Ashura: 10th Muharram
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For Shi’i Muslims the Ashura is celebrated as the most important day of the longer Muharram festival. Their Ashura festival commemorates the death of Husayn in 680 in his fight to get control of the Caliph position against Caliph Yazid. For Shi’is, the Ashura is a day of great mourning, and strong emotions are expressed in the many rituals and activities connected to this day.
The most visual of these celebrations is the flagellation by male Shi’is. Whips, often with sharp ends, or even small knives are used to make their backs bleed. The reason for this ritual is that only physical pain can truly reflect the pain of the Shi’a Muslim world when Husayn died, and Ali’s family’s fight to lead the Muslim world came to an end. This flagellation ritual is, however, just a part of a complex ritual in which the Shi’is commemorate every stage of the preparation for the battle, and the battle itself.
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23 Comments on “Ashura: 10th Muharram”
it’s an invention and an invention is haram in islam as said by God in the quran and as said by the Prophet pbuh many times. its as simple as that. if the quran did not command it and if the Prophet did not practice it, then it shouldn’t be done. no shia can deny that unless they overlook a big portion of islamic fundementals.
on ashura we fast like the jews did and we fast the day before to distinguish ourselves from them. simple as that.
as for the images in light of the cartoon
it doesnt matter. it’s not like the western media was short on negative materials before these cartoons. if the muslim world was perfect they would find a kid on the street picking his nose and call it “Islamic Outrage”
Dear Hasan,
I think you have said it all:
So, where is the problem? Is it because of the title of my post? Or is it because of the picture? Don’t you agree with me that this picture is from Ashura festival? And don’t you agree with me that this is practiced everywhere as you said above? And don’t you agree with me that this practice is prohibited, yet practiced?
Again, where is the problem? Why can’t we look eye into eye and admit that black is black and white is white?
You see, I’m not trying to offend anyone here as I said above. This is not a secret, nor those who do it feel ashamed or hide themselves, so I don’t see the problem in show it.
As I said before, if people see this as wrong, and should not be shown, then, argue with who practice it to stop it.
Dear Haitham,
Well, what I didn’t like is using this particular disgusting ceremony to introduce Ashura to those who don’t know it. In comparison, what will you feel if someone used Al-qaeda as a sample of Islam and muslims?! Wouldn’t look more professional if you have used a title like “Hayder” or “Qamah” instead of Ashura?
Dear Hassan,
If I where you, I would have provided a link to some online resources, which can explain what this picture really means, is this type of practice prohibited or encouraged, who does this and who don’t, why they do it, when and where…etc
Let’s try to educate the people who see such images rather than hiding them and claiming they never exist. Don’t you agree?
So, if you have a link, please provide and I will be happy to update the post and insert your link for better understanding.
Salaam, I am a Shia raised in Canada and now live in the USA.
According to the Fatwa of the great Shia Ulama, it is forbidden to cut oneself during the festival of Ashura. However as you know human beings like to hold on to their cultural activities. So shedding a little blood may look sick , but at the end, if it is not harmful then no one will force it to stop. Just like the days of old when as tabarruk the Islamic clergy used to give out cigarettes. Now with all we know about cigarettes, the Shia Ulama have stated those who are addicted to smoking should try to stop but those who do not smoke it is forbidden to start.
Now it saddens me to see such ignorance shown by many Muslims regarding what is Muharram and what is Ashura. Imam Hussain, by the way was the grandson of the Holy Prophet. For those who love the prophet,,,would you not love his godfearing grandchildren and his family ?
The Prophet had one daughter named Fatima and she married the Prophet’s closest friend/brother/cousin Imam Ali. IF the prophet had other children please let me know their names ? and which tribes exist today from those children ? I am Syed and from the tribe of Fatima. It is a shame to belittle Fatima, The Saudis desecrated the grave of Fatima in Jannatul Baqi, what a shame and this is how we show respect to the Prophet whom we say we love and follow ! many say the prophet had other children…who are they and how can I contact their lineage, their descendants ?
