why is muharram celebrated

It is that day when Yazid murdered Prophet’s favorite grandson and his people “celebrated” the killing. These rituals include the memorial services (majalis al-ta'ziya), the visitation of Husayn's tomb in Karbala particularly on the occasion of the tenth day of Ashura and the fortieth day after the battle (Ziyarat Ashura and ziyarat al-Arba'in), the public mourning processions (al-mawakib al-husayniyya or the representation of the battle of Karbala in the form of a play (the shabih), and the flagellation (tatbir). It states the start of the Islamic New year. Muharram is celebrated as the advent of the Islamic New Year by participating Muslims around the globe. The holy day is observed on the tenth of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic lunar calendar. Muslims consider the month of Muharram a month to mourn Imam Hussain’s martyrdom in the Battle of Karbala. Nonetheless, taziyas continued to exist in Iran on a smaller scale especially in more rural and traditional areas. However, Ashura is observed differently by Shia and Sunni Muslims around the world.Â, The Shia sects mark the day with meetings, morning processions, fasting and feeding the poor. Shia Muslims mourn during Muharram, although Sunnis do so to a much lesser extent. They start mourning from the 1st night of Muharram and continue for the next 2 months and 8 days. Al-Maqrizi (d. 845/1442), a medieval Egyptian historian, notes that in the Fatimi empire the Day of ʿAashura was marked as a day of grief and markets were shut.[10]. It is considered one of the most significant festivals celebrated by the Muslim community. Alams all vary in size but usually consist of a wood pole base, with a metal finial and cross-bar that is fixated at the top of the pole. The holy month of Muharram signifies the start of a new Islamic year. The Islamic Lunar Calendar is 11 or 12 days shorter than the solar calendar, or the Gregorian one, which is followed in most western countries. Reza Shah, the first of the Pahlavi dynasty, had outlawed taziyas. As an act of self-flagellation, mourners whip themselves with sharp objects to show solidarity with the martyrs. They also refrain from attending and celebrating all joyous events in this period.Â, Sunni Muslims, on the other hand, observe the day with fasts from sunrise to sunset. Alams with Abbas' name usually include an ornament that resembles the water skin that he intended to fill for the children. Muharram, the first of the 12 months of the Islamic calendar, is the second holiest month after Ramadan for people belonging to the Muslim community. [28] Taziyas were popular through the Qajar dynasty until the early twentieth century, but the re-enactments slowly declined until they were mostly abandoned in the large cities by the early 1940s. According to popular belief, Shia rituals spread to South Asia starting at the end of the 14th Century with the conquests of Tamerlane. Lamenting and weeping for the (mazloom) wronged and offering condolences to his family, thus, will serve as one of the good deeds done by the mourners of Husayn (azadaar e Husayn) and will be helpful in saving them from being condemned to hell fire on the day of judgment. [32] Muharram 2020: History, significance and why is it celebrated. [20] Shia Muslims believe that pilgrimage to Husayn ibn Ali’s shrine, like weeping, wipes out their sins to a great extent. The Mourning of Muharram (also known as the Remembrance of Muharram or Muharram Observances) is a set of commemoration rituals observed primarily by Shia and Sufi Muslims, and marked by all Muslims, as well as some non-Muslims. John Abraham is making a wave in the industry; How strong are his stars? [31], The reaction of the audience in the reenactment of the Battle of Karbala’ episode is significant for the strengthening of distinct Shia identity and the weeping over the killing of Husayn ibn Ali and his follower is one of these reactions. [5], According to Shia sources, the mourning of Muharram was started by the family, especially women, of Muhammad (the Ahl-ul-Bayt) immediately after the death of his grandson and even before entering Damascus. [citation needed], After almost 12 centuries, five types of major rituals were developed around the battle of Karbala. [4], Muharram rituals was often called by European observers "the Feast of Hasan and Hosayn," as the participants shout "Hasan! Noha consists of poems in different languages such as Arabic, Urdu, Farsi,Saraeki, Sindhi and Punjabi. Majalis-e Aza, also known as Aza-e Husayn, includes mourning congregations, lamentations, matam and all such actions which express the emotions of grief and above all, repulsion against what Yazid I stood for. It is a festival which indicates the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain. The length of an Alam can be about 15 feet. Both events in the history marked the battle of similar virtues — right versus wrong. However, both Shia and Sunni Muslims consider Muharram holy for different reasons. Here’s how Muslims observe the day of Muharram. Shia Muslims around the world every year commemorate the mourning custom of death of Husayn ibn Ali, his family and his follower in months of Muharram and Safar. Muharram 2019 | Muharram, considered one of the most significant festivals celebrated by the Muslim community, marks the beginning of the Islamic New Year.This year the 10th day of Muharram, also known as Ashura or 'Youm-e-Ashura', falls on Tuesday (10 