Shiite Muslims collectively mourn to mark Muharram, Ashoura

Shiite Muslims are observing a solemn period of communal mourning leading up to Ashoura, which commemorates the seventh-century martyrdom of Hussein, a revered leader and grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.

Observed annually on the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar, Ashoura holds profound significance for Shiite communities. It is widely regarded as a symbol of resistance to injustice and tyranny.

This year's commemorations come in the aftermath of the war in Iran, whose population is overwhelmingly Shiite, and an interim agreement aimed at ending the conflict. In Lebanon, many Shiites are marking Muharram amid the devastation left by the war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

"The gathering every year and the reaffirming of collective memory and collective grief allows the story and its message to adapt to the circumstances of the present," said Noor Zehra Zaidi, Assistant Professor of History at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, whose research focuses on Shiite Islam.

A time of mourning, remembrance and enduring resonance

Ashoura commemorations mark the death of Imam Hussein, who was killed in the Battle of Karbala in present-day Iraq after refusing to pledge allegiance to the Umayyad Caliph Yazid.

His martyrdom is widely regarded as a defining moment in the historical split between Sunni and Shiite Muslims, rooted in early disputes over who should succeed the Prophet Muhammad as leader of the Muslim community. Shiites believed leadership should remain within the Prophet's family through Ali — Muhammad's cousin, son-in-law and Hussein's father.

For Shiites, who constitute Islam's second-largest branch after the Sunni majority, Hussein's death remains a deeply significant religious and historical event that continues to shape communal identity and spiritual life.

Gatherings, processions and rituals of grief

Across the United States, Shiites from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds gather at assemblies featuring Quranic recitations, elegies, lamentations and religious lectures.

"In many communities, emotional lamentation and weeping are considered acts of devotion because they express solidarity with the suffering of the Prophet's household," Zaidi said.

According to Zaidi, American Shiite communities reflect much of the ritual diversity found across the wider Shiite world.

"Our community comes to life. It pulsates with a beautiful sense of unity, where everybody comes together," said Adam Almaleky of Michigan. "It's a programme of self-development, self-purification and drawing closer to God through Hussein."

In Texas, 23-year-old Sakina Ali attends the gatherings alongside four generations of her family. "We learn and we mourn," she said, adding that the atmosphere often gives her goosebumps.

Around the world, Muharram and Ashoura rituals may include rhythmic chest-beating, collective mourning ceremonies and public processions. Some Shiites practise self-flagellation and bloodletting as expressions of grief — practices that remain controversial, embraced by some and rejected by others within the community.

In Iraq, millions of pilgrims travel to the holy city of Karbala, the site of the battle and home to Hussein's shrine. Large volunteer-run service stations provide food and drink to pilgrims, a tradition Zaidi described as one of the most universal features of Ashoura observances.

"One of the remarkable enduring features of Ashoura commemorations is the way rituals and communities reflect local cultures, traditions and languages while still remaining centred on Karbala," she said.

Giving blood in Hussein's name

As part of the Texas chapter of Who Is Hussain, a London-based charity with teams in dozens of cities worldwide, Ali has helped organise a blood donation drive during this year's Muharram commemorations.

"It's about saving lives. It's about doing good in Hussein's name," she said. "Because this is such an emotional time and the community is coming together from everywhere, the impact is much greater."

Hussein, she said, "sacrificed his life for morality and justice". Following his example, she added, inspires her to serve her own community.

Similar blood drives take place across the United States and beyond. Mustafa Jafri's mosque in New Jersey has organised them for many years.

"We do it to honour Imam Hussein, his family and his companions," said Jafri, a physician and board director at Masjid-e-Ali. "He shed his blood in the struggle against injustice, and we want to donate ours to save lives."

Jafri described the drives as a practical way of translating Hussein's values into action while contributing to the wider community. They often attract non-Muslim donors as well.

Zaidi noted that blood donation campaigns are a relatively modern addition to Shiite Ashoura commemorations.

Drawing inspiration from Hussein's legacy

For many Shiites, Muharram is also a time for self-reflection and moral renewal.

Jafri said the period encourages people to consider how they can improve themselves and confront "the injustices that exist throughout the world".

Almaleky said Hussein's example teaches him "altruism, principle and dedication".

Even in the face of hardship, he added, Hussein's story continues to provide strength and inspiration.

"We continue to draw energy as a community," he said. "No matter how difficult life becomes, it cannot compare with what Hussein, his family and his companions endured."