Ashura is not a happy day, it a sad day for Islam, it is a day when the grandson of the Prophet, Hussain ibn Ali, was forced to leave Hajj and driven to Karbala where he was martyred and his family and children were martyred and the womenfolk’ tents were burned and their veils were removed with swords and his children’s earrings were “torn” ! off their ears and his 6 month old son was kiiled with a three prong arrow to is throat. How can you say a band of 80 friends of Imam Hussain and his family members consisting of all the women and children faced with Yazid’s army of 40,000.00 well armed men be considered a battle of two armies. What another shame that we think Hussain was fighting for the Caliphate. Hussain has no interest in the Caliphate , his interest was to show the Hypocrisy of the Caliphate and their innner most hatred for the Prophet and their hypocritical love for Islam. Hussain was martyred with his family to save Islam by showing the true nature of Yazid ibn Muawiya !
Why did Yazid try to force Hussain to make allegiance and acceptance to his Caliphate to a point that he sent his army to kill Hussain and his children ! It is becaue Yazid knew the truth and to protect his materialistic wealth he wanted to make sure Hussain acceptd him even if it meant killing Hussain and stepping out the light of Islam.
Yazid was a womanizer, a drunkard and many other loathsome things, it is a shame to call him a Caliph ! This is history and this is a fact. Go ahead try to erase the history and the truth, but Islam lives today because the PRohet’s family shed thier blood to unveil the corruptness of the hypocritical Muslims of their time.
May Allah bless you all. Bless you for this website and please study Islam and the History of Islam…again we as humans tend to stick to our cultural roots and whatever we were taught we think it to be the be all and end all. We should question our knoweldeg of Islam and our sources.
Well said, Raza. Unfortunately, in these times of enforced ignorance and bigotry, the truth is hidden and lies and misguidance are spouted from the pulpits.
We are all from the same Ummah. We all love the same Prophet (SAW). So why do only some of us love the Grandson (AS) of the Prophet (SAW)? Why do only some of us know the truth about Karbala? Why do only some of us mourn the Martyrs (AS)?
Peace, brothers and sisters. Knowledge is power. Ignorance is forgivable. Bigotry is foolish.
Oh my Godddddddd! this picture and the festival of ashura is so scary I don’t know why people do this.. Islam is the great religion in the world and it does not say to do that and i think they should not do that do u think so?????????????/
the people who wants to be converted, will never be converted when the visit your site.. so please change this pix thank you
Hiding some facts/photos of misconduct in life will not change anything.
Elezebeth, you find this pic scary? This young man is beating HIMSELF according to a traditional expression of GRIEF. I think there are more scary pics of people killing and hurting OTHERS for FUN!
We are not out to convert anyone. We are not evangelist extremists. That’s the difference, we really DO give people a choice.
Haitham, you find mourning the Grandson (AS) of the Holy Prophet (SAW) a form of misconduct?? How strange.
ShiaWoman,
No, I find the Haydariya (beating and injuring themselves) a misconduct. I can’t accept or believe that God, any God, enjoys someone’s beating himself for any reason. The body which God gave to us should be protected, and such misconducts leaves a very bad impression about Islam and Muslims.
For everyone else, you should know that people who does such misconducts are minority and that even the Shia on general reject them.
Praise be to Allah.
I think no muslim should resort to a violent form of worship. Our prophet(Sm) never tought us all those. A person should worship only Allah SWT, and none else. For a muslim, faith is the first thing. There is nothing to show in your faith. If you believe and pray to Allah SWT, I dont understand why one may need to show others by bleeding himself that he loves our prophet(Sm)family. Otherwise, all those who loves him should show it by following all those what he said and by refraining from those which he forbade. Now, lets take a look at the man in the picture. Our prophet (Sm) said, “Trim your mustaches and leave your beard.” (Sahih Bukhary) The man doesn’t have beard; he is not following an obligatory direction. I doubt if he says the obligatory prayer or not. What a hypocrite he is! He loves the grandson of the prophet but does not follow the prophet’s direction.
Allah SWT says in the Quaran, ” Do not commit excess in the religion.” Please read the Quaran, try to understand it. It has all the guidance one may need. You dont have to cry for Prophet’s (Sm) family. All those who follow the prophet (Sm)correctly, are his family members.
May Allah SWT guide us all to the correct path, and He knows the best.
Haitham and Ashraful Alam and all those of you who think this is a bad thing, how would you react if your parent was butchered the way Imam Hussain (AS) was (Allah SWT forbid that such a thing should happen to anyone)? Shimr bin Jawshan (LA) sat upon the chest of the Imam (AS) and cut him to pieces while he was still ALIVE!!! He severed the Imam (AS)’s head while he was still ALIVE!!!
