May 19, 2013
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Description
The Day of Ashura is on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the climax of the Mourning of Muharram.
It is commemorated by Shi'a Muslims as a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala on 10 Muharram in the year 61 AH. According to Sunni Muslim tradition, Ibn Abbas narrates that Muhammad came to Medina and saw the Jews fasting on the day of ‘Ashoora’. He said, “What is this?” They said, “This is a good day, this is the day when Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy and Musa fasted on this day.” He said, “We are closer to Musa than you.” So he fasted on this day and told the people to fast.
In some Shi'a regions of Muslim countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Lebanon, Bahrain, and Pakistan, the Commemoration of Husayn ibn Ali has become a national holiday and most ethnic and religious communities participate in it. Even in predominantly Hindu majority but secular country like India, Ashura is a public holiday.
(via Freebase)
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![Twin bombings kill scores of Afghans on Shiite holy day [Al Jazeera, Qatar]](/images/image_cache/base-313000/313295/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=ac9b31b0e81b7217446f7dd9c7d4b88e "An Afghan woman mourns after a suicide attack at a Shiite Muslim gathering in Kabul December 6, 2011: REUTERS/Omar Sobhani")
![Shia Muslims mark Ashura as deadly bombing targets pilgrims in Iraq [Press TV, Iran]](/images/image_cache/base-313000/313124/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=73685a5ab7267b3d747277a0108276e9)