Sunday, 13 August 2023

Shias in Blackburn, England, Commemorate Battle of Ashura

Hundreds of Shia Muslims chant and beat their chests as they march through streets of Blackburn in annual event to mark Ashura

  • Shia Muslims in Blackburn marked Ashura, a holy day, by beating their chests 

Hundreds of Shia Muslims chanted and beat their chests as they marched through the streets of Blackburn in an annual event to mark Ashura.

Ashura is an Islamic holy day to commemorate the death of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad, who was beheaded at the Battle of Karbala in AD680.

Many of the Shia Muslims in Blackburn were barefoot as they held banners and followed a coffin draped with black cloth.

They paused to beat their chest in unison as they chanted mournful melodies to show their grief.

The Battle of Karbala took place in modern-day central Iraq, around 60 miles southwest of Baghdad.

Hundreds of Shia Muslims chanted and beat their chests (pictured) as they marched through the streets of Blackburn in an annual event to mark Ashura

Hundreds of Shia Muslims chanted and beat their chests (pictured) as they marched through the streets of Blackburn in an annual event to mark Ashura

Ashura is an Islamic holy day to commemorate the death of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad, who was beheaded at the Battle of Karbala in AD680

Ashura is an Islamic holy day to commemorate the death of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad, who was beheaded at the Battle of Karbala in AD680

Many of the Shia Muslims in Blackburn were barefoot as they held banners and followed a coffin draped with black cloth

Many of the Shia Muslims in Blackburn were barefoot as they held banners and followed a coffin draped with black cloth

It became a key event in Shia theology and Husayn's death and those of his children turned into a symbol of sacrifice and the struggle against wrongdoing and injustice.

Ashura occurs on the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar.

The procession in Blackburn was organised by volunteers, who spoke to passersby about the meaning and history behind the event.

Many of the men's chests were noticeably red after they beat them during the procession. 

They paused to beat their chest in unison as they chanted mournful melodies to show their grief

They paused to beat their chest in unison as they chanted mournful melodies to show their grief

The procession in Blackburn was organised by volunteers, who spoke to passersby about the meaning and history behind the event

The procession in Blackburn was organised by volunteers, who spoke to passersby about the meaning and history behind the event

People living in the houses on the streets watched from the windows as the procession took place

People living in the houses on the streets watched from the windows as the procession took place

Shia Muslims of all ages took part in the historic annual event marking the death of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad, who was beheaded at the Battle of Karbala in AD680

Shia Muslims of all ages took part in the historic annual event marking the death of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad, who was beheaded at the Battle of Karbala in AD680

Two horses later joined the march, which barely disrupted traffic and no police officers were reportedly needed.

Around the world, Shia Muslims also mark the day with plays about the battle as well as sermons and prayers.

Others set out on pilgrimages to Husayn's shrine in Karbala.

Around the world, Shia Muslims also mark the day with plays about the battle as well as sermons and prayers

Around the world, Shia Muslims also mark the day with plays about the battle as well as sermons and prayers

Other Shia Muslims set out on pilgrimages to Husayn's shrine in Karbala, in central Iraq

Other Shia Muslims set out on pilgrimages to Husayn's shrine in Karbala, in central Iraq

The men's chests were noticeably red after they beat them while on the procession in Blackburn

The men's chests were noticeably red after they beat them while on the procession in Blackburn

Ashura occurs on the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar

Ashura occurs on the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar

Many devout Shia Muslims in the Middle East often flagellate themselves with chains and swords, leaving the streets soaked in blood as part of the holy day.

The ritual bloodletting carried out by men and boys is said to wash away sins and act as a symbol of mourning for Hussein.

Across India, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Afghanistan and other countries with Shia populations, devotees see their pristine white robes turn red as blood pours from their heads after cutting themselves with ceremonial knives. 

Hundreds of Shia Muslims chant and beat their chests as they march through streets of Blackburn in annual event to mark Ashura

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12385909/Shia-Muslims-chant-beat-chests-Blackburn-Ashura.html
IRAQ: Shiite Muslims take part in the 'Tatbir' bloodletting ritual as an act of mourning marking Ashura, a 10-day period commemorating the seventh century killing of Prophet Muhammad's grandson Imam Hussein

IRAQ: Shiite Muslims take part in the 'Tatbir' bloodletting ritual as an act of mourning marking Ashura, a 10-day period commemorating the seventh century killing of Prophet Muhammad's grandson Imam Hussein

INDIA: A man's back is torn to shreds as he repeatedly whips himself as part of the annual religious celebration for Shiite Muslims

