Ashura Flashcards
What is Ashura?
A Shi’a festival. It is the day that the prophet Muhammad dedicated as one of fasting from sunset to sunset.
When is Ashura?
Takes place on the 19th of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic year.
What 2 events does Ashura celebrate?
- The first is the day that Nuh (Noah) left the ark
- The second is the day that Musa (Moses) was saved from the Egyptians by Allah.
Did Muhammad make this fast voluntary or compulsory?
Voluntary, but for Shi’a Muslims is has remained a major festival.
What do Shi’a Muslims remember at this time?
The death of Hussayn on the 10th of Muharram 680CE.
Who was Hussayn?
The son of Ali, grandson of Muhammad and the second Imam of the Shi’as.
What happened to Hussayn?
Hussayn, along with a small group of his companions, were massacred by Sunni forces at a battle in Karbala.
What did this event lead to?
This event led to the split between the Sunni and Shi’a of Islam, and it is of central importance in Shi’a Islam.
What do Shi’a participate in during this special day?
Public expressions of mourning and grief. Some whip themselves on the back with chains, beating their head or ritually cutting themselves.
Where do many Shi’a make pigrimages on Ashura?
To the Mashhad al-Husayn, the shrine in Karbala, that is believed to be Hussayn’s tomb.
What happens on Ashura in London?
Around 3000 Shi’a Muslims gather at Marble Arch for a mourning procession and speeches.
Why is Ashura significant to Musilims?
- Because Hussayns death is generally understood by Shi’a as a symbol of the struggle against injustice and oppression
- Because the mourning and whipping enable Muslims to link themselves with Hussayn’s suffering and death
- Because many Shi’a believe this will help them on the Day of Judgement.
