What is Ashura?

Ashura is the tenth day of Muharram and Muharram is the first month in the Islamic calendar.
On the day of Ashura, in more than 14 centuries ago and in a place called Karbala which is now in Iraq, Imam Hussain (PBUH) who was the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) along with all 72 of his men including his family members gave everything they had in order to save the teachings of Islam from utter distortion and destruction.

Ashura

The Imam Hussain’s six-month-old son was the smallest martyr on the day of Ashura. All women including lady Zainab, the Imam Hussain’s beloved sister and their children were captured on the day of Ashura following the martyrdom of their men in Karbala.

Imam Hussain himself said his goal before moving toward Iraq. He said that: “I did not rise up for the cause of wickedness, amusement, corruption or oppression, but I rose up to reform the Muslim community of my grandfather [Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)]. I want to promote virtue and prevent vice.”

Ashura

Imam Hussain was killed because he rejected to pay allegiance to the tyrant of the time, Yazid. Imam Hussain and his companions were encircled by an army of 30,000 in Karbala which decapitated martyrs and ran over bodies with horses. Yazid’s army then plundered tents of Imam Hussein’s family and burned them. Then, they moved all women and children along the heads of the martyrs to Yazid’s court.

Ashura

Ashura is the day of grief and sorrow. Shia Muslims do not fast on Ashura day. Shia Muslims dress in black and take to the streets and mosques on Ashura day to commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of the holy Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, remembering Imam Hussain as the symbol of freedom and dignity.

Ashura

Shia Muslim people do not mutilate themselves as self-flagellation is forbidden in Islam by the great Shia scolars, but there is a minority of people who self-mutilated against the Islamic religion and rules and western media try to show them as Shia Muslims! Read more+ see photos