In the first 10 days of Muharram, leading up to Ashura on the 10th, Shiʿi Muslims engage in a variety of rituals and practices to demonstrate their mourning for and commemoration of Al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī’s martyrdom. Practitioners listen to sermons and poetry recitations, and they observe passion plays that recreate the events of the Battle of Karbala. Large processions through the streets can include representations of Ḥusayn’s tomb. As a sign of mourning, some men perform self-flagellation, even to the point of bloodletting, although this practice is debated and sometimes prohibited. In locations where Sunni and Shiʿi Muslims coexist, there are histories of both Sunni participation in Shiʿi rituals and sectarian friction between the two communities.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style