"A single tear shed for Husayn washes away a hundred sins"-
the entire concept of Muharram revolves around this Shia quote.
"Muharram", the term gets its origin from the Arabian term haraam, meaning 'sinful'. Muharram is observed on the first month of Islamic calendar. In the Shia regions of countries like Afghanistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, Bahrain and Pakistan Muharram is a national Holiday.
Ashura, the tenth day of Muharram is observed by the Shia Muslims as the day of mourning for the grandson of Muhammad, Hussein Ibn Ali. The last few days of Muharram until the day of Ashura is very crucial as this was the time when Hussein and his family were killed in the Battle of Karbala by the rival army of Umayyad caliph Yazid I.
In this historical battle 72 people from Hussein's family and his followers were killed. The survivors of Hussein's group, including women and children were captivated and imprisoned in Damascus.
It is recorded in the Hadith, that Moses along his followers was victorious over the Egyptian Pharaoh on the last day of Muharram. Sunni Muslims also observe Muharram but as a time of remembrance and not as a time of mourning.
On the day of Ashura the Shia Muslims make pilgrimages to Mashhad al-Husayn, the tomb of Hussein. Also, on Ashura the Shias wear their mourning attire and they refrain from music. Muharram is a time of self-reflection, a time when the Muslims commit themselves entirely to Hussein. Hussein's struggle according to Shia Muslims is interpreted as a sign of standing boldly against injustice, tyranny and oppression.
During the 10 days of Muharram a special prayer is arranged called Majalis-e Aza. This gathering or Majalis reviews the teachings of Islam and the sacrifice of Imam Hussein. The various rituals performed during Majalis-e Aza include congregations and lamentations which express the grief of Hussein's death.
With the passage of time, some rituals of expressing grief became a vital part of Muharram. Sine-Zani: beating the chest, zangir-zani; beating oneself with chains, Qama Zani; hitting oneself with swords or knives are some of those rituals. The Shia Muslims cut themselves because they mourn to the fact that they were not present in the Battle of Karbala with Hussein to save him and his family. The Shia's believe that taking part in the rituals of Ashura washes away all their sins.
During Muharram the Shias of India, who are unable to travel all the way to Karbala create replicas of Imam Hussein's Mausoleum and carry it in processions. These replicas are called Taziya.
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