
Photo: Barcroft/Fame Pictures
Afghan Shiites flagellate themselves during Muharram as they mark the death of Imam Hussein at the battle of Karbala, on December 23, 2009 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Muharram is the first month of the Islamic Calendar. The word "Muharram" is often considered synonymous with the event of Ashura. Ashura, which literally means the "Tenth" in Arabic, refers to the tenth day of Muharram. It is well known because of historical significance and mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala in the year 61 AH (AD 680). It is a day of speeches, public processions, and great grief. Men and women chant and weep, mourning Hussain, his family, and his followers.