Ashura
By Zee Kwong, Mark Lung, and Andy Gu
The Story Behind Ashura
Ashura originally celebrates Nuh (Noah) leaving the ark and Musa (Moses) being rescued by God in Egypt, but the main story behind Ashura is based martyrdom of Husayn (also spelled “Hussein”), an event that occurred around the 680s. After Muhammad's death, a man named Yazid took the throne, but the majority of the Shi’ites wanted Husayn to lead and Husayn slowly gained power through his supporters. Yazid became threatened of his power and ordered 4,000 soldiers to surround Husayn in the Kalaba desert, cut off his water source, and massacred him and his followers. This is what Shi’ite Muslims believe, so they celebrate Ashura with sadness because of Husayn’s death. Sunnis, on the other hand, celebrate Ashura for a slightly different reason. They believe that when Muhammad was in power, he saw the Jews fasting during the Day of Atonement, and declared that the Day of Atonement should be a day of fasting for Muslims too. Now, Ashura is only an optional day of fasting because Muhammad later moved the fasting day to Ramadan.
Husayn Ibn Ali
DID YOU KNOW?
The name, Ashura, means "ten" in Arabic! This represents the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calender, which is when Ashura is celebrated.
Important Rituals, Customs and Practices
The rituals, customs and practice that are used in Ashura are different in each of the branches of Islam. For Shi’ite Muslims, Ashura commemorates the martyrdom, the death or suffering, of Husayn who was the grandson of Muhammad. As a result, some Shi’ites ritually cut themselves to express their grief and to reenact the pain that Husayn felt. But some Shi’ite leaders don’t allow the cutting and organize blood drives instead. Shi’ites also put on passion of the death of Husayn in every community. Before the passion plays, models of kabas and tombs of Imams are often carried. For Sunni Muslims, Ashura is day of optional fasting.
This picture depicts people cutting themselves and smearing blood on themselves so that they can relate to Husayn, which may help them during the Day of Judgment.
Noah's Pudding
Want to Know How to Make Noah's Pudding?
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/noahs-pudding
Have fun!
The Next Date of Ashura
The next time Ashura is being celebrated is on October 23, 2015.
Bibliography
"Ashura." - ReligionFacts. Web. 21 Nov. 2014. <http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/holidays/ashura.htm>.
Blumberg, Antonia. "Ashura 2014: Dates, Rituals And History Explained (PHOTOS)." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 03 Nov. 2014. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/03/ashura-2014_n_6094360.html>.
Gordon, Matthew S. Islam World Religions. New York: Facts On File, 2001. Print.
Gulevich, Tanya. Understanding Islam and Muslim Traditions: An Introduction to the Religious Practices, Celebrations, Festivals, Observances, Beliefs, Folklore, Customs, and Calendar System of the World's Muslim Communities, including an Overview of Islamic History and Geography. Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics, 2004. Print.
"The Story of Ashura and Karbala." MuslimVillage.com. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. <http://muslimvillage.com/2012/11/22/31959/the-story-of-karbala-and-aashura/>.
Gulevich, Tanya. Understanding Islam and Muslim Traditions: An Introduction to the Religious Practices, Celebrations, Festivals, Observances, Beliefs, Folklore, Customs, and Calendar System of the World's Muslim Communities, including an Overview of Islamic History and Geography. Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics, 2004. Print.
"Ramadan." Britannica School. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2014. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. <http://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/62564>.