The soldiers of Yazeed (LA) tortured and butchered ALL the Companions (AS) of Imam Hussain (AS) in such ways. Imam (AS)’s Daughter (SA) had hear earrings pulled from her ears and was slapped by Shimr (LA) - this is the Great Granddaughter of the Holy Prophet of Islam (SAWW) we are talking about!!! The hijab of Bibi Zainab (SA), the Granddaughter of Prophet Muhammad (SAWW), was taken from her blessed head by the same ‘man’!!! HOW WOULD YOU REACT IF IT WAS YOUR MOTHER, SISTER OR DAUGHTER??
It is this very thought that keeps the mourning of Karbala on Ashura alive.
Try THINKING. It helps one to UNDERSTAND the logic behind another’s actions.
Ashraf, how can you judge a man’s piety by the length of his beard?? Shimr (LA), Yazeed (LA), Mu’awiyya (LA), Hurmala (LA), etc all had beards. Abu Sufyan (LA) had a beard. Were any of those pig-bastards pious?? NO. They were and remain the ENEMIES of the Blessed and Holy House of the Prophet (SAWW).
THAT is what being a Shia is about. It is about loyalty. It is about befriending the friends and rejecting the enemies of Ahlul Bayt (AS). It is about crying when the Prophet (SAWW) cries and smiling when the Prophet (SAWW) smiles.
Shias celebrate the Birthday of Imam Hussain too, on the 3rd of Shabaan. So where are you then?? Is celebrating a bad thing too?
You need to think, and differentiate between the true Islam, and the one being indoctrinated to you by Wahabi ’scholars’ who are infesting your communities like parasites.
It’s not about Sunni/Shia. It’s about loving the Ahlul Bayt (AS) with everything you’ve got!
ShiaWoman,
Thank you for the advise.
For me, it has nothing to do with Sunni or Shia, etc. I practice my faith with “logic” and “common sense”. If something does not sound/look so, I reject it. This one act you are arguing here is one of them.
I quit this argument coz I don’t intend to start a war about religion(s) or Sunni/Shia here.
Haitham,
Like I said, it’s NOT about Shia/Sunni. I too practice my faith with common-sense and logic. Perhaps if you hear the story of Karbala in detail, you will understand the reason for ‘Haydaria’. As you yourself have said, regarding the documentary ‘Occupation 101′, “If you have a heart, I challenge you to hold your tears and anger…” at what happened to the Holy Martyrs of Karbala (AS).
I don’t think this is an argument. I think we are having a reasonably civilised discussion. There’s no wars starting from my end, believe me.
May Allah SWT Guide us all, Ameen.
im a shiiat and i think those stuped people cuting them selfs like fucking dogs are not meant to be doing that becouase (imam husain )has not told them to do that and go said in the quran that harting ur body is haram so ho ever thinks that cuting his head is a good idea is deack head…
Ali, your language leaves a lot to be desired. You call yourself a Shia, but you conduct yourself like a heathen.
Everyone has their own culture and customs, whether we agree with them or not. There are tribes in Africa which consider cutting scars into their faces attractive. Are we going to call them names too? What right do we have to do such a thing?
It’s about time people just left each other alone to live the way they want to, instead of playing into the hands of the outsiders who laugh at their expense.
I haven’t read all the comments, but Nas grabbed my at attention (1st post) that fasting on Ashura day is HARAM!
Sajjad Ali, it is haraam to observe a traditional fast on Ashura, but a partial fast is permissible, though not obligatory, in which one can partake of Tabarruk if given to them, but otherwise stay without food or water until Asr time.
Wahabi ’scholars’ have unfortunately caused confusion (as usual) among the Ummah, resulting in mosques being decorated with flowers and lights to welcome the New Year on 10th Muharram, and people fasting and dressing as if it’s Eid, instead of doing what Bibi Fatemah Zahra (SA) commanded and mourning the martyrdom of Her Children (AS)!
Thankyou ShiaWoman for clarifying it. You are referring to “Faqa” which is indeed permissable. I just didn’t want others (esp non-shias) to be left with the thought that we can “fast fully” on that day.
And wahabi’s have nothing better to do so that’s that. If it wasn’t for their 3rd Khalifa the battle for authority/justice wouldn’t have taken the form of Karbala.
Exactly, Sajjad Ali. I couldn’t have put it better myself! HUSSAINIYAT ZINDABAD!!!