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Afghanistan marks Ashura day

Xinhua, October 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

Afghan Muslims on Saturday observed Ashura, or the 10th of holy month of Muhharam in the Islamic calendar, to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions.

Thousands of Muslim mourners, specially Shitie Muslims, were moving towards mosques and shrines in Afghan capital of Kabul and other big cities to gather and mourn the day.

Imam Hussein, along with 72 of his companions including friends and family members including some ladies, according to history, were martyred at the hand of Yazid's troops at the battle of Karbala in Iraq in 61 AH (680 AD) after Imam Hussein rejected to make allegiance for Yazid despotic rule.

Ashura has been largely observed by Shiite Muslims. However, the Sunni sect also share the mourning day by visiting holy shrines, recitation of Muslim holy book of Quran and distributing food to the people.

Groups of the mourners commemorated the day of Ashura by chest beating and flagellation and some others observed the day by giving blood to hospitals as a practice to pay homage to late Imam Hussain.

The day of Ashura in some Muslim countries such as Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan is national holiday, allowing religious communities to observe the day. Enditem