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What is Ashura? Tuesday, 6th, December, 2011
The day of Ashura is marked by Muslims as a whole, but for Shi’a
Muslims it is a major religious commemoration of the martyrdom
at Karbala of Husayn, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.
It falls on the 10th of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar
calendar. It is mainly celebrated in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan with a national holiday.
It is marked by Muslims with a voluntary day of fasting which commemorates the day Noah left
the Ark, and the day that Moses was saved from the Egyptians by God.
For Shia Muslims, Ashura is a solemn day of mourning the martyrdom of Husayn in 680 AD at
Karbala in modern-day Iraq. Husayn and around 70 men fought the army of Caliph Yazin I.
Vastly outnumbered Husayn was captured and killed, their property looted and camps set on fire.
It is marked with mourning rituals and passion plays re-enacting the martyrdom.
Shi’a men and women dressed in black also parade through the streets slapping their chests and
chanting.
Some Shi’a men seek to emulate the suffering of Husayn by flagellating (whipping and cutting)
themselves with chains or cutting their foreheads until blood streams from their bodies.
Some Shi’a leaders and groups discourage the bloodletting, saying it creates a backward and
negative image of Shi’a Muslims. Such leaders encourage people to donate blood.
Islamic schism
The killing of Husayn was an event that led to the split in Islam into two main sects - Sunnis and
Shi’as.
In early Islamic history the Shi’a were a political faction (known as the "party of Ali") that
supported Ali, son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammed and the fourth caliph (temporal and spiritual
ruler) of the Muslim community.
The great schism between Sunnis and Shi’as occurred when Imam Ali did not succeed as leader
of the Islamic community at the death of the Prophet. Ali was murdered in AD 661 and his chief
opponent Muawiya became caliph.
Caliph Muawiya was later succeeded by his son Yazid, but Ali's son Husayn refused to accept his
legitimacy and fighting between the two resulted. Husayn and his followers were massacred in
battle at Karbala.
Both Ali's and Husayn's deaths gave rise to the Shi’a cult of martyrdom and to their sense of
betrayal and struggle against injustice, oppression and tyranny. Today, Shias comprise about 15%
of the total worldwide Muslim population. For Suni Muslims it is a day where they fast
voluntarily, give to charity, show kindness to thier family, it is not as important or solemn
occasion for Sunni Muslims.