Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is the month in which Shia Muslims remember, commemorate and mourn the death of Imam Husayn (as), the third Shia Imam and youngest grandson of the Holy Prophet (S).

Imam Husayn (a), the son of Imam Ali and grandson of the holy Prophet Muhammad (s), refused to pledge allegiance against the tyranny of Yazid I, the Umayyad caliph. As a result, Imam Husayn and his 72 family members and companions were brutally massacred on the sands of Karbala as they rose up against the oppressive and religiously misguided regime. For this reason, the Shi’a honor Imam Husayn, the Chief of Martyrs, and commemorate the event every year during the holy month of Muharram.

It was a tragic and barbaric incident, involving one of the most important personalities in the history of Islam and the innocent young members of his family.

Majalis (assemblies) are held every day during the first nine days where shia orators relate the incident of the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain and his party in a great detail. On the 10th day of Muharram, large processions are formed and the devoted followers parade the streets holding banners and carrying models of the mausoleum of Hazrat Imam Hussain and his people, who fell at Karbala. They show their grief and sorrow by inflicting wounds on their own bodies with sharp metal tied to chain with which they scourge themselves. This is done in order to depict the sufferings of the martyrs. It is a sad occasion and everyone in the procession chants "Ya Hussain", with loud wails of lamentation.

One way is to express extreme grief over this tragedy as well as acknowledge Imam Husayn’s virtues and strive to emulate him as he proved to be the perfect exemplar. Consequently, the mourner receives bounteous rewards, both in this world and the next.