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The Day of Ashura ('''''' , Ashura, Ashoura, and other spellings) is on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic Calendar and marks the climax of the Remembrance Of Muharram but not the Islamic month. This day is well-known because of mourning for the The word ''ashura'' means simply ''tenth'' in Arabic; hence the name of the Remembrance , literally translated, means "the tenth day". Islamic scholars, however, give various explanations as to why it is thus called. ETYMOLOGY OF ASHURA The word Ashura is Arabic for ''tenth''. The day is indeed the tenth day of the month, although some Islamic Scholars offer up different etymologies. In his book ''Ghuniyatut Talibin'', Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani writes that the Islamic scholars have a difference of opinion as to why this day is known as Ashura. The general consensus is that the day is the tenth day of the month of Muharram. Some scholars, however, suggest that this day is the tenth most important day that God has blessed Muslims with; hence the name Ashura. {Link without Title} Not to be confused with the ancient Assyrian god Ashur . SIGNIFICANCE OF ASHURA FOR SUNNI MUSLIMS Ashura was already known as a commemorative day during which some Meccans used to observe customary fasting. In . Today, Sunnis regard fasting during Ashura as recommended, though not obligatory, having been superseded by the Ramadan fast. The Ashura is commemorated for the following occasions which Muslims believe happened on the 10th Day of the Muharram:
COMMEMORATION OF THE MARTYRDOM OF HUSAYN IBN ALI See Also: Commemoration of Husayn ibn Ali This day is well-known because of mourning for the {Link without Title} It is reputed that Mahatma Gandhi said: "I learned from Hussein, how to be wronged and yet emerge a winner." It appeared at that time that like hundreds of similar events, this battle would be recorded in history and forgotten in time. However, the events that occurred on the 10th day of Muharram in Kerbala were to become a beacon and an inspiration for future generations. {Link without Title} History Commemoration for Husayn ibn Ali began after Battle Of Karbala . According to Tabari Zaynab quoted as she passed the prostrate body of her brother, Husayn . " O Muhammad! O Muhammad! May the angels of heaven bless you. Here is Husayn in the open, stained with blood and with limbs torn off. O Muhammad! Your daughters are prisoners, your progeny are killed, and the east wind blows dust over them." By God! She made every enemy and friend weep. The hstory of Al-Tabari, Volume XIX The Caliphate of Yazid, translated by I. K. A. Howard, p:164 Then Zaynab made people of Kufa and Demasque weep. Husayn's descendants weeping every year for him and their Shi'a did so. When Buwayhids conquered Baghdad , 'Imad Al-Daula announced Ashura as a holiday and made people mourn for Husayn. Gradually it became a custom in eastern Muslim territory and even Sunnis participated in it. Significance of Ashura for Shi'a Muslims strike their chests during the mourning during Mätam .]] This day is of particular significance to Shi'a Muslim s, who consider Hussein (the grandson of the Prophet) Ahl Al-Bayt the third Imam and the rightful successor of Muhammad . Many Shi'as make pilgrimages on Ashura to the Mashhad Al-Husayn , the Shrine in Karbala , Iraq that is traditionally held to be Imam Hussein's tomb. On this day Shi'a are in remembrance, mourning attire is worn; they refrain from music, the reason being naturally in Islam when death has occurred music is considered impolite. It is a time for sorrow and respect of the person’s passing and it is also a time for self reflection. Basically committing yourself to the mourning of the Imam Hussein completely. Weddings and parties are also never planned on this date by Shias. Shias also express mourning by crying and listening to poems about the tragedy. They also listen to sermons on how Hussein and his family were martyred. This is intended to connect them with Hussein's suffering and Martyrdom , and the sacrifices he made to keep Islam alive. Hussein's Martyrdom is widely interpreted by Shi'a as a symbol of the struggle against injustice, tyranny, and oppression. {Link without Title} Shi'as believe the Battle of Karbala was between the forces of good and evil. Imam Hussain represented good while Yazid represented evil. Shi'as also believe the Battle of Karbala was faught to keep the Muslim religion untainted of any corruptions and they believed the path that Yazid was directing Islam was definitely for his own personal greed. starting the procession of suffering and cutting their bodies with knives during the Mätam .]] Formal fasting on this day, although not considered required by Shi'as, is preferred by many. They refrain from drinking and eating in commemoration of Imam Hussein. This is known as Fakah, which is not a formal fast. Many of the events associated with Ashura are held in special congregation halls known as " Imambargah " and Hussainia . Suffering and cutting the body with knives (Churrio ka Mätam ) are common practices by Shias around the world. Some Shi'a observe mourning with blood donation which is called "Qame Zani" http://www.ezsoftech.com/mazloom/zanjeer.asp ZANJEER OR QAMA ZANI ON ASHURA DURING MUHARRAM] and flailing Certain rituals like the traditional flagellation ritual called zanjeer zani or zanjeer matam, involving the use of a zanjeer (a chain) are also performed[http://www.newstatesman.com/200506060012 . These are not religious customs but are popularly done for the sake of Imam Hussain and his family. Many Shia's today in the West give blood to the Red Cross when commemorating the blood that spilled in Karbala. Popular customs Commemoration of Ashura is not a festival, but rather a sad event for both Shi'a and Sunni Muslims -- and for Shi'as a period of intense grief and mourning. Mourners, both male and female, congregate together usually at a