What do Shi'a Muslims do in Ashura? And why they do it?
On Ashura, Shi'a Muslims observe a day of mourning and grief, commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Husayn, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who was killed at the Battle of Karbala. This event is profoundly significant in Shi'a Islam as it symbolizes the struggle against tyranny and injustice.
One of the key practices during Ashura is fasting. However, it is important to note that fasting on this day is viewed differently within Shi'a tradition. Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) stated: It is not a day for fasting but a day of grief and tragedy affecting the people of heaven, earth, and all believers
Al-Kafi 2:332. This highlights that rather than a day of fasting, Ashura is a time for reflection on the suffering of Imam Husayn and his companions.
In addition to fasting, many Shi'a Muslims participate in mourning rituals such as holding majalis (gatherings) where they recite elegies and recount the events of Karbala. These gatherings serve as a means to educate the community about the significance of Husayn's sacrifice and to foster a sense of solidarity among Muslims in remembering the principles of justice and righteousness that he stood for.
Overall, the observances of Ashura are deeply rooted in expressing sorrow for the loss of Imam Husayn and reinforcing the values of standing against oppression and injustice, making it a critical aspect of Shi'a identity and spirituality.
Sources
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Al-Kafi 2:332
Al-Kafi · Book 2, Hadith 332
Engage in commerce, for in it there is wealth for you beyond what people possess. — OR — The supplication of the Prophet (peace be upon him) on the Night of the Confederal Clans was: 'O Cry of those who are distressed, O Answerer of the call of those in distress, O Reliever of my grief, uncover from me my grief, my anxiety, and my distress, for You know my condition and the condition of my companions, and suffice me from the fear of my enemy.' — OR — I asked him about fasting the ninth (Tasua) and tenth (Ashura) of Muharram. He said: 'Tasua is the day on which Husayn (peace be upon him) and his companions were besieged in Karbala. The cavalry of the people of Sham gathered against him, rested upon him, and Ibn Marjana and Umar ibn Sa’d rejoiced at their strong numbers. Husayn (peace be upon him) and his companions were oppressed and desperate, knowing no helper would come and no aid from the people of Iraq, the oppressed stranger. Regarding Ashura, it is the day Husayn (peace be upon him) was slain among his companions, naked on the ground around him. Is fasting on that day appropriate? No, by the Lord of the Sacred House! It is not a day for fasting but a day of grief and tragedy affecting the people of heaven, earth, and all believers. It is a day of joy for Ibn Marjana, the family of Ziyad, and the people of Sham. May Allah be angry with them and their descendants. On that day all parts of the earth wept except the land of Sham. Whoever fasts or seeks blessing from that day will be gathered by Allah with the family of Ziyad, with a corrupted heart, anger upon him. Whoever stores up for himself blessings from it Allah will replace his heart’s faith with hypocrisy until the day he meets Him, and Allah will remove blessings from him and his household, and the devil will share in all of that with him.' — OR — [Similar to the previous hadith.] — OR — I asked about a man who cursed his wife and had no children, then he lied against himself after the mutual cursing and claimed that her child was his. Is he returned to him? He said: No, never returned and it does not become lawful to him until the Day of Resurrection. I asked who inherits the child? He said: His mother. I said: Suppose the mother dies and the boy inherits her, then the boy dies—who inherits him? He said: His maternal uncles. I asked: If the father acknowledges the child, does the father inherit him? He said: Yes, but the father does not inherit from the son.
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