In the ten days leading to Tasu’a and Ashura, cities take on a different look and various ceremonies are held at mosques or special gathering places known as Hussainiya. Muharram ceremonies symbolize humanity’s struggle against injustice and tyranny.
Muslims around the world have begun observing the holy month of Muharram which marks the martyrdom anniversary of the grandson of prophet Mohammad and his companions.
Imam Hussein was brutally killed by the forces of the tyrant caliph of the time, Yazid ibn Muawiyah in October 680. Mourning tents have been erected and events organized in Iran, Iraq and across the Muslim world.
Ashura is the 10th day of the lunar month of Muharram and is the day when the Third Shia Imam and the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Imam Hossein (PBUH), and 72 of his companions were martyred in Karbala, in southern Iraq, in 680 AD by the army of the Umayyad caliph, Yazid I.
Ashura, which is the culmination of a 10-day annual mourning period in Muharram, is also commemorated by Shia Muslims in many countries across the world, including prominently in Iran.
Imam Khomeini once said in a historic message that Muharram is a month that witnessed the downfall of big powers against the word of truth."
The late founder of the Islamic Republic stressed that Muharram is a month when justice rose up against inequity and righteousness rose up against wrong and it has proven that the right always defeats the wrong throughout history. (Sahifeh-ye-Imam, Vol 5, page 184)
He also said in a famous message that the holy months of Muharram and Safar have kept Islam alive.