Slideshow: Ashura, the Unique Face of Shia Islam

Every year on the tenth day of the holy month of Muharram, the first on the Islamic lunar calendar, Shia Muslims show a distinctive face of Islam, one that sees spirituality in passion and rituals rather than in law and the familiar practices that punctuate Muslim lives. Open spaces and narrow alleys in cities, towns and villages take over from the mosques and seminaries as Shias individually and collectively make a show of their piety and their identity. No observer of this day, the festival of Ashura, will remain unaffected by the Shias’ display of fealty to their faith. None will fail to see the uniqueness of Shia Islam or the values and spirituality that define it.
- Vali Nasr, The Shia Revival

The holy day of Ashura marks the martyrdom of Hussain ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, in a historic seventh century battle. The Battle of Karbala, as it’s known, cemented the schism between Sunni and Shia Muslims that arose from a succession dispute after the prophet’s death.
Every year around Ashura, the media is flooded with images of blood-soaked Shias self-flagellating. But Shias around the world — who make up between 10 to 13 percent of Muslims – observe the month in a myriad of ways. This year Ashura was observed on Tuesday. The photos below — some taken by worshipers themselves — illustrate how Shias commemorate the event that defines what they believe is a central narrative of their faith: justice in the face of oppression.

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