INDIA: A man's back is torn to shreds as he repeatedly whips himself as part of the annual celebration for Shiite Muslims

LEBANON: Shiite Muslims bleed after gashing their foreheads during a religious procession to mark Ashura in Nabatieh

LEBANON: Shiite Muslims bleed after gashing their foreheads during a procession to mark Ashura in Nabatieh

PAKISTAN: Shiite Muslims flagellate themselves during Ashura Day procession in Peshawar during the holy month of Muharram

PAKISTAN: Shiite Muslims flagellate themselves during Ashura Day procession in Peshawar during the month of Muharram

Devout Shiite Muslims in the Middle East have flagellated themselves with chains and swords, leaving the streets soaked in blood as part of the holy day of Ashura

Shiite Muslims in the Middle East flagellated themselves with chains and swords, leaving the streets soaked in blood, marking the day of Ashura

Devotees saw their pristine white robes turn red as blood poured from their heads after cutting themselves with ceremonial knives

Devotees saw their pristine white robes turn red as blood poured from their heads after cutting themselves with ceremonial knives

A boy slashes his back using blades attached to chains as onlookers wearing black stand around during the ritual

A boy slashes his back using blades attached to chains as onlookers wearing black stand around during the ritual

Shiite Muslims watch mourners flagellating themselves during a procession on the tenth day of Ashura during the Islamic month of Muharram in New Delhi

Shiite Muslims flagellating themselves in New Delhi

In the holy city of Najaf in Iraq, a man's head is bandaged after he drew blood with a sharp knife. Najaf is one of the spiritual capitals of Shiite Muslims

In the city of Najaf in Iraq, a man's head is bandaged after he drew blood with a sharp knife. Najaf is one of the spiritual capitals of Shiite Muslims

A supporter of Iraqi populist leader Moqtada al-Sadr gashes his head during a ceremony marking Ashura, the holiest day on the Shi'ite Muslim calendar

A supporter of Iraqi populist leader Moqtada al-Sadr gashes his head during a ceremony marking Ashura

The ritual bloodletting carried out by men and boys is said to wash away sins and act as a symbol of mourning for Hussein

The ritual bloodletting is carried out by men and boys 

Hussein's killing at the hands of a rival Muslim faction embodies the rift between the Sunni and Shiite sects of Islam and continues to shape the identity of the minority branch of Islam today

Hussein's killing at the hands of a rival Muslim faction embodies the rift between the Sunni and Shiite sects of Islam

The public rituals of Ashura often fuel sectarian tensions in places like Iraq, Lebanon and Pakistan where Islam's two main sects both reside

The public rituals of Ashura often fuel sectarian tensions in places like Iraq, Lebanon and Pakistan where Islam's two main sects both reside

In Iraq (pictured), the powerful cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has used the emotional religious occasion to stir up support for his movement, deepening the country's inter-Shiite divisions

In Iraq (pictured), the powerful cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has used the emotional religious occasion to stir up support for his movement

A young supporter of Shiite Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr takes part in the "Tatbir" bloodletting ritual as an act of mourning

A young supporter of Shiite Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr takes part in the 'Tatbir' bloodletting ritual

A man dripping in blood applies a cut to another's head as religious believers gathered as part of the holy day

A man dripping in blood applies a cut to another's head 

In major cities across the region, believers commemorated the seventh-century martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson Hussein by drawing blood from their own bodies

In major cities across the region, believers commemorated the seventh-century martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson Hussein by drawing blood from their own bodies

Young boy made to walk over burning coal in Lahore, Pakistan

Hot dash: A young child runs across burning coal during a commemoration ceremony in Lahore, Pakistan

A young boy runs across burning coal during a commemoration ceremony in Lahore, Pakistan

Line 'em up: A Pakistani boy runs across the hot coals while another waits to follow him

A Pakistani boy runs across the hot coals

Young participant: A man holds a baby during an Ashura cutting ceremony, which sees male Shiite Muslims self-flagellate to commemorate the death of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, on the battlefield

Young participant: A man holds a baby during an Ashura cutting ceremony

Wrapping it up: A woman bandages the head of a child following a self-punishment ceremony in Najad this week

A woman bandages the head of a child

A Lebanese Shiite child is pictured with a bleading forehead, as part of a mourning ritual, during a procession on the tenth day of the lunar month of Muharram which marks the day of Ashura, in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh on September 10, 2019

