Ashura | Religion, Philosophy & Ethics for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Introduction

• Ashura is a day of mourning for Muslims, holding particular importance in Shi’a Islam, though it resonates with all Muslims.
• For Shi’a Muslims, it is not a festive occasion but a solemn time of remembrance.
• The ten days prior to Ashura are marked by mourning among Shi’a Muslims.
• Shi’a Muslims observe Ashura to honor the martyrdom of Husayn, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and son of Ali, who died in the Battle of Karbala in Iraq.
• The conflict pitted the Umayyad Caliphate, seeking to dominate the Muslim world, against a small group led by Husayn, a rival claimant to Islamic leadership and a descendant of Muhammad (PBUH).
• It is believed that Husayn’s camp was set ablaze, and their bodies were desecrated by the enemy’s horses.
• Husayn and his male followers were killed in the battle.
• While Ashura holds significance for both Shi’a and Sunni Muslims, their perspectives differ due to theological distinctions.
• Sunni Muslims may grieve the loss of members of the Prophet’s family.
• However, Shi’a Muslims observe it with greater emphasis due to their belief in the Imamate.
• This doctrine holds that imams, as spiritual successors to Muhammad (pbuh), are divinely appointed leaders.
• As part of the Imamate, Husayn’s martyrdom carries profound weight for Shi’a Muslims.
• Ashura serves as a reminder of the persecution and suffering endured by the Shi’a community, often as a minority.
• Processions during this period are frequently used to protest against injustice.
• Both Shi’a and Sunni Muslims also associate Ashura with the Day of Atonement, marking the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
• They commemorate the fast Moses undertook to thank God for parting the Red Sea, enabling the Israelites’ escape from Pharaoh.
• Some also believe it marks the day Noah disembarked from the ark after the flood.

Muslim Observances During Ashura

• On Ashura, Muslims wear black clothing, and plays are performed to recount the events leading to Husayn’s martyrdom.
• In certain countries, Ashura is observed as a public holiday.
• Shi’a Muslims engage in public displays of grief and mourning.
• Re-enactments of the Karbala events are conducted.
• Poems narrating the story are recited.
• Some Shi’a Muslims practice self-flagellation to empathize with Husayn’s suffering and death.
• In some cases, men may strike themselves with chains or cut their heads with swords.
• Certain religious authorities have criticized self-harm, arguing it is wrong to damage the body given by God.
• In the UK, leaders encourage donating blood as an alternative to self-harm.
• Some Shi’a Muslims undertake pilgrimages to Husayn’s tomb.
• Some believe Muhammad (PBUH) designated Ashura as a day of fasting.
• Initially, fasting on Ashura was mandatory for all Muslims.
• When Muhammad (PBUH) established the obligation of fasting during Ramadan, Ashura fasting became optional.
• Many Sunni Muslims choose to fast during this time, though it is not obligatory.
• Fasting on Ashura is believed to cleanse sins from the previous year.
• It is a day to express kindness toward family and the less fortunate.
• Mosques often provide free meals during the ten-day mourning period.
• Ashura is also a time for reciting prayers and gaining knowledge from Islamic scholars.