Muharram from Foreigners` Point of View
Muharram is the first month of Islamic calendar and one of the four sacred months. The tenth day of Muharram is known as Ashura. In Ashura, Shia Muslims mourn and Sunni people fast for Imam Hussein. In Safavid era, foreign tourists started to travel to Iran for the first time. Foreign tourists have different views about Muharram that about which we will talk.
Katov, who was an agent of Russia in Iran, has written in his travel book; In Muharram, Shia Muslims mourn for Imam Hussain and his family for 10 days. Mourning for Imam Hussain is done in different types like chaining, chest beating, elegies, and etc.
Children make themselves bloody and show the feeling of sons of Imam Hussein when they became martyr.
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier from France, who traveled to Iran during Safavid era, has written about Muharram: Children walk in cities without shoes and clothes, they beat themselves in hands, head and face, they cry and shout with name of Hussein.
Jakob Eduard Polak has written that the first 10 days of Muharram are so holy for Shias. Every people wear black clothes. People who came from India and Afghanistan, hit chains to their breasts. In Ta’ziez, holy rites held in surrounded part, scenes of Ashura are simulated. In groups walking in streets, some of the children and men wave flags and symbols of Ashura like silver hand of Abolfazl.
Have you ever seen people mourning for Imam Hussain in Muharram? Share your experience with others below.