September).. Muharram which is the first month of … Theatrical groups that specialize in taziya are called taziya groups. [15] The mourning rituals evolved differently in different places, until the Safavid dynasty established a centralized Shia state in the 16th century:[16]:118 The annual mourning ceremonies and ritual cursing of Husayn's enemies acquired the status of a national institution. While Shia Muslims observe the first ten days as public mourning, the Sunni Muslims evade any overt display of happiness such as weddings etc. Also, an Alam is decorated by plumes and fine embroidered silks and brocades. So, as a Muslim, we must consider the fasting in this month as it is the best way to get peace of mind. Shias mourn on the first 10 days of Muharram by carrying a number of activities that show remorse. [22] Male and female participants congregate in public for ceremonial chest beating (matam- سینہ زنی) as a display of their devotion to Imam Husayn and in remembrance of his suffering. How Is Muharram Celebrated The Shia Muslims consider Muharram to be the period of mourning and remembering martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Husain. It is a festival which indicates the martyrdom of … In Iran this is called taziya or taziyeh. Abbas lost his life in battle when he went to retrieve water from the Euphrates River for the caravan's young children who were thirsty for three days. Muharram is the first of the four sacred months in the Islamic calendar. The common form is the starting of mourning processions from Hussainiya and the participants would parade through the streets of their town or village, finally they come back to Hussainiya for performing other mourning of Muharram’s ritual. 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Muharram is the first month, which marks the beginning of a new year in Islamic calendar. According to Shia tradition, the weeping and the flow of tears provides condolences to Imam Husayn's mother and his family, as the living relatives (mostly women and children) were not allowed to weep or lament over their martyred family which involved Imam Husayn's, his family (including his two sons, a six-month-old baby martyred by an arrow/spear to his neck and another 18 year who took a spear to his heart) and his companions. It is also the day that God saved Prophet Musa, or Moses, from the Pharaoh of Egypt by helping him and his people cross the Red Sea. In Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica[41] all ethnic and religious communities participate in the event, locally known as "Hosay" or "Hussay". Last year it began on September 21, and in 2016 it started on October 2. There are two basic forms of matam:[24][25][26], Matam in South Asia is the most significant and sensitive Shia identity marker, although the act is also condemned by many Shi'a religious leaders. It marks the day that Nuh, or Noah, left the Ark. Muharram is not festival to celebrate, It is a first month in Islamic Calender where Muslims like SHIA and BOHRA begin mourning and beating from the first night of Muharram and continue for ten nights, i.e 10th of … [15], At first the mourning ceremonies and custom have been done in the open air at the main thoroughfare of city of village, a major intersection in the bazaar, the yard of the mosque, caravanserai and private homes. According to the beliefs, Emperor Yazid persecuted Hussein and his family members to establish his power and killed 10 Muharram … This is meant to increase the people's understanding of how the enemies fought The Battle of Karbala against Imam Husayn and his followers. [13] Ibn al-Tuwayr records that on the Day of ʿAashura, the royal carpets in the palace would be replaced with straw mats. Today, Rawda is either the story of Rawdat of al-Shuhada or stories that Rawḍa-k̲h̲ w ān (person who does the recitation) creates by his skills and knowledge to release the original text of the book. Family members and companions accompanying him were either killed or subjected to humiliation. Though all sects of Islam celebrate Ashura, Shiites put extra emphasis on the holiday and use it as a time to … [16]:120 Observance has since spread to countries such as India, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, Syria, Nigeria, Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Yemen, Bahrain, Azerbaijan and Lebanon. According to the narration, Shia Imams had emphasized to weep for them, so it had transmitted to future generation. They also hold gatherings and pray in mosques to remember the sacrifice done by Iman Hussain. Â, ALSO READ: Muharram 2020: Wishes, Quotes, WhatsApp status and messages to send on Hijri New Year. [6], Depending on the condition of society, the Muharram processions changes from one city to another. During this month, Muslims are forbidden to fight or engage in any other form of sin. In the month of Muharram, Muslims mourn and give up their happiness. On the main day of Muharram, the Islamic New year is praised, which is viewed as a sacred festival. Storytelling, weeping and chest beating, wearing black, partial fasting, street processions, and re-enactments of the Battle of Karbala form the crux of the observances. MUHARRAM The New Year of Islam What is Muharram ? The word ‘Muharram’ means ‘forbidden’. In India and Pakistan it is called Matam or Matam-Dari/Sina Zannee (chest beating). Muharram is a significant and vital festival of Muslims. 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