Muharram and Ashura 1

Muharram and Ashura

01. Afghan Shi'ite Muslim men flagellate themselves during a Muharram procession in Kabul December 12, 2010. Ashura, which falls on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram, commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, who
was killed in the 7th century battle of Kerbala. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood

Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year in which fighting is prohibited. Since the Islamic calendar is lunar, Muharram moves from year to year when compared with the Gregorian calendar. Muharram is so called because it is unlawful to fight during this month, the word is derived from the word haram, meaning "forbidden". It is held to be the most sacred of all the months, excluding Ramadan. Some Muslims fast during these days. The tenth day of Muharram is called Yaumu-l 'Ashurah, which is known by Shia Muslims as 'the day of grief'. On this day the death of Imam Huessein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, is mourned. He was killed in the 7th century battle of Kerbala. 

02. A man carves an aluminium sheet with religious scripture ahead of the Shi'ite Ashura festival in Lahore's old city November 23, 2010. Ashura, which falls on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram, commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, who was killed in the 7th century battle of Kerbala. REUTERS/Mohsin Raza

03. An Afghan Shi'ite Muslim man weeps as he prays during a Muharram procession to mark Ashura in Kabul December 12, 2010. Ashura, which falls on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram, commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, who was killed in the 7th century battle of Kerbala. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood

04. Afghan Shi'ite Muslim men beat themselves with their hands during a Muharram procession to mark Ashura in Kabul December 12, 2010. Ashura, which falls on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram, commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, who was killed in the 7th century battle of Kerbala. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood

05. Afghan Shi'ite Muslim men pray during a Muharram procession to mark Ashura in Kabul December 12, 2010. Ashura, which falls on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram, commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, who was killed in the 7th century battle of Kerbala. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood

06. Afghan Shi'ite Muslim men weep as they pray during a Muharram procession to mark Ashura in Kabul December 12, 2010. Ashura, which falls on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram, commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, who was killed in the 7th century battle of Kerbala. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood

07. Afghan Shi'ite Muslim men flagellate during a Muharram procession to mark Ashura in Kabul December 12, 2010. Ashura, which falls on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram, commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, who was killed in the 7th century battle of Kerbala. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood

08. An Afghan Shi'ite Muslim man flagellates himself during a Muharram procession to mark Ashura in Kabul December 12, 2010. Ashura, which falls on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram, commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, who was killed in the 7th century battle of Kerbala. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood

09. An Afghan Shi'ite Muslim man bleeds after flagellating himself during a Muharram procession to mark Ashura in Kabul December 12, 2010. Ashura, which falls on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram, commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, who was killed in the 7th century battle of Kerbala. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood

10. A photograph taken from behind a curtain shows an Afghan Shi'ite Muslim woman clad in burqa stand at the entrance of Chendawol mosque during a Muharram procession to mark Ashura in Kabul December 13, 2010. Ashura, which falls on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram, commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, who was killed in the 7th century battle of Kerbala. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood

11. Afghan Shi'ite Muslim men flagellate themselves during a Muharram procession in Kabul December 13, 2010. Ashura, which falls on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram, commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, who was killed in the 7th century battle of Kerbala. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood

12. An Afghan Shi'ite Muslim man prays during a Muharram procession to mark Ashura in Kabul December 13, 2010. Ashura, which falls on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram, commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, who was killed in the 7th century battle of Kerbala. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood

13. Afghan Shi'ite Muslim men attend a Muharram procession to mark Ashura in Kabul December 13, 2010. Ashura, which falls on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram, commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, who was killed in the 7th century battle of Kerbala. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood

14. A man adjusts a religious motif for sale as he poses for local cameramen at his makeshift stall ahead of the Shi'ite Muslims festival of Ashura in Karachi December 13, 2010. Ashura, which falls on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram, commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, who was killed in the 7th century battle of Kerbala. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

15. A Kashmiri Shi'ite Muslim man flagellates himself with knives tied to a chain during Muharram procession in Srinagar December 14, 2010. Muslims all over the world mourn the slaying of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, during the first ten days of the Islamic month of Muharram. Imam Hussein was killed by his political rivals along with 72 companions in the 7th century battle of Kerbala. REUTERS/Fayaz Kabli

16. A young Kashmiri Shi'ite Muslim boy flagellates himself with a knife during Muharram procession in Srinagar December 14, 2010. Muslims all over the world mourn the slaying of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, during the first ten days of the Islamic month of Muharram. Imam Hussein was killed by his political rivals along with 72 companions in the 7th century battle of Kerbala. REUTERS/Fayaz Kabli

17. Volunteers and fellow mourners carry a Kashmiri Shi'ite man after he fainted while flagellating himself with a knife during Muharram procession in Srinagar December 14, 2010. Muslims all over the world mourn the slaying of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, during the first ten days of the Islamic month of Muharram. Imam Hussein was killed by his political rivals along with 72 companions in the 7th century battle of Kerbala. REUTERS/Fayaz Kabli

18. Women beat their chests as they watch a Muharram procession in Srinagar December 14, 2010. Muslims all over the world mourn the slaying of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, during the first ten days of the Islamic month of Muharram. Imam Hussein was killed by his political rivals along with 72 companions in the 7th century battle of Kerbala. REUTERS/Fayaz Kabli (INDIAN-ADMINISTERD KASHMIR - Tags: RELIGION)

19. A volunteer (L) cleans blood from the face of a Kashmiri Shi'ite boy during Muharram procession in Srinagar December 14, 2010. Muslims all over the world mourn the slaying of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, during the first ten days of the Islamic month of Muharram. Imam Hussein was killed by his political rivals along with 72 companions in the 7th century battle of Kerbala. REUTERS/Fayaz Kabli

20. Kashmiri Shi'ite men stand amid blood during Muharram procession in Srinagar December 14, 2010. Muslims all over the world mourn the slaying of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, during the first ten days of the Islamic month of Muharram. Imam Hussein was killed by his political rivals along with 72 companions in the 7th century battle of Kerbala. REUTERS/Fayaz Kabli

21. A Shi'ite Muslim flagellates himself with a knife during Muharram procession in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad December 14, 2010. Muslims all over the world mourn the slaying of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, during the first ten days of the Islamic month of Muharram. Imam Hussein was killed by his political rivals along with 72 companions in the 7th century battle of Kerbala. REUTERS/Amit Dave

22. Shi'ite Muslims beat their chests during a Muharram procession in the southern Indian city of Chennai December 14, 2010. Muslims all over the world mourn the slaying of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, during the first ten days of the Islamic month of Muharram. Imam Hussein was killed by his political rivals along with 72 companions in the 7th century battle of Kerbala. REUTERS/Babu