Ashura is the tenth day of Muharram when some 1,400 years ago the Master of Martyrs Al-Imam Al-Hussein (as), the grandson of holy Prophet Muhammad (saw), along with his 72 rightful companions was unlawfully slaughtered in the burning desert of Karbala at the hands of Yazid bin Muawiyah (l).

It is the first time after 35 years that Ashura is being observed with freedom as this was banned during Saddam regime.

On Arbaeen – the fortieth of Al-Imam Al-Hussein and his 72 companions – last year after the ouster of Saddam about 10 million mourners descended on the holy city of Karbala, according to a British TV channel.

Specials meals are being cooked in giant pots to be shared during the Ashura.

Display of great love filled in the hearts of countless masses for Imam Al-Hussein (as) are being witnessed in this holy city as some go to the holy shrines crawling in great respect, screaming in grief for Hussein (as) and floods of tears gushing out of eyes. They beat their heads and chests, several cause themselves to bleed by performing tatbeer (hitting head with sword) following the Sunnah of Sayyedah Zaynab, the sister of Al-Imam Al-Hussein (as), who when she saw the head of her brother Imam Hussein (as) being paraded in public hit her forehead on the bar of the carriage she was travelling in, causing bleeding to flow from beneath her veil.

END