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Day of Ashura or Ashoora
MYSTERY OF IRAN
MYSTERY OF IRAN

MYSTERY OF IRAN

   
  

Day of Ashura

Day of Ashura or Ashoora

The Day of Ashura (Arabic: عاشوراء‎‎ ʻĀshūrā’, colloquially: /ʕa(ː)ˈʃuːra/; Urdu: عاشورا‎; Persian: عاشورا‎‎ /ɒːʃuːˈɾɒ/; Azerbaijani: Aşura Günü or English: Day of Remembrance) is on the tenth day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the climax of the Remembrance of Muharram. This day is celebrated by Sunni Muslims (who refer to it as The Day of Atonement) as the day on which the Israelites were freed from the Pharaoh (called 'Firaun' in Arabic) of Egypt. However, Shi'a Muslims reject these stories and maintain that Ashura is a day of great sorrow due to the tragic events of Karbala.

It is commemorated by Shi'a Muslims as a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala on 10 Muharram in the year 61 AH ( in AHt: October 10, 680 CE). The massacre of Husayn with a small group of his companions and family members had a great impact on the religious conscience of Muslims. Especially Shia Muslims have ever remembered it with sorrow and passion. Mourning for Husayn and his companions began almost immediately after the Battle of Karbala, by his survivor relatives and supporters. Popular elegies were made by poets to commemorate the Battle of Karbala during the Umayyads and Abbasids era. The earliest public mourning rituals happened in 963 CE during the Buyid dynasty. Nowadays, in some countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Bahrain, and Pakistan, the Commemoration of Husayn ibn Ali has become a national holiday and most ethnic and religious communities participate in it In India, Ashura (10th day in the month of Muharram) is commemorated and is a public holiday due to the presence of a significant Indian Shia Muslim population (2-3% of total population, 20-25% of Indian Muslim population).

Etymology of Ashura

The root of the word Ashura has the meaning of tenth in Semitic languages; hence the name of the remembrance, literally translated, means "the tenth day". According to the orientalist A.J. Wensinck, the name is derived from the Hebrew ʿāsōr, with the Aramaic determinative ending. The day is indeed the tenth day of the month, although some Islamic scholars offer up different etymologies.

In his book Ghuniyatut Talibin, Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani writes that Islamic scholars differ as to why this day is known as Ashura, some of them suggesting that this day is the tenth most important day with which God has blessed Muslims.
   

Ashura historical background

Commemoration of the death of Husayn ibn Ali

History of the commemoration by Shi'a

Significance for Shi'as

Azadari rituals

Popular customs in Ashura

Significance for Sunni Muslims

Socio-political aspects

The Political, Social and Educational Effects of the Ashura

   

The effects of the culture of Ashura on the art & Literature of Iran

The effects of the culture of Ashura on the Performance Arts of Iran

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Nazri food in Ashura

The Iranians used the ancient Persian tradition of “Nazr” (distributing free foods among the people) to cook Nazri (charity food) in Muharram. It’s an ancient Persian tradition that the people cook food and give it to others, including the poor, friends and family, in their ceremonies. This charity food or free food, is called Nazri. In fact, Iranians donate food and call it Nazr. The Nazri foods in Muharram are Iranian foods like Gheimeh, Ghorme Sabzi, Morgh, Kebab, Adas Polo, and many other local foods. But the main food or Nazri in Muharram is “Gheymeh” that is also called “Gheimeh Ashura” or “Gheymeh Nazri”. Gheimeh or Gheymeh is one of the delicious Iranian stews (with yellow split peas as its key element) that is eaten with rice. In fact, it’s a “Polo Khoresht” (Pilaf and Stew). When it’s cooked in the large scale as Nazri, with its special techniques and traditions, it becomes more delicious, and I think if each of you eat “Gheymeh Nazri”, you would never forget its delicious taste.
In Muharram and in Ashura days, you can see people who line up to get Nazri foods. They do it because Nazri foods are very delicious. Of course, some old people believe Nazri food has healing power.
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Some analysis

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