Essay-The Moharrum

The Moharrum-Moharrum is the first month of Islamic calendar. It is very sacred and important month of the Muslims. It reminds us the great martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain, the grandson of Holy Prophet at Karbala.

The whole story behind this martyrdom is that Yazid, the Caliph of Damascus, was an ambitious man and he did not like to see the direct descendants of the Holy Prophet clamming any rival position to him. He troubled Imam Hussain in many ways, till a war broke out which lasted a long time. Eventually. Imam Hussain died in the field of Karbala. He was kept without food and drink for several days, and this makes the tragedy he died hungry and thirsty.

As Hazrat Imam Hussian martyr at the 10th of Moharrum so the Festival of Moharrum lasts for ten days the festival lasts for ten days, in which the death of Imam, the hero is mournned by pious Muslim s. The sing funeral songs, elegies, lamenting the death of Hussain, and spend their time in weeping and wailing. Alms are distributed among the poor, and cold sweetened drinks are specially supplied to the thirsty.

Big processions of Taziahs are held on the 10th day. Taziahs are huge bamboo structures covered with coloured papers of various designs are carried in solemn procession through the town, and buried outside, where a big meal is held. Taziahs are sometimes made of wood and ivory, also, and are very costly. They represent the tomb of Imam Hussain at Karbla. I he procession is composed of mourners, who remembering the martyrdom of the holy hero, are Filled with great spiritual anguish. They revere the Taziahs or Taboots. The worshippers follow or precede these Taziahs repeating-in a very excited manner the name of “Hussain” (A.S). On the night of 10th Moharrum “Sham e Khareban” is held.

But there is also another side of the picture, and that is breakout of riots. These riots are results of religious fanaticism. Though the mourning in honour of Imam Hussain is observed by all sections of Muslims, yet the Taziahs are the symbols of worship only among the Shias. Quarrels break out among Shias and Sunnis, and Ahl-i-Hadith-Shias riots, also, occur in some places on those occasions.

People should learn religious toleration, and help one another in observing all religious ceremonies. Mutual concord and sympathy are very necessary for our national well-being. So we should co-operate with each other on various religious ceremonies.