Ashura 2015 in Iran: Noon prayer in congregation

Noon prayer in congregation by Imam Hussain (PBUH) and his companions on the day of Ashura, in the middle of battle of Karbala has a strong message to all the believers.

Ashura 2015 in iran

Noon prayer in congregation on the day of Ashura in Tehran, Iran

Millions of Shia Muslims mourn for Imam Hussain on the day of Ashura and attend prayer in congregation at noon in the streets or mosques or the holy shrines according to what Imam Hussain did in Karbala.

One of the slogans in Ashura 2015 was “Labbaik O’ Hussain means prayer on time”

Shia Muslims on the day of Ashura in Iran

Ashura 2015: Millions of Shia Muslims gather in Karbala

Today, the 24th of Oct., was the day of Ashura. Millions of Shia Muslims across the globe gathered in Karbala to commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of  the holy prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Imam Hussain (PBUH) and all his companions.

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Huge crowds of pilgrims, dressed in black packed inside the Imam Al-Hussain’s holy shrine while most of them were in the streets outside, mourning for Imam Hussain (PBUH).

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The day before Ashura 2015: Tasua in pictures

Today is Tasua

The day before Ashura is called Tasua which is the 9th day of Muharram. Shia muslims and other people from different religions, try to commemorate this day more than the first eight days of Muharram as Tasua is attributed to mourn for Imam Hussain’s brother,  Hazrat Abbas (PBUH), although he was martyred on the day of Ashura  like the other Imam Hussain’s companions.

The holy shrine of Hazrat Abbas (PBUH) in Karbala, the 9th night of Muhharam 2015

As access to water had been closed for three days and nights in Karbala,  Hadrat Abbas was the one who

Shia muslims participate in mourning ceremonies in Muharram 2015 + Video

Shia muslims worldwide have participated in the mourning ceremonies since the first day of Muharram. mourning for Imam Hussain will reach its climax on the day of Ashura, the tenth day of Muharram.  In the following image you can see one of the Shia morning ceremonies which is held in every night of Muharram in Tehran, Iran.

The red curtain contained the name of “Ali Akbar (PBUH)” as last night was the night of mourning for Imam Hussain’s son, Ali Akbar (PBUH) who was martyred on the day of Ashura in Karbala while he was

A heat in the hearts: Quote about Imam Hussain by Prophet Muhammad 3

Imam Hussain is the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson who was martyred on the day of Ashura in Karbala in 680 A.D. All 72 of his companions including his family and even his

Women with their infants participated in mourning ceremonies worldwide

In the first friday of Muharram, mothers with their infants participated in the mourning ceremonies to remember the 6-month-old infant of Imam Hussain (PBUH), Hazrat Ali Asghar (PBUH), who was mercilessly martyred on the day of Ashura in Karbala in the year 680 AD.

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Iranian women in a large Hussaini infants gathering – Muharram in Iran

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These large Hussaini Infants gatherings were held in 3000 places worldwide according to news.

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An Hussaini infants gathering – Muharram in Iran 2015

Shia Muslims along with other people from different religions and from different parts of the world, have held ceremonies since the first night of Muharram to mourn the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussain (pbuh) and his companions.

 

Preparation for the month of Muharram and day of Ashura 2015

Today is the first day of Muharram 2015 . Muharram is the first month in the Islamic calendar, the month in which Imam Hussain along with all 72 of his companions were martyred on the day of Ashura in Karbala.

Muslim peoples and Imam Hussain’s lovers from different religions across the globe have prepared themselves for Muharram by dressing in black, hanging black flags on their house and shops’s walls and hoisting it on the holy shrines, streets, mosques and public places, holding ceremonies and etc.

Muharram 2015 – A flag which “O Hussain” is written on

Muharram 2015 -the holy shrine of Lady Masumah in Qom

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?!

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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.

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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