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In the mountain town of Gilgit in northern Pakistan,
the minority Muslim Shia sect celebrates Ashura each year
to commemorate the death of Hussain, the last descendant of
Mohammed. Hussein's tragic death marked the end of the divine
blood line, and the festival begins 40 days of mourning.
The Shias gather in the town centre, chanting passionately
and beating their chests. The climactic ritual is for the
men to flagellate themselves with sharpened blades, slashing
themselves repeatedly as the blood pours down their back and
only stopping when they are completely exhausted.
What's The history?
Ashura remembers the events in Islamic History of 680AD when
a great battle took place in Kerbala on the banks of the river
Euphrates (what is now modern day Iraq). The Umayyad army
conquered a small army of followers of the prophet Muhammad,
led by his grandson, Imam Husain, who were all brutally
slaughtered. The prophet Hussain is regarded as the "leader
of the martyrs" for standing up to the oppressive regime
in his time, and the actions of his followers reflecting the
oppression and courage of the whole Islamic nation. Ashura
remembers the sacrifice and suffering of Abi Talib's army
and the many who came after him.
The festival of Ashura is an important time in the Islamic
calendar. By praying to Allah and showing generosity to other
men less wealthy, God will be plentiful to you for the rest
of the year. By making a personal sacrifice and going without
luxuries you will be rewarded with being richly fed in a spiritual
paradise.
The core purpose of the commemoration for muslims is to remember
and recognize that as the descendants of the prophet and leader
of Islam, Imam Husain showed the world that Islam does not
accept injustice, oppression, and other immoral behaviour
which was practiced by regime that brutally killed him.
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