Mosque for sorrowful, poetic recitations such as Marsiya , Noha , Latmiya and Soaz performed in memory of the Martyrdom of Hussein, lamenting and grieving to the tune of beating drums and chants of " Ya Hussain ." Also Ulama s give sermons with themes of Hussein's personality and position in Islam, and the history of his uprising. The Sheikh of the mosque retells the Battle of Karbala to allow the listeners to relive the pain and sorrow endured by Hussein and his family. In Arab countries like Iraq and Lebanon they read Maqtal Al-Husayn . In some places, such as Iran, Iraq and the Arab Gulf States , Ta'zieh , passion plays, are also performed reenacting the Battle Of Karbala and the suffering and Martyrdom of Hussein at the hands of Yazid . s being lowered in to the sea in Pariaman , Indonesia, by Shia Muslims.]] For the duration of the remembrance, it is customary for mosques and some people to provide free meals (''nazar'') on certain nights of the month to all people. Many people donate food and Middle Eastern sweets to the mosque. These meals are viewed as being special and holy, as they have been consecrated in the name of Husayn, and thus partaking of them is considered an act of communion with God , Hussain , and Humanity . Many of the male participants congregate together in public for ceremonial chest beating (''matham/latmiya'') as a display of their devotion to Husayn and in remembrance of his suffering.Women pay tribute to the time period by holding a Majilis, Surahs from the Quran and Maqtal Al-Husayn are read. Today in Indonesia , the event is known as Tabuik ( Minangkabau Language ) or Tabut ( Indonesian ). Tabuik is the local manifestation of the Shi'a Muslim Remembrance Of Muharram among the Minangkabau people in the coastal regions of West Sumatra , particularly in the city of Pariaman . The festival includes reenactments of the Battle Of Karbala , and the playing of Tassa and Dhol drums. Sunni Muslim Viewpoint of Hussein ibn Ali Hussein, according to Sunni tradition, is a historical personality who attained Martyrdom in this special historical event. Accordingly, Sunnis deal with the tragedy of Karbala by investigating the historical causes that led to the Martyrdom of Al-Hussein and his companions. Sunnis may at times differ in estimating its causes and results, what is right and what is wrong about it, but never ignore Hussein's grand religious rank, affirmed by religious texts and his being Muhammad 's grandson and coming from Ahl Al-Bayt Nonetheless viewpoints in the Sunni community vary the reason being is that Sunnis accept the succession of caliphate including that of Ali as the fourth caliph. However, they do not see the remaining family members after Ali as the leaders of Islam. Whereas Shia Muslims follow the family lineage of Muhammad [http://www.shiacode.com/ . Also in some countries Sunnis mourn for Hussein as the Shi'as do. Mourning was already carried out in Iran between the 13th and 15th Centuries, prior to widespread adoption of Shi'ism in that country. Commemoration of Husayn Ibn Ali by non-Muslims In some countries other religious communities commemorate this event. In Iran, some Armenians and Zoroastrians participate in mourning. Hamshahri , 3 Esfand 83 {Link without Title} In " or "Hussay", from "Husayn". Socio-political aspects Commemoration of Ashura has great socio-political value for the Shi'a, who have been a minority during history. "Al-Amd" asserts that the Shiite transference of Al-Husayn and Karbala ’ from the framework of history to the domain of ideology and everlasting legend reflects their marginal and dissenting status in Arab-Islamic society. Such an ideology helps Shiites maintain and reinforce their collective spirit against the Sunni multitude. According to the prevailing conditions at the time of the commemoration, such reminiscences may become a framework for implicit dissent or explicit protest. It was, for instance, used during the Islamic Revolution Of Iran , the Lebanese Civil War , the Lebanese resistance against the Israeli Occupation and in the 1990s Uprising In Bahrain . Sometimes the `Ashura’ celebrations associate the memory of Al-Husayn’s martyrdom with the miserable conditions of Muslims in other non-Islamic third-world nations, on the pretence that every nation and era has their own Husayn. {Link without Title} On the other hand some governments have banned this commemoration. In 1930s Reza Shah forbade it in Iran . The regime of Saddam Hussein saw this as a potential threat and banned Ashura commemorations for many years. In the 1884 Hosay Massacre , 22 people were killed in Trinidad And Tobago when civilians attempted to carry out the Ashura rites, locally known as Hosay , in defiance of the British colonial authorities. VIOLENCE DURING ASHURA The Sunni and Shi'a schism is highlighted by the difference in observance by Sunni and Shi'a Muslims. The violence is perpetrated by Sunni and Shi'a extremists. In countries that have significant populations of both sects, there is often violence during the holiday. Recently, Pakistan , India , Iraq and Afghanistan have all seen violence during this time. Such violence include self-cutting of the top of the head with knifes so as to let blood flow over the face. The 2004 (1425 AH) Shi'a pilgrimage to Karbala, the first since Saddam Hussein was removed from power in Iraq, was marred by Bomb Attacks , which killed and wounded hundreds despite tight security. ASHURA IN THE GREGORIAN CALENDAR While Ashura is always on the same day of the Islamic calendar, the date on the Gregorian Calendar varies from year to year due to differences between the two calendars, since the Islamic calendar is a Lunar Calendar and the Gregorian calendar is a Solar Calendar . Furthermore, the method used to determine when each Islamic month begins varies from country to country. (For details, please see Islamic Calendar .)
Future dates listed above are only estimates. SEE ALSO
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