Free Republic

A Look at Ashoura, the Holiest Day of the Shiite Muslim Calendar Mar 2, 2004 The Associated Press The series of deadly blasts Tuesday struck important shrines on the holiest day of the Shiite Muslim calendar, Ashoura, which marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the prophet Muhammad, in a 7th century battle for leadership of the Islamic world. Hundreds of thousands of Shiites around the world traditionally gather at the Hussein's tomb in Karbala and other Shiite holy sites in Iraq. Black-garbed pilgrims flagellate themselves with chains and cut themselves with swords in grief at Hussein's death...