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Shī‘a Islam

People of the House

Muhammad Ali • Fatimah Hasan • Husayn

Texts & Laws

Qur'an

Major branches

Twelvers • Ismaili Zaidiyyah

Societal aspects

History of Shia Islam

See also

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See also: Day of Ashura

The Remembrance of Muharram (Arabic: ذكرى محرم or مناسبة محرم) is an important period of mourning in the Shi'a branch of Islam.

Shi'a Muslims in Bahrain strike their chests during the Remembrance of Muharram.

The remembrance marks the anniversary of the Battle of Karbala when Imam Husayn ibn Ali, a grandson of the prophet Muhammad, was martyred. Muharram is the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The Shi'a sect is the main sect that commemorates the death of Imam Husayn ibn Ali by arranging 'majalis' (gatherings) to review Islamic teachings and to commemorate Imam Husayn's sacrifice. The mourning reaches its climax on the tenth day, known as Ashura.

This event is observed in the first month of the Hijra year, Muharram. Mourners, both male and female, congregate together (in separate sections) for sorrowful, poetic recitations performed in memory of the martyrdom of Husayn, lamenting and grieving to the tune of beating drums and chants of "Ya Husayn." Passion plays are also performed, reenacting the Battle of Karbala and the suffering and death of Husayn at the hands of Yazid. It is not a festival -- the event is the saddest event for Shi'a Muslims and it is a period of intense grief and mourning. The event is also observed by many Sunnis, but to a lesser extent, and as a time of remembrance, rather than mourning^{[citation needed]}.

Many of the male participants congregate together in public for ceremonial chest beating (matham) as a display of their devotion to Imam Husayn and in remembrance of his suffering. In some Shi'a societies, such as those in Bahrain, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Iraq, some male participants inflict actual wounds upon themselves, using knives or razors swung upon chains [1]. This practice is rare and viewed as being extreme and is discouraged and banned in some countries with significant Shi'a populations, such as Iran.

Tabuiks (funeral biers) being lowered into the sea at a Muharram procession in West Sumatra, Indonesia

For the duration of the remembrance, it is customary for mosques to provide free meals (nazar) on certain nights of the month to all people. These meals are viewed as being special and holy, as they have been consecrated in the name of Imam Husayn, and thus partaking of them is considered an act of communion with Allah (S.W.T), Imam Husayn, and humanity.

In South Asia, a number of literary and musical genres, produced by both Shias and Sunnis, that have been inspired by the Battle of Karbala are performed during the month, such as marsiya, noha and soaz. This is meant to increase the peoples understanding of how cowardly the enemies fought The Battle of Karbala against Husayn and his followers.

In Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica all ethnic and religious communities participate in the event, locally known as "Hosay" or "Hussay". In Indonesia, the event is known as Tabuik (Minangkabau language) or Tabut (Indonesian).

Many of the events associated with the remembrance take place in congregation halls known as "Hussainia".

A banner (aalam) being carried in a procession during the Remembrance of Muharram in Bahrain.

• Mätam