’s smile when the month of Muharram came. Sadness was increasing in his face day by day till the tenth of Muharram and when the tenth day of Muharram would dawn, it would be a day of grief and weeping for him.“[1]

Mourning for Imam Hussain (PBUH) -Muharram 2015

Mourning for Imam Hussain (PBUH) – Muharram 2015

Another reason might be that mourners can prepare themselves for the deep grief of Ashura by mourning form the beginning of Muharram because the grave tragedy of Ashura can be more tolerable after one week of mourning. The prophet Muhammad said that “surely , there exists in the hearts of the believers, with respect to the martyrdom of Husayn, a heat that never subsides.”[2] Thus, Every one who feels this heat, knows that entering to the day of Ashura without a previous mourning period is very painful.

Ashura

Ashura

For some people a ten-day of mourning period is an opportunity helping them to feel the great tragedy of Ashura.

Actually this mourning period might be a type of volunteering to help not mourning and it seems to us that mourners go into Imam Hussain’s tent from the first day of Muharram in order to help him and not to leave his leader alone. That’s why this period of ten days is like an epic while mourning on Ashura night has just a color of sadness and greif.

 

[1] (کَانَ أَبِی ع إِذَا دَخَلَ شَهْرُ الْمُحَرَّمِ… امالی صدوق/128)

[2] «إِنَّ لِقَتْلِ الْحُسَیْنِ حَرَارَةً فِی قُلُوبِ الْمُؤْمِنِینَ لَا تَبْرُدُ أَبَداً»مستدرک الوسائل/10/318

Peace be upon Imam Husayn

Peace be upon Imam Husayn who was martyred on the day of Ashura

Drinking water is universally held to be one of the most basic of human rights and is vital to the survival of any living creatures, but Imam Husayn, the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, was martyred along with all his companions on the day of Ashura in Karbala while they were all thirsty. The tents of his family were pitched just a walking distance from the banks of the river Euphrates and yet he and his camp – including his six month old baby – were not allowed a single drop.

Read more at here

 

Ashura and disseminating sadness and tears among people?!

Each year, on the tenth of Muharram, the first month in lunar calendar, Millions of people, dressed in black, take to the streets and mosques to mourn the martyrdom anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Imam Hussain (PBUH), on a day known as Ashura.

Ashura in Karbala

The supreme leader of the Islamic republic of Iran made a speech about Ashura in 2008:

“…I would like to make some statements regarding Muharram and Ashura. Muharram is one of the historical stages that I talked about. The Shia have made every effort to keep Ashura alive. As you see, for many years and centuries in succession never have the people following the Prophet’s (PBUH) household and believing in the Prophet’s (PBUH) household forgotten Imam Hussain’s memory, Imam Hussain’s name, Imam Hussain’s burial place and Imam Hussain’s mourning. Many efforts have been made to encourage people to forget the events of Ashura, but people never did so. You have heard the story of Motavakel and his blocking the way [to Karbala]. They have committed foolish acts and raised foolish objections. Throughout history, they have raised numerous seemingly scientific, emotional and experiential objections. Nevertheless, Shiites have kept them alive and must do so.

Tears on Ashura

“Why are you disseminating sadness, crying and tears among people?” They complain. This is not sadness and tears for the sake of sadness and tears.

Quote about Imam Hussain by Mahatma Gandhi

The epic created by Imam Hussain (Peace be upon him) is eternal.  It continues to arouse human conscience and has not been limited to Muslims. It has inspired non-Muslims as well throughout the ages.

Mahatma Gandhi, who led the struggle for the independence of India from British rule, and who initiated the Non-Violent Movement, made the famous statement about Imam Hussain:

More at Impact of Imam Hussain (PBUH) on Non-Muslims

Quote about Imam Hussain by Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens, the famous English writer of such prominent works as “Great Expectations”, “Hard Times”, and “David Copperfield”, has said about the prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Imam Hussain (PBUH):

“If Husain had fought to quench his worldly desires, as alleged by certain Christian critics, then I do not understand why his sister, wife, and children accompanied him. It stands to reason therefore, that he sacrificed purely for Islam.”

Ashura in Tehran

The day of Ashura falls on the 10th of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calender.

Every year, in the day of Ashura, plenty of people dressed in black, take to street to mourn the  martyrdom of Imam Hussein and his companions.

Here is some photos of Iranian shiite Muslims mourning in the day of Ashura in the center of Tehran, Iran.

Ashura in Tehran, Iran

Ashura in Tehran, Iran

Ashura in the great market of Tehran

Mourning in the day of Ashura in the “Great market of Tehran”, a traditional Market in Tehran, Iran.