By Philip Issa
NABATIYEH, Lebanon (AP) — Shiite Muslims world over are observing the Ashoura, a holy day of mourning and the sect’s most important religious ceremony commemorating the death in 680 AD of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Imam Hussein.
Hussein was killed along with 72 friends and family members in the battle of Karbala, in present-day Iraq. Shiites contend that Hussein’s father Ali was unfairly passed over for leadership of the young Muslim caliphate after the death of the prophet.
Hussein’s death at Karbala was a crucial blow to their rebellion and one of the turning points that spawned Islam’s Sunni-Shiite divide.
Here is a look at some of the ceremonies taking place on Wednesday:
LEBANON
Hundreds of men and boys, and several women lashed their foreheads and backs, drawing blood during an open air procession in the southern Lebanese town of Nabaityeh to mark the Ashoura, which falls on the 10th day of the month of Muhharam on the Islamic calendar.
In the courtyard of a historic town mosque, boys as young as three wailed in bewilderment as they received incisions with a razor blade on their foreheads, to facilitate bleeding from the lashes. Women, too, proceeded to the courtyard to cut their foreheads and pound their brows and chant “Haydar,” another name for Hussein.
The ceremony is symbolic to show regret for not being able to fight with Hussein. In other parts of Lebanon, it is frowned upon and rallies honoring Hussein were held. Some religious leaders have suggested that believers donate blood instead.
In Nabaityeh, the air smelled rusty and blood trickled down the path of the procession. Saeed Sleiman, one of the participants, said, “We don’t fear anything.”
IRAN
Millions of faithful in Shiite power Iran observed the Ashoura, converging on the streets and in mosques with heavy hearts for mourning processions. During the ceremonies, the faithful are dressed in black and eulogies are recited in memory of Hussein and his 72 companions.
President Hassan Rouhani went to the holy shrine of Hazrat Abdolazim in Shahr-e Rey, in southern Tehran, to join a mourning procession, along with several other ranking officials.
For Ashoura, Iranians traditionally cook food for charity and distribute it among their neighbors, family and the poor. Free food is also offered to people who perform the mourning rites. Many Iranians also travelled to Iraq to mourn close to Hussein’s shrine in the holy city of Karbala.
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