Ashura - Importance to Sunni and Shi’a
The Day of Ashura is on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and it also marks the climax of the Remembrance of Muharram. This day was an important Judaic feast of celebration and atonement , is important to Sunni muslims, and is very important to Shi’a muslims.
Shia
This day is of particular significance to Shi’a Muslims, who consider Hussein (the grandson of the Prophet) Ahl al-Bayt the third Imam and the rightful successor of Muhammad. Many Shi’as make pilgrimages on Ashura to the Mashhad al-Husayn, the shrine in Karbala, Iraq that is traditionally held to be Imam Hussein’s tomb. On this day Shi’a are in remembrance, mourning attire is worn; they refrain from music, the reason being naturally in Islam when death has occurred music is considered impolite. It is a time for sorrow and respect of the person’s passing and it is also a time for self reflection. Basically committing yourself to the mourning of the Imam Hussein completely. Weddings and parties are also never planned on this date by Shias. Shias also express mourning by crying and listening to poems about the tragedy. They also listen to sermons on how Hussein and his family were martyred. This is intended to connect them with Hussein’s suffering and martyrdom, and the sacrifices he made to keep Islam alive. Hussein’s martyrdom is widely interpreted by Shi’a as a symbol of the struggle against injustice, tyranny, and oppression. [3] Shi’as believe the Battle of Karbala was between the forces of good and evil. Imam Hussain represented good while Yazid represented evil. Shi’as also believe the Battle of Karbala was fought to keep the Muslim religion untainted of any corruptions and they believed the path that Yazid was directing Islam was definitely for his own personal greed.
Shia refrain from drinking and eating in commemoration of Imam Hussein. This is known as Fakah, which is not a formal fast.[citation needed]
Many of the events associated with Ashura are held in special congregation halls known as “Imambargah” and Hussainia.
As suffering and cutting the body with knives or chains (matam) have been prohibited by many Shi’a marjas like Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran,[4], some Shi’a observe mourning with blood donation which is called “Qame Zani” [5] and flailing[6].
Certain rituals like the traditional flagellation ritual called zanjeer zani or zanjeer matam, involving the use of a zanjeer (a chain) are also performed[7]. These are popularly done for the sake of Imam Hussain and his family.
Most Muslims, particularly Sunnis, believe that the Shia practice of mätam constitutes “Bidat” (innovation) and goes against the Quran and Islam.
I don’t agree with matam either, but I cannot say it goes against the Quran nor give examples where it does.
Sunni
Ashura was already known as a commemorative day during which some Meccans used to observe customary fasting. In hijrah event when Muhammad led his followers to Medina, he found the Jews of that area likewise observing fasts on the day of Ashura. At this, Muhammad affirmed the Islamic claim to the fast, and subsequently it was made mandatory for the Muslims to fast on combinations of two or three consecutive days including the 10th of Muharram (e.g. 9th and 10th or 10th and 11th)[8][9].
Today, Sunnis regard fasting during Ashura as recommended, though not obligatory, having been superseded by the Ramadan fast.
The Ashura is commemorated for the following occasions which may have happened on the 10th Day of the Muharram:
- God had mercy on Adam[10]
- The deliverance of Noah from the flood[citation needed]
- Abraham was saved from Nimrod’s fire[citation needed]
- Jacob’s blindness was healed after Joseph’s shirt was brought to him on this day (Quran)[citation needed]
- Job was healed from his illness[citation needed]
- The Israelites were saved from Pharaoh’s army[citation needed]
- Jesus was brought up to heaven after attempts by the Romans to capture and crucify him failed.[citation needed]
I have seen the reasons behind Sunni having an interest in this day but have never seen any definite proof of these events. The Bible was not exactly written with a nice date format in it. It seems as if Ashura was originally adopted because the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) saw the Jews fasting and made it mandatory (at the time) for Muslims to do it as well. We are supposed to fast on the 9th and 10th, or 10th and 11th of Muharram.
This post was made because I talked with several people who thought Ashura was a Shi’a only event. Some even thought I was making up the rest of it, or at least thought I was trying to trick them for some reason. Source of the quoted article is from Wikipedia, which is a great repository of information, many of which has citations in itself. Quotes from the article have remained unchanged and contain all the links and references from the original.
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It’s known that matam and self-hurt isn’t acceptable.. God punishes whoever commits suicide cos it’s a way of throwing away a gift from God (the soul), so I don’t think it’s a good idea to inflict pain on yourself and hurting another gift from God which is your body… your body carries your soul, and one should take care of them..
I compare this to some of the Christians who re-enact the (supposed) crucifixion of Christ and have themselves nailed to crosses. That even goes against the Christian belief of the crucifixion cleansing people of their sins. To me it makes me think they are making themselves on a level similar to the figure they worship, which is very wrong.