During this period of the Islamic year, Shiite Muslims celebrate 'Ashura, the anniversary of Imam Hussein's death in the battle of Karbala against the army of Yazid, the Umayyad Caliph of Damascus in the year 680. 'Ashura, the 10th of the Islamic month of Muharram, is the peak of 10 days of commemorative events that start on the 1st of Muharram. Black banners in praise of Hussein have been put up in Al-Ameen neighborhood of Old Damascus. This one reads:
"Hassan and Hussein are the leaders of the youth of Paradise"
14 comments:
I don't know if I'll be considered igonorant by asking this question but I'm really curious and I don't mean to offend any Shiite. I respect them with all my heart but my question is this, Why do they till now morn so badly and beat themselves over Imam Hussein? I mean first of all it happened centuries ago. Again why don't the sunnis be upset as well, I mean he was Sayidina Al Rasool's (peace be upon him) grandson. Maybe I need to learn more about the differences between between the Shiite and Sunnis.
i only want to answer the question that stellar asked.....the sadness...refere to the class that emam hasan and emam hussin stand for...they were the profeet only grandsons...and the way they both died with, also have a roll in that,emam hasan was died by poison put in his food by his wife's brother,and emam hussin was killed in the 10th of mouharam by yazied army...and about the beating it is reflecting the share of the pain that the 2all elbeet sufferings during the first 10 days of mouharam....but it is so extrem ...and so how it is related to some iranian source....when they used to prey to the fire before the islam....i only wanted to clear that not all the she3a groups believe in the beating staff and i am one of them ...but it is an old habit some people used to do....and about the sonah there r alot of them that celebrate this event..coz it belowing to all the mouslims not onlt she3ah
i only want to answer the question that stellar asked.....the sadness...refere to the class that emam hasan and emam hussin stand for...they were the profeet only grandsons...and the way they both died with, also have a roll in that,emam hasan was died by poison put in his food by his wife's brother,and emam hussin was killed in the 10th of mouharam by yazied army...and about the beating it is reflecting the share of the pain that the 2all elbeet sufferings during the first 10 days of mouharam....but it is so extrem ...and so how it is related to some iranian source....when they used to prey to the fire before the islam....i only wanted to clear that not all the she3a groups believe in the beating staff and i am one of them ...but it is an old habit some people used to do....and about the sonah there r alot of them that celebrate this event..coz it belowing to all the mouslims not onlt she3ah
Stellar, I don't want to highlight differences between Shiite and Sunni Muslims because I don't believe that significant differences actually exist. But the reason Shiite Muslims consider 'Ashura as their most important religious occasion is that self-sacrifice is in the heart of Shiite philosophy, and Imam Hussein gave the best example of self-sacrifice. According to the Shiites, Karbala was a battle between evil and good, between a mighty army and a small group of people standing for what they believed in despite knowing that they had almost no chance of victory. As for the beating, I agree with Mehsen; I don't think it's practiced in Syria at all. I have been to a "Majles 'Azaa" a couple of days ago and it was nothing like what we sometimes see on TV.
".but it is so extrem ...and so how it is related to some iranian source....when they used to prey to the fire before the islam"
What in heavens name are you talking about?
"As for the beating, I agree with Mehsen; I don't think it's practiced in Syria at all. I have been to a "Majles 'Azaa" a couple of days ago and it was nothing like what we sometimes see on TV."
Well fellas, sadly you are mistaken. Here a bunch of crazy fanatics doing what they do best in... Damascus. Boy am I glad I couldn't find any savage scenes from Iran in Yahoo News! Ours are Fanatic Lite now, using chains instead of swords to humiliate themselves...
I don't know about Iran. But traditionally, Shiites in Damascus and other Syrian cities do not practice this. The pictures you linked to were taken in the town of Sitt Zeinab, which is a site of pilgrimage for Shiite Muslims OUTSIDE Damascus. Thousands of Iraqis and Iranians live there and their numbers have been increasing since the occupation of Iraq. You would never see this in Damascus.
The martyrdom of Sayyiduna Imam Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him and grant him the jannah) at Karbala shows us that he stood for truth and justice in society against oppression and falsehood! It is a lesson relevant for all Muslims valid for all times and one that all of us must reflect upon! I recommend reading Tareekh al Khulafa by Imam Jalaluddin as-Suyuti (may Allah's mercy be upon him) the famous Egyptian scholar and also Al Awasim min al Qawasim by Qadi Abu Bakr ibn al Arabi ( may Allah's mercy be upon him) the famous Maghribi scholar!
are the shias of syria the so called alawis?
Thank you guys for explaining this to me. As a sunni muslim I really should learn more about these things. :)I knew not all Shiite beat themselves up really bad. I was just wondering why the ones who did, do that. I find it interesting to know about the Iranian groups before Islam and how it's connected to some Shiite groups beatings of today.
To answer that last question, I don't believe that the Alawis are the same as Shiites.
Thank you all for your kindness again. :)
Why the shias curse the sahabeh and prophet's wifes ?
And in Syria they are called rafidha for this reason.
The Druze, Ismailis et al. are from the Batiniya branch of the Shias. They have been refuted by Shaykh al Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah's mercy be upon him) and also Hujjat al Islam Imam Al Ghazzali (may Allah's mercy be upon him). The Batiniya aqeeda is a secret and is based more upon Greek/Persian/Jewish philosophy and logic than on the Quran al Kareem, Sunna of Muhammad Mustafa (Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and the Ahadeeth. Like others they reject the Ist 3 Khulafa Rashideen and the Sahaba Ikram.
I agree with the previous comment and think that those who are interested should read Fada'ih al-Batiniya by Imam Abu Hamid al Ghazzali!
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