A Lebanese Shiite child with a bleeding forehead

An Lebanese Shiite man cuts the forehead of a woman with a razor, as part of a mourning ritual, during a procession on the tenth day of the lunar month of Muharram which marks the day of Ashura, in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh on September 10, 2019

An Lebanese Shiite man cuts the forehead of a woman with a razor

A Shi'ite Muslim man uses a knife to gash a child's head during a Muharram procession to mark Ashura in Chennai, India

A Shi'ite Muslim man uses a knife to gash a child's head to mark Ashura in Chennai (Madras), India

Shiite Muslims make a cut on the forehead of a child with a knife during a religious procession held on the tenth day of the mourning period of Muharram that marks the day of Ashura in Hyderabad on September 10, 2019

Shiite Muslims make a cut on the forehead of a child with a knife

A man carries a child during the mourning procession in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf on September 10, 2019

A man carries a child

As a child cries in the background covered in blood, this young girl is preparing to feel a blade slice open her skin

young girl about to feel a blade slice open her skin

Photographs taken today show young boys parade down the street slapping their claret-stained chests in an act of flagellation

young boys covered in blood parade down the street

An Indian Shia Muslim boy stares intently at a sharp knife before he is  flagellated during the mourning procession

An Indian Shia Muslim boy stares intently at a sharp knife before he is  flagellated

A Lebanese Shiite Muslim child has blood running down his face during a flagellation ceremony marking Ashura in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh
Ashura mourns the death of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, who was killed by armies of the Yazid near Karbala in 680 AD

Lebanese Shiite Muslim children covered in blood during a flagellation ceremony in southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh

A young boy braces himself for a knife across the head in the Iraqi city of Najaf on October 12, 2016

A young boy braces himself for a knife across the head in the Iraqi city of Najaf

A young boy bows his head to an elder, who takes a long knife to the child's scalp to add more blood to his gown

A young boy bows his head to an elder, who takes a long knife to the child's scalp

Iraqi Shiite Muslim boy is seen before being cut on the head, in ritual commemorating the death of Imam Hussein,Prophet Mohammed's grandson

Iraqi Shiite Muslim boy is seen before being cut on the head

An Iraqi Shiite boy looks at his picture during the reenactment of the Battle of Karbala, as part of a parade in preparation for the peak of the mourning period of Ashura in Baghdad's northern district of Kadhimiya

An Iraqi Shiite boy looks at his picture

Iraqi Shiite boys take part in a self-flagellation procession during the reenactment of the Battle of Karbala, as part of a parade in preparation for the peak of the mourning period of Ashura

Iraqi Shiite boys take part in a self-flagellation procession

A Pakistani Shiite Muslim boy prepares to flagellate himself with chains and blades a day ahead of the commemoration of Ashura, in Peshawar, Pakistan

A Pakistani Shiite Muslim boy prepares to flagellate himself with chains and blades

Pictures from the parade in Peshawar show men and boys covered in blood after hitting themselves with blades and chains

Peshawar, Pakistan, boys covered in blood after hitting themselves with blades and chains

A medic stands near a Shiite Muslim boy with his face covered in blood after he was cut on the forehead with a razor during a religious procession to mark Ashura in Nabatiyeh town, southern Lebanon

Shiite Muslim boy with his face covered in blood after he was cut on the forehead with a razor during Ashura in Nabatiyeh town, southern Lebanon

A woman braces herself as a Muslim man prepares to draw blood from her scalp while a second man drenched in his own blood watches on

A woman braces herself as a Muslim man prepares to draw blood from her scalp

A shiite Muslim boy bleeds profusely after slashing his head with a razorblade

A shiite Muslim boy bleeds profusely after slashing his head with a razorblade

A baby bleeds from a cut on the forehead with a razor during the religious ritual to mark Ashura in Nabatiyeh town, Lebanon

A baby bleeds from a cut on the forehead with a razor during the ritual to mark Ashura in Nabatiyeh town, Lebanon

Young children were among those who took place in a Muharram procession in Ahmadabad, India, on Sunday

Young children in a Muharram procession in Ahmadabad, India

An Indian Shiite Muslim cut the forehead of a child with a knife during a Muharram procession in Ahmadabad, which also took place on Sunday

An Indian Shiite Muslim cut the forehead of a child with a knife 

In Myanmar Shiite Muslim devotees ran barefoot over a bed of burning coals as part of the commemorations 

In Myanmar Shiite Muslim devotees ran barefoot over a bed of burning coals

The climax of the Muharram is reached on its tenth day with the marking of the Ashura festival

The climax of the Muharram is reached on its tenth day with the marking of the Ashura festival


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