Aashurah

The Day of Aashurah, sometimes spelled 'Ashura or Aashoorah, falls on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar. It commemorates the death of Husayn, the grandson of Muhammad, at the Battle of Karbala in the year 61 AH (AD 680).

This day is of particular significance to Shi'a Muslims, who consider Husayn the rightful successor of Muhammad. Many Shi'a make pilgrimages on Aashurah to the shrine in Karbala that claims to be Husayn's tomb. They also express mourning by beating themselves on the back with chains and cutting their heads with knives.