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The
Islamic year begins with Muharram ul Haram, the first month of the
Islamic calendar.
The
first month of Islam teaches its devotees lessons of admonition,
good counselling, knowledge of Allah Ta’ala, sacrifice, selflessness,
patience and seeking the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala.
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Muslim
at prayer
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The
date is a low-key event in the Muslim world, celebrated less than
the two major festivals of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha.
The
festival commemorates the Hijra (or Hegira) in 622 CE when the Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) moved from Mecca to Medina.
The
Hijra was the beginning of the growth of Islam into a world faith.
The
Muslim calendar counts dates from the Hijra, which is why Muslim
dates have the suffix A.H. (After Hijra).
Muslims,
observe the first ten days of the Muharrah as a period of mourning
particularly by those belonging to the Shiah sect, in memory of
the tragedy of 680 AD.
Hazrat
Imam Hussain, the grandson of Muhammad the Prophet was killed in
the battle of Karbala, and the
event - called Muharram, is named after the month in which it took
place.
During
the first nine days of the month, re-enactments of scenes from the
battle of Karbala - known as majlish - are organized in Shiah mosques.
Huge
Shiah crowds wearing black assemble and recite verses in memory
of Imam Hussain.
The tenth day, called Ashura is observed as a day for public expression
of grief and is a public holiday in India.
On
this day, processions with Taziahs are taken out in commemoration
of the event at Karbala.
The
procession also includes a well-decorated horse, representing the
horse of Imam Hussain.
Bare-chested Shiah men strike their body with chains while some
walk with bare feet on burning coals.
They
express their anguish at their inability to prevented Imam Hussain
from being tortured by
crying, 'hai Hussain hum na rahe', meaning 'Oh Hussain, we were
not there'.
By beating themselves, the Shiahs relive the pain Hussain suffered.
There
is no specific religious ritual required on Muharram, but Muslims
will think about the general meaning of Hijra, and regard this as
a good time for 'New Year Resolutions'.
The
Qur’an uses the word 'Hijra' to mean moving from a bad place or
state of affairs to a good one, and so Muslims may think about how
their faith helps them leave behind bad ways of living and achieve
a better life.
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