Muharram (محرم) is the
first month of the Islamic calendar and one of the holy months, second only to
Ramadan. It has a specific meaning for the Shiites as at the 10th
day of Muharram, called Ashura (عاشورا), Husayn Ibn Ali had been killed in the battle of Karbala. The
Shia Muslims honor the martyrs by not feasting and mourning.
I could watch
a procession of Muslims, not only Iranians but also Afghanis and Pakistani, who
entered the Friday Mosque or better Masjid-e-Jāmeh Isfahān (مسجد جامع اصفهان) and were singing. The men were
beating their chests. Flagellation with chains or chains with razors or cutting
the forehead with knives isn’t allowed anymore in Iran but is still seen in
Karbala and Pakistan.
Anyway it has
been a very solemn display of Muslim belief.
Links:
.
No comments:
Post a Comment