EXPLORE IRAQ

ASHURA

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Ashura occurs on the 10th day of Muharram and commemorates the martrydom of the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the Battle of Karbala in AD 680. Ashura is a day of mourning and grief for Muslims. Processions are taken out, with the largest one taking place in the city of Karbala. Many also donate blood on the day of Ashura. 

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Background

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Both Sunni and Shia Muslims celebrate Muharram, which is remembered as a key event, especially martyrdom of the grandson of Prophet Muhammad in the battle of Karbala in 680 CE. The battle has great religious and political importance in Islamic history.

 

The battle took place during the rule of Yazid I, the second Umayyad caliph. The battle was between Imam Hussain's forces and the Umayyad army. Imam Hussain, his family, and a small group of loyal followers refused to pay allegiance to Yazid I believing that his rule was unjust and against Islamic principles. 

 

They traveled to Kufa (present-day Iraq) answering calls for support from its people. They met the huge Umayyad army after reaching Karbala, and Imam Hussain’s group was no match for them, in terms of strength. Despite all odds being against them, Imam Hussain stayed committed to justice and Islam's teachings.

 

HISTORY

 

Battle of Karbala

 

Destruction of the Tomb of Husain at Kerbela on the orders of Caliph al-Mutawakkil.

 

Karbala's prominence in Shia traditions is the result of the Battle of Karbala, fought on the site of the modern city on Oct 09, 680 AD (10 Muharram 61 AH). Both Imam Hussein ibn Ali and his brother Abbas ibn Ali were buried by the local Banī Asad tribe at what later became known as the Mashhad Al-Hussein. The battle itself occurred as a result of Hussein's refusal to accept the Umayyad Yazid ibn Mu'awiya as caliph. The Kufan governor, Ubaydallah ibn Ziyad, sent thousands of horsemen against Imam Hussein as he traveled to Kufa. The horsemen, under 'Umar ibn Sa'd, were ordered to deny Imam Hussein and his followers water in order to force Imam Hussein to agree to give an oath of allegiance. On 9 Muharram, Imam Hussein refused and asked to be given the night to pray. On 10 Muharram, Imam Hussein ibn Ali prayed the morning prayer and led his troops into battle along with his brother Al-Abbas. All of Hussein's followers, including all of his present sons Ali al-Akbar, Ali al-Asghar (a few months old) and his nephews Qasim, Aun and Muhammad were martyred in an inhuman way.

 

In 63 AH (682 AD), Yazid ibn Mu'awiya released the surviving members of Imam Hussein's family from prison. On their way to Mecca, they stopped at the site of the battle. There is record of Sulayman ibn Surad going on pilgrimage to the site as early as 65 AH (685 AD). The city began as a tomb and shrine to Hussein and grew as a city in order to meet the needs of pilgrims.

 

The city and tombs were greatly expanded by successive Muslim rulers, but suffered repeated destruction from attacking armies. The original shrine was destroyed by the Abbasid Caliph al-Mutawakkil in 850 but was rebuilt in its present form around 979, only to be partly destroyed by fire in 1086 and rebuilt yet again.

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