On Tuesday, Muslims worldwide came together to observe Ashura, a solemn day of remembrance for the death of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Imam Hussein, in the seventh century.
Ashura falls on the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, and is significant for all Muslims.
For Shia Muslims, Ashura holds special importance as it commemorates the Battle of Karbala in Iraq, where Imam Hussein was martyred.
During this time, Shia worshippers don black attire and engage in rituals of mourning, including chest-beating and self-flagellation with swords and chains, to honor Imam Hussein’s sacrifice in 680 AD.
Centuries later, cities like Baghdad and Tehran were adorned with symbols of Shia devotion on Ashura, such as red flags symbolizing Hussein’s blood, black funeral tents, and processions of men and boys expressing their fervor through chest-beating rituals.
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