History of Muharram

The Period of mourning is observed in the first month of the Islamic calendar, and it commemorates the death of Hazrat Imam Hussain in the battle of Karbala. Muharram means 'respected'. It is the first month of the Islamic calendar.The first ten days of this month are observed as a period of mourning by Muslims, particularly by those belonging to the Shiah sect, in memory of the tragedy of 680 AD. Hazrat Imam Hussain, the grandson of Muhammad the Prophet was killed in the battle of Karbala. This event, called Muharram, is named after the month in which it took place. The tenth day, called Ashura, is observed as the day for a public expression of their grief and is the most important day of the month.

During the pre-Islamic period in the Arabian penninsula, fighting was prohibited in four months of the year.These months, of which Muharram was one, were considered sacred. This period of inactivity was a necessity in heavily decorated replicas of the tomb of the Imam and his family are made for Muharram the era of warring tribes. The tradition was maintained even after the advent of Islam, though provisions to accommodate and accept war in special situations, like a threat to the sovereignty of an empire, were introduced. The gory battle of Karbala was fought against this law and tradition of Islam. The inhabitants on the banks of rivers Euphrates and Tigris were traditional rivals. Their animosity was contained to some extent by Muhammad. But when his son-in-law Hazrat Ali was the Caliph, the old enmity re-surfaced. Hazrat Ali had two descendants, Hazrat Imam Hussain and Hazrat Imam Hassan.

Hussain was the ruler of the part of the empire known today as Iran. The other part in modern Iraq was ruled by the Umayyads. Hussain was called upon by the Shiahs of Kufa, a small town in the Umayyad kingdom, to accept their allegiance and claim his place as the leader of the Islamic community. This was against the wishes of the ruler of Kufa, Yazid, who instructed his governor, Ibn-e-Ziad to take appropriate action. Meanwhile, in response to the call of the Shiahs, Hussain accompanied by his family members, headed for Kufa. When they reached Karbala, enroute to Kufa, the forces of the governor surrounded them and their 70 men. Hussain, his family and his troops were tortured and killed, and Hussain's head was severed and presented to the king. They received no help from the Shiahs of Kufa. This happened on the tenth day of Muharram and it was called Ashura.

To commemorate this tragedy, the 40 days starting from the first day ofMuharram to Chehalum, are observedas a period of mourning by the Shiahs. During this period, women foresake alladornments, even their bangles. All kinds of celebration like marriage are disallowed during this period. Shiah Muslims are celibate for these 40 days. The first 10 days however, are the most important and are passionately observed asa period of mourning. During the first nine days of the month, majlish(enacted grief-stricken scenes from the battle of Karbala) are organised in Shiah mosques. Huge Shiah crowds wearing black assemble at imambaras, where plaintive verses in memory of Imam Hussain are recited. These nine days are also spent in making Taziahs. On Ashura, the most important day, processions with Taziahs are taken out in commemeration of the sad event.

The procession also includes a well-decorated horse, representing the horse of Imam Hussain. Emotional plays,enacting scenes from the battle of Karbala, are performed by bare-chested Shiah men. They strike their body with chains while some walk with bare feeton burning coals. Crying "hai Hussain hum na rahe", meaning 'Oh Hussain, we were not there', they express their anguish at their in ability to have prevented him from being tortured. By beating themselves, the Shiahs relive the pain Hussain suffered and thus express their sorrow. They also distribute water, soft drinks and fruit juices to passers-by in an effort to quench the thirst of the six-month old son of Hazrat Imam Hussain and many others who are believed to have died asking for water. The Taziah processions from allover the town terminate at the Karbala of the city. Most old habitations with a Muslim tradition have a specially marked place to represent the original Karbala.

The Taziahs are buried there. Sometimes they are dismantled so that they can be used again. Often they are immersed in a river. According to a popular belief among the Shiahs, the mud on the grave of Hazrat Imam Hussain turns blood red on Ashura. Muharram is also a time for making vows. People pledge their promises to the Taziah of Hussain. They can do this in two ways. The first is by sending milk,a soft drink, dates or refined sugar to the craftsman who is making the Taziahs. The craftsman recites the Al-Fatiha breaks a coconut and distributesits water with the soft drink or milk in small cups to those present.The second method of making a vow is by performing an act of penance or self-torture before the Taziah. This is generally practiced by woman who volunteer to stand and watch over the Taziahs for a night or more. They go to the place where it is built, and accompany it through its route to the Karbala. This commitment is performed on the ninth night of the month of Muharram.

Some people offer to roll on the ground for a certain distance in front of the Taziah as thanksgiving for favours that have been granted or for wish fulfillment. Though the 10 days of Muharram are a period of mourning for the Sunni sect too, they do not indulge in passion plays and nor do they cry out Hussain Hussain because their tradition stipulates grieving in silence.They keep a two-day roja on the ninth and tenth of the month, wear only black clothes and read the Namaz and AlFatiha five times a day.