Living Martyr Episode 9: Mourning: Practices, Rites and Routine

08/10/22 • 74 min

Every community mourns in different ways. For Muslims, most specifically Shia Muslims, there is no bigger tragedy than the tragedy of Ashura. For Shia Muslims, the 10th of Muharram each year represents the saddest period of the calendar year and one Shias mourn for; not just with their tears, but through practices that have existed for centuries, if not over a millenia.

Shia Islam is often marred through images of some of these practices. Many non-Muslims, and even some Muslims, cannot wrap their heads around it. Join my friend and I once more into a deep dive of what these practices are, how different communities do different things and the importance of it in commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (PBUH).

Previous Episode

Living Martyr Episode 8: A Hero Emerges - Lady Zainab (PBUH)

One could be forgiven for thinking, after Ashura, that would be the end of the trials for the family of Imam Hussain (PBUH). Rather, their tribulations were just beginning. Chained and shackled, prodded and abused, for days they were taken across the Muslim world, ending up in Damascus.

Lady Zainab (PBUH), however, was the sister of 2 Imam’s, a daughter of an Imam and a granddaughter of a Prophet. Where the enemy attempted to deflate their spirits and bring the stand of Imam Hussain (PBUH) to an eventual close, the Lady of Karbala found strength where none thought existed. Join my good friend and I in discussing the next 40 days and how the heroism of Lady Zainab (PBUH) echoes through the annuls of history.

Next Episode

Living Martyr Episode 10: So What?

Imam Hussain (PBUH) stood up to injustice 1400 years ago and paid for it with his life and the lives of his family. So what?

Join me and a few of my friends in this final episode, where we seek to wrap up our discussion and attempt to answer the question above, the most difficult question of all when it comes to discussing this story.

This episode attempts to look into how the story of Imam Hussain (PBUH) and his message is used today, on both a macro and micro scale, and how his story has the power to influence real change for good. Join me for one last episode and see whether you find yourself at the end asking the question – so what?