Muslims worldwide mark Ashura, mourn martyrdom of Imam Hussein

Millions of Muslims worldwide are observing Ashura, which commemorates the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Shia Imam and the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon Him).

Ashura, the 10th day of the lunar month of Muharram, falls on Friday in Iran this year.

Dressed in black, Shia Muslims hold mourning rituals to remember Imam Hussein (AS), who was martyred along with his 72 companions in the Battle of Karbala, in southern Iraq, in 680 AD after fighting courageously for justice against thousands of soldiers of the Umayyad caliph, Yazid I.

Iranians hold mourning processions across the country and listen to elegies recounting the tragic events in commemoration of Ashura, while benefactors distribute votive food, known generically as nazri.

Ashura is the culmination of 10-day mourning ceremonies that are observed in Muharram.

On the eve of Ashura, known as Tasu’a, mourners remember Abbas ibn Ali (PBUH), Imam Hussein’s half-brother, who was martyred shortly before Imam Hussein as he tried to bring water to women and children in Imam’s camp, who had had no water to drink for days due to a siege by the enemy forces.

The Muharram ceremonies symbolize the never-ending and unwavering stance of truth against falsehood and humanity’s struggle against injustice, tyranny and oppression, the cause for which Imam Hussein (AS) was martyred.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from Iran and other countries head to the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, the latter of which hosts Imam Hussein’s holy shrine, to observe the rituals and mark Ashura in ultimate magnificence.