Shiites commemorate Ashura

Baku/28.07.23/Turan: Today Shiite Muslims are commemorating Ashura, the 10th day of the month of Muharram. On this day in 680, grandson of Prophet Muhammad (Hussein ibn Ali - second son of Imam Ali) was killed in an unequal battle with Yazid's troops in the steppe near the town of Karbala.

The cause of the tragedy was the struggle for power between the followers of Prophet Muhammad. At the same time it laid the enmity between Shiites and Sunnis for influence in the Islamic world.

Since then, Shiites have celebrated the month of Muharram as a month of mourning, culminating in Ashura.

Today, traditionally, ceremonies with mourning chants are organised in mosques across the country.  As an alternative to self-mourning, blood donation points have been opened in mosques.

In the past, the largest ceremonies were held at the shrine in Nardaran village, where Rahima Khanum, sister of the 7th Imam Rza (a direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad), is buried. However, after a special police operation in 2015, entry to the Nardaran mosque is restricted on Ashura days.

Noticeably fewer people came to other mosques today, including the Meshadi Dadash Mosque in the centre of Baku, where the late preacher Haji Shahin performed.

The probability remains that the decline in the activity of believers is due to the mass arrests of Shiite believers in recent months amid tensions with Iran.

It is worth noting that even some worshippers bringing ehsan treats to the mosques asked journalists not to photograph them. -06В-